Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

May 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu French lose battle & leave Vietnam Vietminh in control Who’s who? Vietminh Communists from the North

May-July 1954 Geneva Accords Peace conference that divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel North: Communists Ho Chi Minh = leader South: Non Communists Ngo Diem = leader

1956 American backed Diem cancelled national elections because he knew he was going to lose Diem was very corrupt, but we backed him anyway…why? He was non-Communist

Dec. 1963 16,000 US troops in Vietnam

Aug. 2, 1964 Gulf of Tonkin USS Maddox was attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin by the N. Vietnamese That’s our story & we’re sticking to it!!

Aug. 7, 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Gave President Johnson broad military powers in Vietnam President no longer needs Congress’ approval before going to war Checks & Balances issue!!

March 1965 Operation Rolling Thunder US bombing campaign against N. Vietnam We drop 6.2 million tons of bombs!! Carpet Bombing!!

June 1965 50,000+ US troops in Vietnam Most Americans support our efforts in Vietnam because we were fighting to contain Communism

1968 500,000+ US troops in Vietnam

Jan. 31, 1968 Tet Offensive Vietcong surprise attacks through S. Vietnam Attacked all major cities in S. Vietnam Turning point of the war – Communists are winning

Results of Tet Offensive The war was not almost over like President said Led to mistrust of President Johnson Proved S. Vietnam could not protect itself Proved N. Vietnamese were more coordinated than we thought!!

March 16, 1968 My Lai Massacre US troops massacre entire village under order from US General Calley War Crimes!! Most women, children & elderly… US public didn’t learn of this until 1969

Nov. 1968 Nixon wins the 1968 Presidential Election Promised to get the US out of Vietnam!!

Nixon’s Plans Vietnamization Getting more Vietnamese troops involved in fighting the war Peace & Honor Still fight as we withdrawal troops from Vietnam

April 30, 1970 US Invades Cambodia US bombing campaign to clear the VC supply lines Ho Chi Minh Trail

June 1971 Pentagon Papers Daniel Ellsburg of the Dept. of Defense leaked information about the truth behind American involvement in Vietnam Gulf on Tonkin incident didn’t happen like LBJ said it did!! Confirmed LBJ lied to the public about our involvement Public opinion abt. war & gov’t. officials decreases!!

March 29, 1973 Last of US combat troops out of Vietnam Almost all US troops out of Vietnam 58,000 US troops died 2,000+ POWs/MIAs

Nov. 1973 War Powers Act Replaced the Gulf of Tonkin Resolutions & limits President’s power during war President can send troops where needed, but must get approval from Congress to stay longer than 90 days

March 1975 N. Vietnam invades S. Vietnam US provides economic aid to S. Vietnam, but no more military aid

Vietnam becomes 1 Communist country April 30, 1975 Vietnam becomes 1 Communist country

2 things to be completed before you leave today… Vietnam questions Final Exam Thematic Review Key Writings/Literature Key Treaties/Peace Conferences Amendment Review