The vietnam war for website

The Vietnam War

1954 - 1975

The Vietnam War

1954 - 1975

Background to the WarBackground to the War

z France controlled “Indochina” France controlled “Indochina” since the late 19since the late 19thth century century

z Japan took control during World Japan took control during World War IIWar II

z With U.S. aid, France attempted With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar re-colonization in the postwar periodperiod

Background to the WarBackground to the War

z The French lost control to The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Ho Chi Minh’s Viet MinhViet Minh forces in 1954 at forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Dien Bien PhuPhu

z President Eisenhower President Eisenhower declined to intervene on declined to intervene on behalf of France.behalf of France.

Background to the WarBackground to the War

z International Conference at International Conference at GenevaGeneva Vietnam was divided at 17Vietnam was divided at 17thth

parallelparallelO Ho Chi Minh’sHo Chi Minh’s nationalist nationalist

forces controlled the Northforces controlled the NorthO Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem, a French-, a French-

educated, Roman Catholic educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the claimed control of the SouthSouth

U.S. Military Involvement BeginsU.S. Military Involvement Begins

z Repressive dictatorial rule by DiemRepressive dictatorial rule by Diem Diem’s family holds all powerDiem’s family holds all power Wealth is hoarded by the eliteWealth is hoarded by the elite Buddhist majority persecutedBuddhist majority persecuted Torture, lack of political freedom Torture, lack of political freedom

prevailprevail

z The U.S. aided Diem’s governmentThe U.S. aided Diem’s government Ike sent financial and military aidIke sent financial and military aid 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by

1960.1960.

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Self-Emolation by a Buddhist MonkSelf-Emolation by a Buddhist Monk

Johnson Sends Ground ForcesJohnson Sends Ground Forces

z Remembers Truman’s “loss” Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China of China Domino Theory Domino Theory revivedrevived

I’m not going to I’m not going to be the president be the president who saw who saw Southeast Asia Southeast Asia go the way China go the way China went.went.

Johnson Sends Ground ForcesJohnson Sends Ground Forces

z Tonkin Gulf Incident Tonkin Gulf Incident 1964 1964(acc. to Johnson, the attacks (acc. to Johnson, the attacks were unprovoked)were unprovoked)

z Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution ““The Blank Check” The Blank Check” **

U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968

U.S. Troops

The Ground War 1965-1968The Ground War 1965-1968

z No territorial goalsNo territorial goalsz Body counts on TV every night Body counts on TV every night

(first (first “living room” war“living room” war))

z Viet Cong supplies over the Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

The Air War1965-1968The Air War1965-1968

z 1965: Sustained bombing of North 1965: Sustained bombing of North VietnamVietnam

z Operation Rolling Thunder Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, (March 2, 1965)1965)

z 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail..

z Carpet Bombing – Carpet Bombing – napalmnapalm

The Air War:A Napalm Attack

The Air War:A Napalm Attack

Who Is the Enemy?Who Is the Enemy?

z VietcongVietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at night.Farmers by day; guerillas at night. Very patient people willing to accept Very patient people willing to accept

many casualties.many casualties. The US grossly underestimated their The US grossly underestimated their

resolve and their resourcefulness.resolve and their resourcefulness.

The guerilla wins if he does not The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win.if it does not win. -- Mao Mao ZedongZedong

Who Is the Enemy?Who Is the Enemy?

The Tet Offensive, January 1968The Tet Offensive, January 1968

z N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)and the US embassy in Saigon)

z Take every major southern cityTake every major southern cityz U.S. + ARVN beat back the U.S. + ARVN beat back the

offensiveoffensivez Viet Cong destroyedViet Cong destroyedz N. Vietnamese army debilitatedN. Vietnamese army debilitatedz BUT…it’s seen as an American BUT…it’s seen as an American

defeat by the mediadefeat by the media

The Tet Offensive, January

1968

The Tet Offensive, January

1968

Impact of the Tet OffensiveImpact of the Tet Offensive

z Domestic U.S. Reaction: Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administrationof Johnson Administration

z Hey, Hey LBJ! How Hey, Hey LBJ! How

many kids did many kids did youyou kill today? kill today?

Johnson’s Johnson’s popularity popularity dropped in dropped in 1968 from 1968 from 48% to 48% to 36%.36%.

Impact of the Vietnam WarImpact of the Vietnam War

……I shall not I shall not seek, and I will seek, and I will not accept, the not accept, the nomination of nomination of my party for my party for another term as another term as your President.your President.

Johnson announces (March, Johnson announces (March, 1968):1968):

American Morale Begins to DipAmerican Morale Begins to Dip

z Disproportionate Disproportionate representation of poor people representation of poor people and minorities.and minorities.

z Severe racial problems.Severe racial problems.z Major drugMajor drug

problems.problems.z Officers in combatOfficers in combat

6 mo.; in rear 6 mo.; in rear 6 mo. Enlisted 6 mo. Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo.men in combat for 12 mo.

Are We Becoming the Enemy?Are We Becoming the Enemy?

z Lt. William Lt. William CalleyCalley,,Platoon LeaderPlatoon Leader

z Mylai MassacreMylai Massacre, 1968, 1968z 200-500 unarmed 200-500 unarmed

villagersvillagers

Charlie Company, 1Charlie Company, 1stst Battalion, 20 Battalion, 20thth InfantryInfantry