Slide 1 VIETNAM, (the Day War)

Slide 2 Vietnam Essential Questions Essential Questions Why did America send more than 500,000 soldiers? Why did America send more than 500,000 soldiers? Why did more than 50,000 die? Why did more than 50,000 die? Why did we fail? Why did we fail? Was it worth it? Was it worth it?

Slide 3 Vietnam War WWII to Independence PHASE 1 - A WAR OF PHASE 1 - A WAR OF COLONIAL INDEPENDENCE AGAINST THE FRENCH Vietnam had been a French Vietnam had been a French colony under the name of French Indochina (along with Cambodia and Laos) Vietnam began to fight for its independence from France during WW II ( when France was preoccupied with European conflict) Vietnam began to fight for its independence from France during WW II ( when France was preoccupied with European conflict) the Vietnamese revolutionary leader was Ho Chi Minh, a Communist the Vietnamese revolutionary leader was Ho Chi Minh, a Communist wanted to be the leader of wanted to be the leader of an independent, communist Vietnam; Ho received support from both the USSR and “Red” China

Slide 4 Can you answer these questions? 1. What country controlled Vietnam before WWII? 2. Why did the US send soldiers to Vietnam? 3. What was Vietnam divided between north and south? 4. What religions are popular in Vietnam? 5. Name two countries that border Vietnam. 6. Name the revolutionary leader of Vietnam.

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Slide 6 the decision of the conference was to partition Vietnam into a communist North led by Ho and a “democratic” South Vietnam. the decision of the conference was to partition Vietnam into a communist North led by Ho and a “democratic” South Vietnam. the settlement was an outgrowth of basic Cold War tensions between the Americans and Soviets. the settlement was an outgrowth of basic Cold War tensions between the Americans and Soviets. the US had come to see South Vietnam as a “domino” that they couldn’t afford to lose the US had come to see South Vietnam as a “domino” that they couldn’t afford to lose

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Slide 8 PHASE 2 – AMERICAN ESCALATION AND MILITARY INVOLVEMENT this phase originated with this phase originated with “Ike” and JFK but was intensified under Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) The U.S. never formally The U.S. never formally issued a declaration of war, but after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, where 2 American destroyers were apparently fired upon by the North Vietnamese, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolutions (August 1964) - here Congress gave LBJ their support in sending American personnel and material

Slide 9 In spite of ongoing escalation (500,000 US soldiers) In spite of ongoing escalation (500,000 US soldiers) throughout the 1960s, the US lacked success against guerrilla forces in S. Vietnam (the Vietcong) as the US Army was unprepared for their tactics and mentality their tactics and mentality  The US was also never entirely successful in shutting down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a supply line that ran between supply line that ran between North and South Vietnam via North and South Vietnam via difficult jungle terrain, difficult jungle terrain, often underground and through neighboring nations like Cambodia like Cambodia Mekong River delta sees much fighting. Mekong River delta sees much fighting.

Slide , the war turns against the US: Tet 1968, the war turns against the US: Tet Offensive, a surprise offensive on a major Vietnamese holiday that saw attacks all over the country, including in Saigon itself ongoing US casualties and losses saw an increase in antiwar sentiment on the American Home Front, ongoing US casualties and losses saw an increase in antiwar sentiment on the American Home Front, in large part because Vietnam was a TV War where American audiences saw the brutality of war firsthand

Slide 11 this included American atrocities at My Lai this included American atrocities at My Lai William Thomas Allison, a professor of Military History at Georgia Southern University, commenting on the actions of Charlie Company, wrote, "By midmorning, members of Charlie Company had killed hundreds of civilians and raped or assaulted countless women and young girls. They encountered no enemy fire and found no weapons in My Lai itself" they also witnessed the usage of weapons like napalm and Agent Orange they also witnessed the usage of weapons like napalm and Agent Orange

Slide 12 as the Counterculture gathered momentum (Hippies, Flower Children, etc.), protests became widespread and began to polarize the nation as the Counterculture gathered momentum (Hippies, Flower Children, etc.), protests became widespread and began to polarize the nation this was intensified after the Kent State Massacre this was intensified after the Kent State Massacre –National Guardsmen opened fire on student protestors in Ohio, killing four, and by Senator William Fulbright’s (Chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee) admission that the war was a “mess”

Slide 13 increasingly the American people came to perceive the “Credibility Gap”, i.e. they no longer increasingly the American people came to perceive the “Credibility Gap”, i.e. they no longer believed that LBJ was telling them the truth about events in the war  in 1968, LBJ chose not to run for president, and Republican Richard M. Nixon was elected on a platform of “Peace with Honor”

Slide 14 Nixon wanted the South Vietnamese to play a greater role in the war, a policy he labeled Vietnamization Nixon wanted the South Vietnamese to play a greater role in the war, a policy he labeled Vietnamization in spite of that, he continues carpet bombing Hanoi and orders a secret invasion of Cambodia in spite of that, he continues carpet bombing Hanoi and orders a secret invasion of Cambodia He relied on the diplomacy of Henry Kissinger to achieve peace and/or an American withdrawal He relied on the diplomacy of Henry Kissinger to achieve peace and/or an American withdrawal the US does manage to leave by Jan. 27, 1973 the US does manage to leave by Jan. 27, 1973

Slide 15 PHASE 3 – VIETNAMESE CIVIL WAR, the NVA easily defeated the South by 1975; the South had appealed to Nixon for aid, which had been promised, but by 1975 Nixon was embroiled in the domestic Watergate Crisis, and he was in essence a “lame duck” the NVA easily defeated the South by 1975; the South had appealed to Nixon for aid, which had been promised, but by 1975 Nixon was embroiled in the domestic Watergate Crisis, and he was in essence a “lame duck” 1975 – the US abandoned its embassy in Saigon, which was renamed 1975 – the US abandoned its embassy in Saigon, which was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in the newly unified and communist Vietnam

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Slide 17 Cambodia Part of French Indochina Part of French Indochina Involved in Vietnam War Involved in Vietnam War Buddhist Buddhist Invaded by US in 1970 Invaded by US in 1970 Millions killed by Khmer Rouge Millions killed by Khmer Rouge

Slide 18 Laos One of the poorest nations in the world One of the poorest nations in the world 6,500,000 people 6,500,000 people Genocide of Hmong minority Genocide of Hmong minority Communist Communist

Slide 19 Thailand Most prosperous nation in Southeast Asia Most prosperous nation in Southeast Asia 85% speak Thai 85% speak Thai Close ties with US Close ties with US Bangkok – modern city – symbol of successful economy Bangkok – modern city – symbol of successful economy

Slide 20 Indonesia Muslim Nation Muslim Nation Oil Oil 228,000,000 people 228,000,000 people 250 languages 250 languages Devastated by tsunami Devastated by tsunami Led by military government Led by military government

Slide 21 Myanmar Was known as Burma Was known as Burma 68% Burman ethnic group 68% Burman ethnic group Lacks unity Lacks unity Repressive military government Repressive military government Aung San Suu Kyi is opposition leader won Nobel Peace Prize Aung San Suu Kyi is opposition leader won Nobel Peace Prize

Slide 22 Philippines Former Spanish and American colony Former Spanish and American colony Archipelago Archipelago 83% Catholic 83% Catholic Many languages Many languages High birthrate High birthrate Capital is Manila Capital is Manila

Slide 23 Singapore Most advanced city in Asia Most advanced city in Asia Center of business Center of business Former British colony Former British colony City state with busy port City state with busy port Foreign investment Foreign investment

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