Vietnam Soviet supported North, communist ▫Ho Chi Minh USA supported South, Ngo Dinh Diem ▫Dictator, but not communist Guerilla warfare started in the South Communists, but many saw it as a fight to liberate Vietnam from foreign domination Early 1960’s

America Enters Vietnam Domino theory: ▫American foreign policy ▫A communist victory in Vietnam would cause countries across SE Asia to fall to communism as well

America Enters Vietnam Domino theory: ▫American foreign policy ▫A communist victory in Vietnam would cause countries across SE Asia to fall to communism as well Ho Chi Minh aided Viet Cong ▫Communist rebels trying to overthrow S. Vietnam’s government US first sent supplies then troops

President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) August 1, 1964 S. Vietnamese raided North N. Vietnamese retaliated, attacked the Maddox (US Navy destroyer) LBJ reported attacks to Congress Gulf of Tonkin Resolution ▫August 7, 1964 Authorized President to use all necessary measures to prevent further aggression in SE Asia

America Enters Vietnam US begin bombings 500,000 troops Guerilla war Viet Cong knew the land & villagers North sent supplies Turning Point

Americans Oppose the War Vietnamese & American casualties POWs MIAs

North Vietnam Wins the War President Nixon established a cease-fire ▫January 1973 US agreed to remove troops North Vietnam agreed not to invade the South … 2 years later, North invades the South Some dominos fell… Laos & Cambodia

Soviet “Vietnam” in Afghanistan Afghan warlords took up arms against Soviet- supported Afghan government 1979, Soviet Union enters war with Islamic country, Afghanistan

Soviet Afghan War ( ) Mujahedin: Muslim religious warriors ▫Fought the Soviets ▫Mountains of Afghanistan Mid 1980’s, US began to smuggle modern weapons to mujahedin As difficult as fighting in jungles of Vietnam Crisis in morale for Soviets As difficult as fighting in jungles of Vietnam Crisis in morale for Soviets

End of Cold War Command economy ▫Inefficiency & waste ▫Low wages & life time job security Western boom Soviet stagnation ▫Unproductive agriculture ▫Consumer goods were inferior, luxury goods were rare ▫Couldn’t keep up with arms race Soviets envied the prosperity of the West

Soviet Union ▫Economy struggled ▫Morale was low from long war ▫Eastern Europe wanted freedom

Fall of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, 1985, came to power Reforms ▫Glasnost- openness Wanted better relations with the world (USA) to better Soviet economy Bowed out of arms race Removed troops from Afghanistan

Communist governments ▫Late 1980’s, fell one by one ▫Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, etc. ▫Dissolved Warsaw Pact First time since 1939, Eastern European countries were free

Berlin Wall’s gates were opened November 9, 1989 Country reunified

Fall of the Soviet Union December 25, 1991 ▫Gorbachev resigns ▫Ukraine, the Russian Federation, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan declared they were no longer a part of the Soviet Union ▫Peaceful end to long & terrifying Cold War

Communism Around the World China opened economy to capitalism ▫Economic boom ▫But no political reform Vietnam ▫Opened itself to the world ▫Started diplomatic relations with USA North Korea ▫Rigid totalitarianism, Isolation Cuba ▫Economy deteriorated ▫Many thought communism wouldn’t outlive its founder, Fidel Castro

United States emerged as sole superpower Americans seemed unsure of the new role as “the world’s policeman” Protector of freedom, but no rival threat What do you think America’s military role in the world should be?