The Vietnam War Mr. Grimaldi U.S. History

“Vietnam” - What comes to mind?

Quick background on Vietnam: Constant War years of resistance to outsiders -China -Mid 1800’s French Colonialism in Indochina -WWII Japan Birth of the Viet Minh

-WWII ends, Ho Chi Minh tries to declare independence (modeled after U.S. Dec. of Ind.) -France goes to war to make Viet. their colony again -U.S. gives France $2.6 billion = contain communism Q: Look closely at H. C. M. Why was he considered a people’s leader?

- 9 years of war against France French are defeated

Geneva Accords – July Independence for Indochina

-Agreement that Vietnam divided at 17 th parallel -North = Communists -South = Democracy 1956 – there would be an election to unify Vietnam

The United States Enters the War: - U.S. does not sign the treaty for election to unify because: -Domino Theory: if South Vietnam falls to Comm. = all of Southeast Asia follows

Unpopular Actions: -Imprisoned those who opposed him -Corruption, rigged elections, and nepotism -Catholic in a Buddhist country Diem Regime: Q: How is Diem’s appearance different to Ho Chi Minh’s? Puppet Regime? Warning: next slide is graphic

How would an American of the time interpret this image? Do you know of any instances of protest in recent times that mirror this event? Q:

Kennedy Years: 1. Strengthen S. Vietnam Army with aid and training 2. Pressure Diem’s decisions - South Vietnam Army failed = money given to officials

The Overthrow of Diem: May 1963 = Buddhist start to protest June 1963 = Monk sets fire to himself Nov = Diem is killed in a coup

-Shortly after Diem’s assassination, tragedy strikes in the U.S. …

Lyndon Johnson becomes president

Johnson’s War: - He kept Kennedy’s foreign policy team (“flexible response” strategy) - Needed strong anti-communism stance to win re-election

3k&feature=related Johnson calls Goldwater an extremist / nuclear war 1964 Presidential Campaign:

A. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution -North Viet. torpedo boats attack U.S. destroyers at Gulf of Tonkin - Aug. 1964: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Congress gives Johnson authority to “take all necessary measures…”

B. Operation Rolling Thunder - Feb = Vietcong attack U.S. military base (8 U.S. killed) - U.S. bombed N. Vietnam (Nonstop for the next 3 years)

D. Fighting the War U.S. plan = break V.C. will to fight Success = not by land, but body count ( read Ho quote pg. 773)

1. The Air War U.S. = intense bombing raids Vietcong’s defense = 30K miles of tunnels

“Tunnel Rats”

2. The Ground War U.S. = Search + Destroy Missions Suffocating envir. = swamps, heat, thick jungle, traps (B.B.) Who’s who? – Vietcong or S. Viet. farmer?

3. Guerilla Tactics of Vietcong small bands of fighters use: - ambush / hit + run 2 Advantages - knew the terrain - support from the peasants (food + shelter)

By 1967 = 14,000 US killed Aver. Age = 19 yrs old

Private First Class Phillip Wilson – Killed in action 12 days later.

First-aid center, where wounded Marines were treated before being helped to air-evacuation points. (Life)

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