Chapter 27 Section 1 The Vietnam War

Vietnam’s History Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia. Since the 1800’s, Vietnam had been ruled by the French as part of the colony of Indochina. In World War II, Japan gained control of Vietnam. After WWII, Ho Chi Minh, a communist leader, led the fight for Vietnamese independence. His followers were called Vietminh.

Vietnam’s History The United States supported France during the war in order to stop the spread of communism. The fighting lasted nearly 8 years. France’s major defeat came at the battle of Dien Bien Phu. The domino theory argued that if one country fell to communism, its neighbors would follow.

A Battleground Against Communism Under the Geneva Accords, Vietnam was divided into 2 countries. Ho Chi Minh’s communist government was to rule North Vietnam from its capital of Hanoi. Ngo Dinh Diem was to rule South Vietnam from its capital of Saigon. Guerrillas are fighters who launch hit and run attacks. Guerrillas in South Vietnam were called Vietcong.

Battleground Ngo Dinh Diem’s government in South Vietnam was corrupt and harsh. The United States responded to Diem’s governing by pulling support from Diem. In November 1963, military leaders of South Vietnam took over the government and shot Diem. Three weeks later, American President John F. Kennedy was shot.

Lyndon B. Johnson Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President.

Chap. 27, Sec. 2

Event North Vietnam attacks American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. U.S. Response Johnson responds by calling for: -Gulf of Tonkin Resolution -Air strikes against North Vietnam

Event Johnson runs for reelection, vowing not to send Americans to Vietnam. U.S. Response Johnson won the 1964 election in a landslide.

Event North Vietnam attacks American base at Plieku. U.S. Response Johnson responds by launching more air strikes.

Event The Vietcong continue their attacks. U.S. Response Americans develop new weapons, including napalm and Agent Orange. Americans try to kill massive numbers of enemy troops in missions called search and destroy missions.

Event The North Vietnamese launch Tet Offensive on the New Year holiday. Considered turning point of war. U.S. Response Americans and South Vietnamese troops retake cities and win the battle. Americans at home react with surprise and decreasing support for the war.

Event The war continues for several years. U.S. Response Hawks: supported the war and wanted the government to mount an all-out military effort to decisively defeat the Vietcong and North Vietnam. Doves: believed the Vietnam War could not be won and was morally wrong.

Event Opposition to the war increases. U.S. Response Some resisters burn their draft cards. Some claim to be conscientious objectors, who disagree with war for religious or philosophical reasons. Many flee to Canada.

Event Antiwar movement evolves. U.S. Response First, protests are mainly peaceful. Later, violence between protestors and police become more common.

Chapter 27, Section 3 Events During the Vietnam War

Cause Johnson does not run for reelection. Effect Hubert Humphrey runs for the Democrats.

Cause Nixon promises to bring “peace with honor.” Effect Richard Nixon wins the 1968 presidential election.

Cause Nixon pursues a policy of Vietnamization. Effect American troops withdraw, giving the South Vietnamese more responsibility for the war.

Cause Nixon calls for bombing Cambodian bases. Effect For the outcome of the war, the effect is small. For Cambodia, the bombings cause chaos and civil war. The attacks trigger a new storm of protests in the United States.

Cause Henry Kissinger meets with a North Vietnamese leader to work out a peace agreement. Effect Before the 1972 presidential election, Kissinger promises that peace is at hand. In fact, the South Vietnamese rejected the proposed agreement.

Cause Paris Peace Accords are signed in January Effect The last U.S. combat troops leave Vietnam by March Part 2 Vietnam War.wvxPart 2 Vietnam War.wvx

Cause North Vietnamese are allowed to keep 150,000 troops in South Vietnam. Effect North Vietnamese troops proceed to seize control of the country.

Cause South Vietnamese troops retreat. Effect Thousands of soldiers die and civilians flee in what became known as the Convey of Tears..

Cause South Vietnamese government surrenders. Effect Vietnam is united under a communist government. Saigon is renamed Ho Chi Minh City.

Cause Number killed or wounded Effect more than 58,000 Americans die in battle. About 550,000 South Vietnamese die in battle. North Vietnamese dead are between 500,000 and 1million. 10 million people in South Vietnam are left homeless.

Cause Some South Vietnamese want to flee. Effect Some try to escape by sea and are called boat people. About 10 million die at sea or in refugee camps. QUIZ TIME!!!!

Chapter 27, Section 4

Important Events In 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.

Domestic Policy Throughout his presidency, Nixon had to deal with the following economic problems: High inflation Recession – slow down in economy High unemployment Nixon froze wages, rent, and prices to curb inflation. The policy did not work.

Foreign Policy In 1972, Nixon visited mainland China, which surprised many people. While there, Nixon met with Chairman Mao Zedong. Nixon and Soviet leaders signed the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty. The agreement that Nixon reached with Soviet leaders limited the number and type of nuclear warheads and missiles that each nation could build.

Watergate In order to obtain information during the 1972 presidential elections, burglars broke into the Democrats offices in the Watergate apartment complex. White House officials paid the burglars so that they would not tell the story of the burglary. A Senate Committee held hearings to investigate the scandal.

Watergate John Dean, a former White House counsel, testified that Nixon had approved the coverup. The Supreme Court ordered Nixon to turn over tapes of his conversations. The House of Representatives took steps to impeach President Nixon. On August 9, 1974, Nixon resigned.

President Gerald Ford The public felt less trust in Ford because he pardoned Nixon. Ford’s voluntary program of wage and price controls was called Whip Inflation Now. To spur the economy, Congress approved a tax cut. When Communist troops drew near to Saigon, Ford arranged for the airlift of thousands of South Vietnamese out of the country.

President Ford In 1976, Ford lost the presidential election to Jimmy Carter.

1. The idea that once one country falls to communism, neighboring countries will follow, is called a. Search and destroy b. The domino theory c. Vietnamization

2. In 1968, this candidate won the U.S. presidential election, saying he would bring, “peace with honor.” a. Richard Nixon b. Lyndon B. Johnson c. Gerald Ford

3. When North Vietnamese and Vietcong troops coordinated attacks on major cities in South Vietnam, it was called the a. Tet offensive b. Gulf of Tonkin attack c. My Lai massacre d.

4. During the Vietnam War, what other country was affected by the fighting? a. India b. Cuba c. Cambodia

5. Fighters who use “hit and run” tactics are called a. Hawks b. Guerrillas c. gorillas

6. The killing of four students by National Guardsmen at Kent State University came after which of these events? a. The United States began bombing Communist bases in Cambodia b. The Tet offensive c. The fall of Saigon to North Vietnamese forces

7. The steady rise in prices is called a. Deflation b. Inflation c. depression

8. Before he could be impeached for the Watergate scandal, this president chose to resign. a. Gerald Ford b. Andrew Johnson c. Richard Nixon

9. Richard Nixon’s most successful foreign policy was restoring contacts with a. Vietnam b. China c. Dierksland

10. Nixon pursued a policy of détente with the Soviet Union by signing the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty (SALT) which restricted a. salt b. the number and type of nuclear warheads each country could build c. rock music

11. The United States got involved in the Vietnam war because it wanted a. To imperialize nations in Asia b. To take land from France c. To stop the spread of communism

12. Which President first ordered U.S. troops into Vietnam? a. Kennedy b. Johnson c. Nixon