Causes, Course, & Consequences The Vietnam War Causes, Course, & Consequences

A Painful War Foreign policy failure – Why? Strategic failure – Why? Goal: Prevent the spread of Communism Lasting legacy

The French in Vietnam Viet Minh fight for independence Ho Chi Minh asks for U.S. support U.S. sides with French Viet Minh win guerilla war against French (1946-54)

Geneva Accords (1954) French withdraw Country divided at 17th parallel Elections in 1956 to unify country U.S. disregards agreement, sets up democratic gov’t in South, provides economic & military aid

Domino Theory President Eisenhower The basis of American intervention in Vietnam

JFK and Vietnam “We shall pay any price, bear any burden…” Doesn’t want to look “soft on communism” Sends military advisors Initial support of Diem regime

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution LBJ asks for and is authorized to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.” Like Grandma’s nightgown… Passes Congress 504-2 Sen. Wayne Morse (OR): “We can’t win in Asia, so I am not going to go along with this kind of a program… that in my judgement is going to kill needlessly untold numbers of American boys and for nothing”

Expectations U.S. had vastly superior technology and military President Johnson called Vietnam a “raggedy-ass little fourth rate country” Just cause - fight to keep Vietnamese people free “Better to fight communism in Vietnam so we don’t have to fight it in Boston & Bedford” Military expected victory over North Vietnam in 5 years

Escalation Operation Rolling Thunder 1965-1968 643,000 tons of bombs dropped on N. Vietnam By the end of 1967, 500,000 troops in Vietnam

The People’s Army of North Vietnam & the Viet Cong Use guerilla warfare, booby traps Know the terrain U.S. has superior technology Cannot distinguish friend from foe

Hearts and Minds Goal to win the “hearts and minds” of Vietnamese people How can U.S. forces do this fighting a guerrilla war in Vietnam?

Vietnamese Nationalism Ho Chi Minh appeals to people war for independence resistance against foreign invaders U.S. strategy of “Search and Destroy” - “zippo raids” on S. Vietnam villages Viet Cong suffer heavy losses but more are always willing to take their place VC move back into areas once U.S. leaves 80% of Vietnamese killed in U.S. bombing are civilians

Ho Chi Minh Trail Key advantage over U.S. Series of complex paths and roads through Cambodia and Laos Transport troops and equipment into South Vietnam

Napalm

U.S. Public Support Wanes Constant and graphic coverage in media Mass demonstrations against war uses same tactics from civil rights movement Protests, civil disobedience, college “teach-ins”, campus demonstrations Counterculture questions those in power

No End in Sight Credibility Gap Body Count “Hey Hey, LBJ, How many kids did you kill today?” Resistance to draft Nightly TV coverage Unclear why we are fighting

Tet Offensive Jan 31, 1968: 70,000 communists launched a surprise offensive on  South Vietnam 100 cities and towns, including Saigon Shifted the war from rural to urban areas – shocked U.S. public Military failure for NVA/VC, but rocked American morale & public opinion Walter Cronkite: Says U.S. cannot win

“Lyndon Johnson’s War” Johnson forced to cut $6 billion from the domestic budget (Great Society) Raises taxes    March 31st “I will not seek, nor will I accept, my party’s nomination for President”

Nixon and “Peace with Honor” Wins election with promises to end war… “with honor” Vietnamization Secret bombing of Cambodia Leads to student protests at Kent State

Kent State

My Lai (1968) U.S. soldiers round up and massacre over 200 women, children, and old men Congressional hearings in 1970 horrify American public

Pentagon Papers (1971) Secret history of Vietnam War leaked to New York Times American public learns that leaders have no strategy in Vietnam The government has been lying to the American people from the start of the war War continues for another two years

Cease-Fire Cease- fire Declared January 27, 1973 U.S forces Leave Vietnam March 29, 1973 Saigon falls April 30, 1975 Vietnam unified under Ho Chi Minh as Communist country

Consequences Loss of Life Vietnam Veterans “Vietnam Syndrome” Lesson in Nation Building 26th Amendment (1971) War Powers Act (1973)

Vietnam War Memorial