Slide 1 VIETNAM, (the Day War) Scott Masters Crestwood College

Slide 2 Vietnam War War of independence against colonial French War of independence against colonial French Vietnam -French Vietnam -French French Indochina (along with Cambodia and Laos) Vietnam began to fight for its independence after WWII Vietnam began to fight for its independence after WWII Vietnamese Revolutionary leader - Ho Chi Minh Vietnamese Revolutionary leader - Ho Chi Minh Minh Support by USSR & “Red” China Minh Support by USSR & “Red” China

Slide 3 French defeat at Dien bien phu Peace Conference Geneva, Switzerland (France, Vietnam, US,/USSR) Peace Conference Geneva, Switzerland (France, Vietnam, US,/USSR) Decision Partition Vietnam Communist -North -Ho Democratic- South –Diem Decision Partition Vietnam Communist -North -Ho Democratic- South –Diem US policy of Containment Soviet policy Expansionism US policy of Containment Soviet policy Expansionism US saw South Vietnam as a “Domino” that they couldn’t afford to lose/if Vietnam fell to communism all surrounding Asia countries would US saw South Vietnam as a “Domino” that they couldn’t afford to lose/if Vietnam fell to communism all surrounding Asia countries would

Slide 4 PHASE 2 – North Vietnam Attacks South- America Gets Involved South Vietnamese appealed for help South Vietnamese appealed for help Started w/JFK intensified under Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Started w/JFK intensified under Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) No Formal Declaration of war US Ship entered -Gulf of Tonkin Incident US Ship entered -Gulf of Tonkin Incident -fired upon by the North Vietnamese Congress passed Gulf of Tonkin Resolutions (August 1964)

Slide s Vietnamese 1960s Vietnamese Guerrilla forces v U.S and south Vietnamese people Vietcong-North V. that were living in the south-pockets of resistantance that worked along with the north to take over the south (black/attack at night)  Ho Chi Minh Trail- Supply Line ran betw. Supply Line ran betw. N/South Vietnam and Laos/Cambodia-via N/South Vietnam and Laos/Cambodia-via jungle-supplied Vietcong with weapons needed to launch attacks jungle-supplied Vietcong with weapons needed to launch attacks

Slide 6 Tet Offensive- surprise offensive by N. Vietnam launched on a major Vietnamese holiday attack on U.S TROO0PS….. Tet Offensive- surprise offensive by N. Vietnam launched on a major Vietnamese holiday attack on U.S TROO0PS….. U.S-Attacked back + used Napalm/Agent Orange U.S-Attacked back + used Napalm/Agent Orange Antiwar sentiment Grew on American Home Front Antiwar sentiment Grew on American Home Front Vietnam was- TV War

Slide 7 My Lai –U.S ambush V. Civilian Village (believed to be Vietcong) My Lai –U.S ambush V. Civilian Village (believed to be Vietcong)

Slide 8 U.S Counterculture - Hippies, Flower Children, etc.), protested war U.S Counterculture - Hippies, Flower Children, etc.), protested war Intensified after-Kent State Massacre Intensified after-Kent State Massacre –National Guardsmen opened fire on student protestors in Ohio, killing four

Slide 9 “Credibility Gap”-LBJ lying about war “Credibility Gap”-LBJ lying about war  LBJ chose not to run for president  Nixon-Republican elected “Peace with Honor”

Slide 10 Nixon wanted South to play greater role in war Nixon wanted South to play greater role in war Vietnamization-bring troops home Bombed Hanoi /secret invasion of Cambodia Bombed Hanoi /secret invasion of Cambodia Henry Kissinger –Sec. of state for Nixon. Negotiated Peace and/or an American withdrawal from V US leaves V Jan. 27, 1973 US leaves V Jan. 27, 1973

Slide 11 PHASE 3 – VIETNAMESE CIVIL WAR, NVA Overtake South NVA Overtake South South appealed to Nixon refused South appealed to Nixon refused Watergate Crisis/Scandal-wire tapping dem. office Watergate Crisis/Scandal-wire tapping dem. office Saigon- renamed Saigon- renamed Ho Chi Minh City Communist Vietnam