The United States and Vietnam
Vietnam Controlled by France until WWII Seized by Japan Pushed for independence after the WWII
Ho Chi Minh Leader of a nationalist movement in Vietnam Founded the Vietminh
Domino Theory The belief that if Vietnam fell to communism, all of southeast Asia would follow
Division of Vietnam According to the Geneva Accords Divided at the 17 th parallel Elections to be held in 1956 to unite the country
North Vietnam Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh controlled the north Communist supporters
South Vietnam Pro-western regime Led by Ngo Dinh Diem Supported by the U.S.
Diem’s Government Diem regime became corrupt and repressive Refused to hold promised elections
June 11, 1963 To protest government religious policies, several Buddhist monks set themselves on fire To protest government religious policies, several Buddhist monks set themselves on fire Image became global Led to Diem’s overthrow
Vietnam Ho Chi Minh formed the National Liberation Front (NLF) to reunite the country Guerrilla terrorist forces known as the Vietcong
Vietnam November 1, 1963 Diem overthrown and assassinated
Vietnam Johnson followed idea of global containment “I am not going to lose Vietnam” Intended to increase troops
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution August 2, 1964 North Vietnamese fired on U.S. destroyer Maddox Congress gave Johnson a mandate to conduct operations in Vietnam atch?v=vWAmAOctuxI atch?v=vWAmAOctuxI
War Escalates March 8, 1965 Marines landed at Da Nang By 1968, over 500,000 troops were stationed in Vietnam
Vietnam Warfare Vietcong used ambushes, booby traps, and guerilla warfare in the thick Asian jungles
Realities of War “Three quarters of the way through the tangle, a trooper brushed against a two- inch vine, and a grenade slung chest high went off, shattering the right side of his head and body... Nearby troopers took hold of the unconscious soldier and, half carrying, half dragging him, pulled him the rest of the way through the tangle.”
Vietnam Warfare U.S. carried out search and destroy missions Get rid of thick jungle hiding places by using napalm and Agent Orange (kills foliage)
Ho Chi Minh Trail Main supply line for the North Vietnamese Passed through Cambodia and Laos Received military support from China and Vietnam
Tet Offensive January 1968 Consisted of a series of sharp attacks on urban and rural areas in South Vietnam by the Vietcong Vietcong launched assaults on South Vietnam, nearly overran Saigon Americans viewed war as unwinnable
Antiwar Movement By 1967 – U.S. public discontent with the war Television coverage, body counts, carnage Credibility Gap- the idea that the citizens of the US no longer trusted the word of LBJ about what was going on in Vietnam
Counterculture Movements Youth attack on mainstream America Student protests Revolution against middle class respectability
Music
Woodstock
Election of 1968 Democrat – Hubert Humphrey Republican – Richard Nixon Independent – George Wallace
Troop Withdrawal June 1969 Nixon announced the withdrawal of 25,000 troops
Mobilization Day November 16, 1969 ½ million protestors of the war in Washington Anger over news of Cambodia invasion
Kent State May 4, 1970 National Guard fired into an anti-war rally 4 students killed, 11 wounded
Kent State
Paris Peace Accords January 27, 1973 Ceasefire agreement that accepted North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam Troop withdrawal began
Vietnam Reunification March 1975 – final offensive of North Vietnamese against the South April 29, 1975 – Vietnam was reunited Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City
Fall of Saigon -The Fall of Saigon (April 30, 1975) Capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam by North Vietnamese Army; event marked the end of the Vietnam War
Fall of Saigon
Human toll American deaths 300,000 wounded Around 1 Million Vietnamese dead $170 billion
Timeline of Key Events 1975 Fall of Saigon 1975 Fall of Saigon 1973 Paris Peace Agreement 1973 Paris Peace Agreement 1968 Tet Offensive 1968 Tet Offensive 1964 Gulf of Tonkin 1964 Gulf of Tonkin 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu