The Vietnam War

Two Vietnams Vietnam was a colony of France that won independence in 1954. Like Korea, Vietnam was divided into 2 parts as a result of a peace treaty North Vietnam led by Ho Chi Minh (Soviet supported) South Vietnam led by Ngo Dinh Diem (USA supported) Some South Vietnamese distrusted Diem, they felt he was favoring the wealthy landowners at the expense of the peasants. Many joined guerilla groups that fought against Diem. (fighters who fight in small groups without formal uniforms or national military support)

Vietcong Main group of guerrilla fighters fighting against South Vietnamese government- supported by North Vietnamese and became communist America/JFK was worried that if the South Vietnamese gov’t fell to the North Vietnamese, the other nearby countries would also become communist…like falling dominoes Domino Theory-if one country was allowed to be overtaken by communists, the neighboring countries would all be turned one by one. JFK sent advisors to help Diem organize and train his army, but he continued to lose public support and was assassinated. LBJ also sent more $ and help to S. Vietnam

American Soldiers in Vietnam In August 1964, an American ship in the Gulf of Tonkin was attacked, there was also an unconfirmed report of a second attack North Vietnam claimed the Americans were spying on them and they were justified. LBJ urged Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – which allowed the President to take “all necessary measures” to repel any attack and/or prevent future attack. LBJ used that to order bombings of North Vietnam and parts of S. Vietnam

The Vietnam War 1964-1974 By 1968 – more than 500,000 had been sent to fight LBJ ordered a draft to build troops wealthy people were able to get their sons out of it most young men sent were poor and/or minorities Fighting was very different -Jungle terrain -Search and destroy then move on- not holding the ground -Often fought in the same area multiple times -Vietcong were unidentifiable- could be anyone, no way to tell

Tet Offensive Jan 1968, Vietcong attacked Saigon (S.V. capital) and stormed the American embassy during the Tet holiday (Vietnamese New Year) Even though the Americans and S. Vietnamese pushed them back, it was a political victory for the Vietcong

War Winds Down LBJ does not run again- Nixon wins election Nixon campaigned on ending the war, but quickly ordered the bombing of Cambodia which was used by the Vietcong to go around the American troops After a while, Nixon began working on negotiating peace Jan 1973, a cease-fire agreement was reached and the American troops began to pull out, by 1974 most of them were gone The US still sent $ and supplies to S. Vietnam, but by 1975, the North Vietnamese had captured Saigon and united Vietnam as a communist country

Cambodia After-Effects During the war, Cambodians were drawn into a civil war as they divided up between pro-Communists and Pro-Americans After the Americans left, the communists there won the war and set up the Khmer Rouge -a brutal totalitarian regime that forced people to work and killed dissenters- many people starved to death due to poor conditions Vietnam eventually invaded Cambodia and set up a new communist gov’t

Divisions at Home In the beginning the American public was behind the war effort, but as the casualties grew bigger the public changed their mind Television played a large role- this was the first time people watched coverage of the war on the news Hawks – supported aggressive action and a strong military presence Doves – those against war in general- believed it was a civil war and that the US should stay out of it

War Protests -Many were college students, marches, sit-ins, draft card burnings etc. -Some protesters would get militant and take over buildings or destroy property Believed that the War -was a waste of $ and American lives -South Vietnamese gov’t was corrupt and not worth it -was an example of America controlling other countries Hippie Counter-culture was a turn-off for mainstream public

How far should America go to fight communism? Final Tally Almost 60,000 Americans killed >1 million Vietnamese soldiers & around 500,000 civilians Many Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, Hmong fled the area and became refugees “boat people” Many drowned or died of hunger/thirst, Many came to America How far should America go to fight communism?