The Vietnam War (1954 – 1975)

Vietnam A mountainous, jungle-covered nation that is about 20% smaller than the state of California. It is located in SE Asia (facing the South China Sea) Prior to 1954, Vietnam was a colonial possession of France. It was called “French Indochina”

1954 Geneva Agreement Temporarily divided Vietnam into two parts (N & S). Stated that a unifying election was to be held in (The Vietnamese people would be given the opportunity to pick their own government.)

North Vietnam Communist Leader was Ho Chi Minh Capital was Hanoi

South Vietnam Non-communist Leader was Ngo Dinh Diem (No-Din-Z-em) Capital was Saigon

DMZ

Vietnam Timeline 1954 – Geneva Agreement(creates N & S) 1956 – Diem refuses to hold the unifying election in the South. (This triggers a civil war between the supporters of Ho & the supporters of Ngo.) 1956 – Diem’s opponents form the National Liberation Front (more commonly known as the Viet Cong)

The Viet Cong Supporters of Ho Chi Minh Live in South Vietnam A.K.A. “Charlie”, “Chuck”, “Gooks”, “Cong” Known for their guerrilla fighting tactics. Our #1 Enemy in Vietnam “We own the day, Charlie owns the night.” –a common G.I. saying

Timeline: cont – President Kennedy sends the first U.S. ground troops to Vietnam. (They were sent for training purposes only.)

1964 – The Gulf of Tonkin Incident On August 2 nd, two NV torpedo boats fired upon the U.S.S. Maddox as it patrolled the G of T off the coast of North Vietnam. This leads to Congress passing the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave President Johnson the power to take “all necessary measures” to prevent further NV aggression. This is basically even stronger than a declaration of war.

Feb – VC Attack Pleiku Airbase Largest U.S. airbase in SV

1965 – Operation Rolling Thunder Beginning of the “escalation” of U.S. involvement. A continuous bombing campaign of NV & the Ho Chi Minh Trail

1968 – The Tet Offensive During his Jan State of the Union Address, Pres. Johnson tells America that the end of the war is very near. On Jan. 30, NV and the VC launch the massive Tet Offensive attacking many major SV cities simultaneously. The VC even seized control of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon for a brief period of time. This offensive was “crushed” by the U.S. forces, however, it actually proved to be a huge psychological victory for the communists. Marked the “turning point” in American public opinion

1969 – President Nixon Takes Office Nixon begins his policy of vietnamization. (The gradual pullout of U.S. troops and turning over of the war to SV.) In 1972, vietnamization is complete and the last U.S. combat troops leave Vietnam.

1973 – Paris Peace Agreement The U.S. & NV sign a peace agreement in Paris officially ending U.S. involvement. American POW’s begin coming home!

1975 – Fall of Saigon Saigon surrenders to the NVA and the war ends. There is now one Vietnam and it is communist. It is still that way today!!!

Significance & Legacy Of Vietnam War Powers Act of ,000 Americans killed Only war in which we failed to meet our objective. –Why???