Foreign Policy

Key Terms Guerilla warfare- sudden ambushes Green Berets– special forces used to fight guerilla warfare Coup- overthrow of government

Cuba Fidel Castro- Cuban communist dictator Bay of Pigs Unsuccessful invasion of Cuba, backed by the US 1500 Cuban expatriates trained by CIA Most were captured by Cuban forces, some were killed US gave Castro $53 million in food and medicine for the rebels’ release Great embarrassment to Kennedy Some believe it led to the Cuban Missile Crisis

Berlin Wall East Berlin, with Soviet backing, creates the Berlin Wall Cut all connections between East and West Berlin “For those who say communism is a better system, let them come to Berlin.”-JFK The Berlin Wall came to symbolize the Cold War

Cuba Cuban Missile Crisis Soviets built missile sites in Cuba October JFK demands Soviets withdraw missiles US Navy creates a blockade of Cuba Six days later, Soviets withdraw and dismantle sites

Ok, Mr. President, let’s talk.

Space Race US Soviet Union Creation of NASA Neil Armstrong- 1 st man on the moon (1969) Determined to beat the Soviets due to the tensions in the Cold War Sputnik- first satellite in space Laika- 1 st animal in space Yuri Gagarin- 1 st person in space

Abroad and at Home

Vietnam WWII: Japanese forces took French colony of Indochina Vietnamese forces (Communists) fought against Japan Ho Chi Minh After WWII: Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent France wanted it’s colony back Natural resources Truman helps French

Geneva Accords Geneva Accords (1954) temporarily divided Vietnam North: Communist controlled by Ho Chi Minh Capital: Hanoi South: Non-communist forces (backed by US) Capital: Saigon Vietnam would be reunified in 1956 after elections US never signed the agreement, but supported it Warned that if North made a move on the South, the US would step in Ngo Dinh Diem Leader of South Vietnam Refused to hold elections (America supported this) Vietnamese people angered by this

Start of the Vietnam War Diem tries to destroy the power of the Communists in the North Communists respond by organizing themselves into the National Liberation Front (NLF) AKA Vietcong Ho Chi Minh gives orders to start a war with Diem Eisenhower- domino theory If one country in Asia falls to communism, they all will US should stop spread of communism Eisenhower sent $$ to South Vietnam as well as military support

Kennedy and Vietnam Kennedy continues support of sending troops Green Berets to South Vietnam Kennedy pressures Diem to make changes. American money ends up in corrupt hands Suppose to go to schools, hospitals, etc. Diem loses support of his country Kennedy administration no longer supports Diem

Kennedy and Vietnam November 1, 1963: a coup is staged by South Vietnamese army officers Diem is assassinated Kennedy administration backs coup, not assassination. Kennedy is assassinated November 22. Lyndon Johnson inherits the Vietnam issue

Gulf of Tonkin American destroyers were attacked by Vietcong in the Gulf of Tonkin Congress quickly passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Gave Johnson broad authority to use US forces in Vietnam War against North Vietnam was never declared LBJ escalates the war Sends more troops to Vietnam Operation Rolling Thunder Attack on the supply line of the Vietcong Ho Chi Minh trail.

Problems in Vietnam Landscape of Vietnam was rough Jungles Muddy trails South Vietnamese army was not effective Americans could not tell NLF from South Vietnamese Army Napalm Explosive that burned jungle growth Agent Orange Herbicide used to kill forests and tall grasses Disease and birth defects for thousand of American soldiers and millions of Vietnamese to this day

Draft Required all men to register at age 18 Opposition Draft was unfair Draft board could give deferments (usually middle class) Claimed draft discriminated against poor Protestors burned draft cards Congress makes a law prohibiting burning your draft card

The Tet Offensive January 30, 1968 Tet- lunar new year (holiday for Vietnamese) Truce was called for the holiday Viet Cong attacked many South Vietnamese cities Saigon was attacked North could not meet it’s objective to hold cities in the South This was a turning point in the Vietnam War and for public opinion Media outlets showed that the war was far from over Vietnam was the first ‘televised’ war

Effects of the Tet Offensive Turned Americans against LBJ Media openly criticized the president Credibility Gap- many did not believe his statements about the Vietnam War Members of the Democratic Party turn against LBJ State they will run against him in the upcoming primary March LBJ agrees to stop bombing N. Vietnamese cities States that he will not run for President again