Perspectives of the The Vietnam War part 2 of 2

Perspectives of the Vietnam War 1.Read your assigned reading 2.You and your group have been invited to a meeting with the president of the US at the time, Harry Truman 3.Explain: how WWII affected you and your people, why the US should care about what happens in Vietnam, what Truman should do about the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence and what Truman should do when it comes to granting loans to the French 4.Remember: at the time, the US has enormous power in the world

Post WWII Vietnam US in spot to end French domination of Vietnam – French needs America; would not defy a decision – Vietnamese loyal and grateful to America US gives about $2 billion in aid to France Geneva Conference (4/26/54 – 7/20/54) Soviet Union, France, US, UK, People’s Republic of China lead conference: other countries involved represented Geneva Accords – Separate Vietnam into 2 zones – Conference Final Declaration: general election held by July 1956 – Delegates from North and South Vietnam and US do not agree – State of Civil War: US supports South, escalates

Fighting in Vietnam Why? US: contain communism North Vietnam: reunify under Communism

Domino Theory If one country in a region fell to Communism, the other ones would, too (like dominoes) Justify need for American intervention in world

Vietnam People's Army (VPA) Role grows as war grows US advantage neutralized by VPA fighting style and tactics Viet Cong / National Liberation Branch of VPA Guerilla and army units Many recruited in South Vietnam Propaganda North Vietnam: showed Vietcong as insurgency from South US/South Vietnam: described as tool of North What would be purpose for each side’s propaganda?

Gulf of Tonkin  The Incident  August 2, 1964  USS Maddox fights 3 North Vietnamese torpedo boats  Destroys 3 boats  August 4, 1964  NSA says Vietnam attacks  Leads to Vietnam War  2005  US fired warning shots, then Vietnam attacked.  The Resolution (August 10, 1964)  US Response  President Lyndon B. Johnson can use military w/out declaring war  US rapidly expands involvement in war

1967 Homefront October 1967 Opposition mostly college campuses Most support war Each day = more deaths October – 100,00 protestors at Lincoln Memorial – 30,000 march at Pentagon – Hundreds arrested. Martin Luther King Jr: Boosts anti-war movement – High # of African American deaths – Bad decision by government November 1967 US Troops cannot handle fighting tactics of Vietnam 500,000 American Troops – 15,000+ killed – 109,000+ wounded. – $25 billion per year Americans more discouraged with war – Draft system – 40,000 a month – More anti-war movement.

Tet Offensive, 1968 Surprise attack launched by Viet Cong/NVA Wave of attacks (80,000 troops attack 100 towns) US/South –lose control of towns –Regroup, drive forces out Results –Shows North can attack with big force –South cannot defend (even with US aid) –Started belief that US would lose (upsets Americans)

Opposition to the War Kent State (May 1970) National Guard kills 4 students protesting war Pentagon Papers (Summer 1971) Confidential details about war

Media Most publicized war – 1000’s watch on TV – “The Living Room War” WWII: newspaper reports and radio Technology advanced: print to photography to video Vietnam on TV War to home Images stay with them Change public perception Vietnam Veterans Against the War Go on TV (in wheelchairs/crutches) Throw away medals/awards from war in protests

Case-Church Amendment August 15, 1973 Ended US military involvement in Vietnam President needed approval from Congress for military activity Vietnamization End US involvement in war South Vietnam gradually takes over war Ending US Involvement

Post US Presence 2 years of fighting April 1975: North Vietnam captured Saigon Ends war Unites Vietnam 58,220 US servicemen died