War in Vietnam

Background  Like Korea, Vietnam was split up into two sections after WWII  North Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, was communist  South Vietnam, led by Ngo Dinh Diem, was democratic  Like Korea, Vietnam was split up into two sections after WWII  North Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, was communist  South Vietnam, led by Ngo Dinh Diem, was democratic

South Vietnam - Capitalist  Govt. dishonest and brutal  Diem jails those who criticize him  US backs Diem - not Communist  Govt. dishonest and brutal  Diem jails those who criticize him  US backs Diem - not Communist

North Vietnam - Communist  Ho Chi Minh well liked  Living conditions improve under communism  Ho Chi Minh well liked  Living conditions improve under communism

Reunification  North and South Vietnam to reunite in 1956 and have elections to pick a new govt.  Diem refuses to allow South Vietnam to take part, arrests thousands  North and South Vietnam to reunite in 1956 and have elections to pick a new govt.  Diem refuses to allow South Vietnam to take part, arrests thousands

Fighting Begins in South Vietnam  Vietcong (VC) - communist guerilla forces in South Vietnam supported by North Vietnam  Diem’s men fire at Buddhist monks who hold nonviolent demonstrations against him  Some monks set themselves on fire to protest -pictures make it to TV and newspapers  Diem’s army kills him and takes over - things get worse in South Vietnam  Vietcong (VC) - communist guerilla forces in South Vietnam supported by North Vietnam  Diem’s men fire at Buddhist monks who hold nonviolent demonstrations against him  Some monks set themselves on fire to protest -pictures make it to TV and newspapers  Diem’s army kills him and takes over - things get worse in South Vietnam

Warning: Graphic Image of Monks. You may look away.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 8/7/1964  Congress gives President Johnson power to “repel any armed attack against US forces”  US sends troops to Vietnam  US airstrikes attack Ho Chi Minh trail - Supply line from North Vietnam, through Laos and Cambodia into South Vietnam providing Vietcong with weapons  Congress gives President Johnson power to “repel any armed attack against US forces”  US sends troops to Vietnam  US airstrikes attack Ho Chi Minh trail - Supply line from North Vietnam, through Laos and Cambodia into South Vietnam providing Vietcong with weapons

Jungle Warfare  Vietnam is largely jungle  US drops napalm (jellied gasoline) and Agent Orange to burn off forests, causing huge environmental damage and health issues to Vietnamese civilians and US troops  Vietnam is largely jungle  US drops napalm (jellied gasoline) and Agent Orange to burn off forests, causing huge environmental damage and health issues to Vietnamese civilians and US troops

US Problems  Vietcong are not easily identified from others  Vietcong hide in tunnels underground and we cannot find them  Vietcong are highly motivated and know the geography (US is 10,000 miles from home)  US often attacked villages of innocent Vietnamese, thinking they were Vietcong. Causing a loss of loyalty  Average age of US soldiers - 22 (very young)  Vietcong are not easily identified from others  Vietcong hide in tunnels underground and we cannot find them  Vietcong are highly motivated and know the geography (US is 10,000 miles from home)  US often attacked villages of innocent Vietnamese, thinking they were Vietcong. Causing a loss of loyalty  Average age of US soldiers - 22 (very young)

A Divided Nation  Doves - People who want the US to pull out of war  Hawks - People who want the US to fight  College students begin to protest the war as friends are called to fight  By 1968, 75% of colleges saw protesting of war  Most Americans support the war until 1968, when citizens find out US govt. is exaggerating how well we are doing  Richard Nixon is elected President in 1968 because he has a “secret plan” to end war  He doesn’t  Doves - People who want the US to pull out of war  Hawks - People who want the US to fight  College students begin to protest the war as friends are called to fight  By 1968, 75% of colleges saw protesting of war  Most Americans support the war until 1968, when citizens find out US govt. is exaggerating how well we are doing  Richard Nixon is elected President in 1968 because he has a “secret plan” to end war  He doesn’t

Twenty Sixth Amendment  Lowered voting age from 21 to 18  Nixon reelected in 1972  Lowered voting age from 21 to 18  Nixon reelected in 1972

Paris Peace Accords  US will remove all troops and release all POWS  DMZ set up between North and South Vietnam  Communists could take part in govt. of South Vietnam  Soon after, North attacks South, unifies it, and creates a communist govt.  US will remove all troops and release all POWS  DMZ set up between North and South Vietnam  Communists could take part in govt. of South Vietnam  Soon after, North attacks South, unifies it, and creates a communist govt.

Results of the War  1 million North Vietnamese and Vietcong died  500,000 civilians die  1 million Vietnamese children are orphans  US loses 58,000  2500 MIAs remain  US troops not welcomed home  1 million North Vietnamese and Vietcong died  500,000 civilians die  1 million Vietnamese children are orphans  US loses 58,000  2500 MIAs remain  US troops not welcomed home