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FRENCH CONTROL: Colonized Vietnam as part of their Southeast Asian Empire Controlled Vietnam until World War II JAPANESE CONTROL: During WWII took over control of Vietnam When Japanese surrendered to the Allies, Vietnam fell under French control again AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: Colonies in Southeast Asia (ie: Philippines) Region provided U.S. with 90% of rubber and 75% of tin

Vietnamese are fighting for independence from the French Ho Chi Minh leads fight for independence Communist China provides direct aid to the Vietnamese Truman decides he needs to extend “containment” to South East Asia - Results in American aid to France – military and economic assistance ($133 million)

In 1950 U.S. adopts the “domino theory” Ho Chi Minh controls 2/3 of countryside with hundreds of thousands of Vietminh Korean War solidifies American belief in containment

1950 – 1952 U.S. sent $50 million worth of economic and technical assistance to French By 1952 U.S. paying for 1/3 of cost of war French attempt to recruit Vietnamese to fight failed (shows lack of Vietnamese support for French/American effort) French had lost 90,000 soldiers – clear they would be defeated

Dien Bien Phu Remote village in Northwest corner of Vietnam Both Vietminh and French had amassed troops there in 1954 General Giap of Vietminh led an attack on the village in March of ’54 U.S. debates an air strike, but decide against it – without U.S. help French doomed and surrender on May 7 th

Geneva Accords July 20 th, 1954 Vietnam is split at the 17 th parallel French withdraw from North Vietnam Elections set for 1956 to reunify country Ho Chi Minh is in power in North Ngo Dinh Diem is in power in South

American Reaction to Accords Eisenhower states that it is now U.S. responsibility to defend South Vietnam from communism U.S. and South Vietnam do NOT officially “sign” accords…afraid free elections would result in South Vietnamese supporting Communist government! Form SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organization) Goal: maintain a non-communist S. Vietnam and prevent a communist victory in 1956 election U.S. is firmly committed to Diem government

South Vietnam 11 million residents economy devastated by 14 years of war & colonial dependence Diem is not supported by the countryside corrupt government 10, ,000 North Vietnamese “operatives” living in South to incite problems U.S. provided aid to help maintain a communist free South – leads to dependence on the U.S

North Vietnam 14 million residents well trained and equipped army (thanks to the Chinese) organized and functioning government Ho and his Vietminh are seen as heroes for ending French rule over Vietnam

based in the South but organized from the North North aides insurgents by moving supplies and men into South through Laos (Ho Chi Minh Trail) founded the NLF (National Liberation Front) to organize insurgents – later called the Vietcong (VC) violence breaking out in countryside Eisenhower and Diem ignored problem 1956 Election is never held JFK sent more money, but not troops – believed in aid only for ARVN goal: build socialism in the North and carry out communist revolution in South

Diem continues corrupt policies, including the killing innocent citizens Buddhists lead a protest (“monk burning”) Kennedy administration decides Diem has to go Diem asked to step down, refuses, so CIA plots a coup First CIA coup fails, second succeeds (Diem assassinated)…JFK assassinated just days later

LBJ vows keep Vietnam from becoming another China conditions in South worse after coup – chaos followed with no stable government U.S. rejected withdrawal because wanted to maintain “street credibility” in the world North Vietnam increases aid to southern insurgents – some Americans believe it is time to weaken the North 1964

Conditions Worsen During LBJ’s presidency, South Vietnam’s gov’t growing weaker & Communism is growing Remember…North Vietnam smuggled weapons into South Vietnam to support Communist insurgents through a network of trails through Laos and Cambodia (Ho Chi Minh trails).

Gulf of Tonkin Aug. 2, North Vietnamese attacked U.S.S. Maddox; Aug. 4. –another attack provided grounds for Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (second attack turned out to be fake—never happened). President Johnson asked Congress to pass Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave him authorization to use military force in Vietnam (not a declaration of war).

Gulf of Tonkin Inquiry: Was the U.S. planning to go to war with North Vietnam before the Gulf of Tonkin incident? Review Documents A through D Review the Guiding Questions Discussion… Paragraph…

Gulf of Tonkin - Discussion What types of documents are these? Do you think they’re reliable? What evidence do the documents offer that the U.S. was planning to go to war with North Vietnam before the Gulf of Tonkin incident? Is this strong evidence that the U.S. was planning an attack? What were some of the reasons why the U.S. was hesitant about attacking North Vietnam? Is there evidence that the U.S. was planning a full-scale war? What additional evidence would you want to see before deciding? What additional evidence would you want to see in order to determine whether the U.S. was planning a war with North Vietnam?

The Ground War zNo territorial goals zBody counts on TV every night (first “living room” war)

The Air War z1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam zOperation Rolling Thunder z : Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh Trail. zDowned Pilots: P.O.W.s zCarpet Bombing – napalm

The Air War: A Napalm Attack

Who Is the Enemy? zVietcong zVietcong: P Farmers by day; guerillas at night. P Very patient people willing to accept many casualties. P The US grossly underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness. The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- Mao Zedong

Who Is the Enemy?

The Tet Offensive, January 1968 zN. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon) zTake every major southern city zU.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive zViet Cong destroyed zN. Vietnamese army debilitated zBUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by the media

The Tet Offensive, January 1968

Impact of the Tet Offensive zDomestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration zHzHzHzHey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?