Where is Vietnam?

Where is Vietnam?

Vietnam Introduction Japan took over Vietnam during WWII, but when Japan was defeated in 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnamese independence. The French came in and tried to take over; U.S. supported French. The French lost in 1954. 1954: Geneva Convention split the country into North and South, with the idea that there would be free elections in the near future. U.S. supported South Vietnam leader, Diem. But Diem turned out to be oppressive and unpopular. He canceled elections, repressed Buddhists; caused major discontent in South Vietnam.

Ngo Dinh Diem/Domino Theory

Vietnam Introduction U.S. feared that Diem’s unpopularity will push more South Vietnamese to support Communists. So they supported a coup and Diem was overthrown and assassinated—Nov. 1, 1963. North Vietnam smuggled weapons into South Vietnam to support Communist insurgents through a network of trails through Laos and Cambodia (Ho Chi Minh trails). U.S. Sent war ships to observe the situation Aug. 2, 1964- North Vietnamese attacked U.S.S. Maddox President Johnson asked Congress to pass Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave him authorization to use military force in Vietnam (not a declaration of war).

Was the U.S. planning to go to war with North Vietnam before the Gulf of Tonkin incident?

Post it note questions 1. What types of documents are these? Do you think they’re reliable? 2. Based on what you know about (Containment), why would the US want to go to war with North Vietnam? 3. What impact did the Tonkin Gulf Resolution have on the Presidents power?

Was the U.S. planning to go to war with North Vietnam before the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

The Vietnam War through pictures… The Vietnam War was widely hated for various reasons. One reason was the media coverage of the war. This was the first major war ever televised to the American public. What they saw shocked them

Napalm and Agent Orange Another reason for anger towards the war is that we were not winning. The US used chemical weapons (Napalm and Agent Orange) to turn the tide but it only destroyed innocent peoples villages and homes. Most of the enemy (Vietcong) tunneled underground. The US military was not use to fighting against guerilla warfare.

Agent Orange effects…

The My Lai Massacre A serious blow to U.S. credibility came with the exposure of the My Lai massacre (March 1968). Hushed up at the time and only discovered by a tenacious journalist, this involved the killing of 400 men, women and children by US troops. 

Tet Offensive Jan. 31 1968 New Year – 70,000 North Vietnamese and Vietcong attack cities in South Vietnam. Boldest move of the war, after this hopes of winning the war were gone…

Photo Analysis

Kent State Protest May 4, 1970 Kent State University in Ohio Students upset because Pres. Nixon ordered U.S. troop into Cambodia. Student burn ROTC building.

Kent State The Governor of Ohio imposes Martial Law -Temporary rule by military authorities, imposed on a civilian population. He called out the Ohio National Guard.

Kent State Student start protest march – national guard throws tear gas at students. Students throw rocks at National Guard. Minutes later – 4 students were shot dead.

Protest Poster Project

The War’s Painful Legacy 58,000 killed 365,000 wounded N. and S. Vietnam – 1.5 million deaths The US withdrawals its troops Shortly after, South Vietnam is taken over by the North.