The Vietnam War

Background French removed as colonial power from Vietnam in 1954 Geneva Accords: Vietnam divided between communist back gov’t in North Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) & US back gov’t in South Vietnam (Ngo Diem) – Diem gov’t faced serious opposition and was noted for its corruption. Catholics in positions of power in a nation of Buddhists. – War breaks out as North Vietnam tries to unify all of Vietnam under its control – Viet Cong – communist irregulars in the South Vietnam

Origins of US involvement – Military advisors (under Eisenhower & Kennedy) – Domino Theory – one nation falls, all the others next to it will also fall – Kennedy’s support for Diem’s gov’t faded – Diem overthrown & killed in coup – Kennedy was contemplating removing US troops before his death

LBJ & Gulf of Tonkin – LBJ was committed to supporting S. Vietnam with military power – US ships “attacked” by North Vietnamese ships in the Gulf of Tonkin – Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – authority to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States” – Increase military presences without having to get Congresses approval

US Strategy – Cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail – supply route into S. Vietnam through Laos & Cambodia to supply Viet Cong – Operation Rolling Thunder – extensive bombing campaign against N. Vietnam – Napalm & Agent Orange / Body count & kill ratio

Tet Offensive Tet Offensive – – North Vietnamese & Viet Cong offensive in January 1968 – massive coordinated assault against US & S. Vietnamese forces all across S. Vietnam – Viet Cong & N. Vietnamese suffered massive causalities & driven back However, psychological victory as it showed that the communists could mount the offensive when US war leaders were saying the war was nearly won – US public began questioning government & military handling of the war – President Johnson does not seek reelection in 1968

President Richard Nixon succeeds Johnson – Vietnamization – scale back US troops in S. Vietnam by having S. Vietnamese soldiers take their place – Combined reducing ground troops in Vietnam with bombing of Cambodia & Laos to hurt Viet Cong – US troops invade Cambodia in 1970

Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?

My Lai Massacre – US soldiers committed war atrocities against Vietnamese civilians – Commanded by Lt. William Calley – unarmed villagers

Paris Peace Accords 1973 – Ends US involvement in Vietnam – US troops removed from Vietnam – 17 th parallel remained divide for N. & S. Vietnam – Both side end military operations in Cambodia & Laos – POW exchange Fighting between S. & N. Vietnam begins again in 1975 South Vietnam falls without US support – Fall of Sagion

The Costs 1.3,000,000 Vietnamese killed 2.58,000 Americans killed; 300,000 wounded 3.Under-funding of Great Society programs 4.$150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending 5.U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust of government, decimated

The Impact z26 th Amendment: 18-year-olds vote zNixon abolished the draft  all-volunteer army zWar Powers Act, 1973 ٭ P President must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying military force P President must withdraw forces unless he gains Congressional approval within 90 days