The Vietnam War

Essential Idea The Vietnam War aimed to contain the spread of communism but quickly became unpopular.

Domino Theory Domino Theory: China’s fall to communism threatened containment Domino Theory – the idea that if Vietnam fell, the rest of East Asia would follow

Dividing Vietnam Geneva Accords: In 1954, Vietnam won independence from France Geneva Accords – Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam at the 17th Parallel

North and South Vietnam North Vietnam: Leader: Ho Chi Minh Government: Communist Events: Minh wanted to make South Vietnam communist Vietcong – group of South Vietnamese communists that Minh armed

Diem is Unpopular South Vietnam Leader: Ngo Dinh Diem Government: Anti-communist Events: Diem used oppressive rule to stop communism Diem outlawed Buddhism, leading to famous protests by Buddhist monks

The Vietcong, Buddhist Protests

Diem Killed JFK used CIA “advisors” to overthrow and execute Diem South Vietnam became unstable and vulnerable to communism When Lyndon Johnson became president, he wanted to show strength against communism

Gulf of Tonkin Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: Johnson (LBJ) reported that the North Vietnamese had attacked two American ships in the Gulf of Tonkin

Gulf of Tonkin LBJ did not reveal that the American ships were helping the South Vietnamese Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – Congress gave LBJ authority to take “all necessary measures” The Result: The Vietnam War began Causes of Vietnam War

Fighting Begins Operation Rolling Thunder – this was a sustained bombing campaign on North Vietnam

Fighting Begins Johnson sent in over 350,000 troops to fight with the South Vietnamese American and Vietcong forces became locked in bloody stalemate

Vietcong Tactics Fighting took place in dense jungle, which the Vietcong knew well Vietcong used guerilla attacks, booby traps, and ambushes against Americans Vietcong could blend in with civilians, and fighting became very frustrating for Americans

American Tactics America used “search and destroy” missions to destroy the landscape and expose hiding Vietcong Napalm – a jellied gasoline used to burn down jungles Agent Orange – a chemical used on jungles that had terrible side-effects on humans

Effects of Agent Orange

Vietnam Divides the Nation Issue #1: The “TV” War General William Westmoreland told Americans that the war was successful However, TV showed images of many dead or injured soldiers

Media vs. Government? Distrust in American government grew

Anger at the Draft Issue #2: The Draft Many citizens burned their draft cards in protest

The Tet Offensive 1. The Tet Offensive The American government had led the public to believe that they were winning Tet Offensive – Vietcong launched a surprise attack on American airbases and major cities (in South Vietnam) It was a political victory for the Vietcong because it showed they could mount a massive attack

“Are we losing?”

The Massacre at My Lai My Lai Massacre At My Lai, Americans massacred a village of women, children, and elderly The My Lai Massacre is a dark spot on the Vietnam War Survivor's Account Soldier's Letter

Troops Withdraw, Nixon Bombs Cambodia Vietnamization – process of gradual withdrawal of troops from Vietnam However, Nixon secretly began bombing of Cambodia

The Fall of Saigon 6. Fall of Saigon Two years after leaving Vietnam, Gerald Ford was president North Vietnam invaded South Vietnam and captured the capital, Saigon South Vietnam fell to communism

Legacy of Vietnam 7. Legacy of the Vietnam War The Vietnam War, along with the Watergate Scandal, made Americans distrust the government Many Vietnam veterans felt unappreciated, and many people felt that America had lost