Chapter 22: The Vietnam War Years U.S. History Chapter 22: The Vietnam War Years

BellRinger List 3-4 things you know about Vietnam

Origins of the Conflict in Vietnam France controlled Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) from late 19th century until WWII Exploited natural resources Rice and rubber Who took over during WWII?

Independence Movement in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh leader of Indochinese Communist Party forms the Vietminh, an organization to fight for Vietnam’s independence from foreign rule Declared Vietnam an independent nation in 1945

French Indochina War, 1946-1954 After WWII, France attempts to re-establish its rule in Vietnam In 1950, the United States entered the conflict as they helped France with military and economic aide Maintaining an ally against Soviet Union Containment

End of the French Indochina War 1954 Dien Bien Phu Vietminh conquered the main French outpost at Dien Bien Phu French were defeated Geneva Accords Peace agreement that temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel (North/South) A unifying election was to be held in 1956

U.S. Presidents and Involvement in Vietnam Group Assignment Analyze the role of each President in the U.S. involvement in Vietnam Each group will be given a President Read documents and discuss the President’s policies during the Vietnam conflict Report to the class When completed, everyone will have the policies filled in for each of the four Presidents

U.S. Escalation in Vietnam

U.S. Escalation in Vietnam

BELLRINGER Initially, why did the United States get involved in the conflict in Vietnam? What was the United States’ role in the French Indochina War?

BELLRINGER In warfare or a sporting event, is it easier to fight/play against an opponent whose tactics/strategies are known or unknown? Please explain.

Vietnam Theme: What Made Fighting in Vietnam So Hard For American Soldiers? What is Guerilla Warfare? Hit and Run Tactics Who’s the Enemy? Where’s the Enemy? Tunnels of the Vietcong Video Clip

The Jungle Terrain in Vietnam Excerpt from Red Thunder, Tropic Lightning What were some of the harsh conditions that soldiers faced in Vietnam?

Reflection What made the fighting in Vietnam so hard for American soldiers?

The Decision to Escalate Election of 1964 Lyndon Johnson “I’m not about to send American boys 9-10,000 miles away from home and do what Asian boys should be doing themselves” Barry Goldwater Extreme anti-Communist

The Decision to Escalate cont. “Democrats soft on Communism” 1965: President Johnson begins sending tens of thousands of American troops to Vietnam By the end of 1965, 180,000 American troops were in Vietnam Initially, 61% of Americans supported the decision Vital to the safety and security of the United States and World

Leadership in Vietnam General William Westmoreland ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) Lacked leadership, training, technology Westmoreland continued to ask for more troops By 1967, the United States had 500,000 troops in Vietnam

BELLRINGER List 4-5 things that made fighting in Vietnam hard for American soldiers.

Fighting in Vietnam Americans predicted a swift defeat? Guerilla Warfare Hit and Run tactics Jungle terrain Land mines Climate Underground Tunnels Diagram p. 731

Ho Chi Minh Trail

A War of Attrition Gradually wearing down the enemy through continuous harassment Search and destroy missions Introduction of the body count What was the purpose?

Attrition cont. Westmoreland underestimated the resolve of the Vietcong as they had no intentions of surrendering Vietcong were aided by China and the Soviet Union with military supplies Vietcong viewed the battle as a fight for their very existence and were prepared to fight to the death

Napalm and Agent Orange Gasoline-based bomb used to set the jungle on fire Agent Orange leaf-killing toxic chemical used to destroy jungle

“Working Class War” African Americans A “Manipulatable” Draft 80% of soldiers came from lower economic levels Many medical excuses National Guard Coast Guard College African Americans Served in disproportionate numbers 20% of battle deaths, only made up 10% of the population

Roots of Opposition New Left Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) Free Speech Movement Avoiding the draft 200,000 draft offenses 4,000 jailed 10,000 fled to Canada Doves Hawks

Tet Offensive January 30, 1968

Tet Changes Public Opinion Journalist Walker Cronkite “more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate” Defense Secretary Clark Clifford “We seem to be in a sinkhole”

The Nation Turns on President Johnson “If I’ve lost Walter, then it’s over. I’ve lost Mr. Average Citizen” 60% of citizens disapproved

Johnson Withdraws President Johnson decides to not seek re-election in 1968

President Nixon and Vietnamization, 1969-1975 Vietnamization- Nixon’s plan for the gradual withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam “We have to get rid of the nightmares we inherited. One of the nightmares is a war without end.” By 1972, American soldiers in Vietnam was less than 25,000

Peace with Honor President Nixon intended to maintain dignity while removing troops from Vietnam Invading Laos and Cambodia Continuing to bomb North Vietnam, chart p.748

Pentagon Papers 7,000 page document prepared for Defense Secretary Robert McNamara. It revealed plans that the government was making plans for entering the war in Vietnam even as President Johnson promised not to send American troops to Vietnam Confirms Americans distrust of the government

The End of the War After years of negotiations, on January 27, 1973 the U.S. signed an agreement ending the war North Vietnamese troops would remain in South Vietnam March 29, 1973 the last of American combat forces left Vietnam

End of the War cont. Within months of the peace agreement, the cease-fire agreement between North and South Vietnam collapsed In March of 1975, North Vietnam launched a full scale attack on South Vietnam Within a month, Saigon fell to North Vietnam and South Vietnam surrendered

Legacy of the War 58,000 soldiers died 365,000 wounded 15% of the 3.3 million soldiers returned home with delayed stress syndrome War Powers Act- President must inform Congress within 48 hours if U.S. forces are sent into a hostile area without a declaration of war. In addition, the troops cannot remain there for more than 90 days without Congressional approval or a declaration of war