Background to the War zFrance controlled “Indochina” since the late 19 th century zJapan took control during World War II zWith U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar period

Background to the War zHo Chi Minh - zHo Chi Minh - One of the leaders of the nationalist movement in Vietnam for almost 30 years. He helped found the Indochinese Communist Party, and worked to overthrow French rule.  The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces in 1954

Background to the War zInternational Conference at Geneva zThe Geneva Accords divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel, with Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh in control of North Vietnam and a pro-Western regime in control of the South.

Background to the War  A date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnam * Ngo Dinh Diem (South Vietnam) vs. Ho Chi Minh (North Vietnam) zNgo Dinh Diem backed out of the elections, leading to military conflict between North and South.

U.S. Military Involvement Begins zThe zThe U.S. aided Diem’s government P Ike P Ike sent financial and military aid P 675 P 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by zRepressive zRepressive dictatorial rule by Diem P Diem’s P Diem’s family holds all power P Wealth P Wealth is hoarded by the elite P Buddhist P Buddhist majority persecuted P Torture, P Torture, lack of political freedom prevail

U.S. Military Involvement Begins zKennedy elected 1960 zIncreases military “advisors” to 16,000 z1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese military coup d’etat – Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2) zKennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. 23)

Johnson Sends Ground Forces zJohnson and the Domino Theory ( zJohnson and the Domino Theory (if Vietnam fell to communism, the rest of Southeast Asia would follow) I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.

Johnson Sends Ground Forces On August 2, 1964, President Johnson announced that North Vietnamese torpedo boats had fired on two American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. On August 7, 1964, the Senate and House passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing the president to “take all necessary measures … to prevent further aggression.” Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution P “The Blank Check” *

Big Question  Was the U.S. planning to go to war in Vietnam before August 1964?  Partner UP  Read the four documents  Make a decision

U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

 Dear America, –Letters Home from Vietnam – Part I

The Ground War zISSUES: zNo territorial goals zBody counts on TV every night (first “living room” war) zViet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Trail

The Air War z1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam zOperation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965) z : Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh Trail. zDowned Pilots: P.O.W.s zCarpet Bombing – napalm

The Ground War zGeneral Westmoreland zGeneral Westmoreland, late 1967: We can see the “light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Tet Offensive, January 1968 zDuring a holiday period the North Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon) zTake every major southern city zU.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive zViet Cong destroyed zN. Vietnamese army out of action zBUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by the media – why?

Impact of the Tet Offensive zDomestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration zHzHzHzHey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?

Impact of the Vietnam War …I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President. Johnson announces (March, 1968):

Who Is the Enemy? zVietcong zVietcong: A member of the communist guerrilla movement in Vietnam that fought the South Vietnamese government forces 1954–75 with the support of the North Vietnamese army P Difficult to defeat because: P Farmers by day; guerillas at night. P Very patient people willing to accept many casualties. P The US grossly underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness. The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- M MM Mao Zedong

American Morale Begins to Dip zDisproportionate representation of poor people and minorities. zSevere racial problems. zMajor drug problems. zOfficers in combat 6 mo.; in rear 6 mo. Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo.

Are We Becoming the Enemy? zLt. William Calley, Platoon Leader zMy Lai Massacre, 1968 z unarmed villagers Charlie Company, 1 st Battalion, 20 th Infantry

Nixon on Vietnam zNixon’s 1968 Campaign promised an end to the war: Peace with Honor P Appealed to the “Silent Majority” zVietnamization – zTurn the war over to the Vietnamese zWin their hearts and minds! zExpansion of the conflict  The “Secret War” P Cambodia P Laos zAgent Orange (chemical defoliant)

“Pentagon Papers,” 1971 zFormer defense analyst Daniel Ellsberg leaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts during Johnson’s administration to the New York Times. zPentagon Papers revealed that the Govt. misled Congress & Amer. People regarding its intentions in Vietnam during mid-1960s. P Primary reason for fighting not to eliminate communism, but to avoid humiliating defeat.

The Ceasefire, 1973 zPeace is at hand  Kissinger, 1972 P North Vietnam attacks South P Massive U.S. bombing campaign commences z1973: Ceasefire signed between P U.S., South Vietnam, & North Vietnam zPeace with honor (President Nixon)

The Ceasefire 1973 zConditions: 1. U.S. to remove all troops 2. North Vietnam could leave troops already in S.V. 3. North Vietnam would resume war 4. No provision for POWs or MIAs zLast American troops left South Vietnam on March 29, 1973 z1975: North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam zSaigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City

Formerly Saigon A United Vietnam

The Costs 1.3,000,000 Vietnamese killed 2.58,000 Americans killed; 300,000 wounded 3.Under-funding of Great Society programs 4.$150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending 5.U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust of government, decimated

The Impact z26 th Amendment: 18-year-olds vote zNixon abolished the draft  all-volunteer army zWar Powers Act, 1973 ٭ P President must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying military force P President must withdraw forces unless he gains Congressional approval within 90 days zDisregard for Veterans  seen as “baby killers” zPOW/MIA issue lingered

2,583 American POWs / MIAs still unaccounted for today.

I f we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be you who tires of it. And in the End…. Ho Chi Minh:

Lessons for Future American Presidents 1.Wars must be of short duration. 2.Wars must yield few American casualties. 3.Restrict media access to battlefields. 4.Develop and maintain Congressional and public support. 5.Set clear, winnable goals. 6.Set deadline for troop withdrawals.

President Clinton formally recognized Vietnam on July 11, 1995

Another Vietnam? OR A transformation of the Middle East? Only time & history can tell!

Anti-War Demonstrations zMay 4, 1970 z4 students shot dead. z11 students wounded Kent State University zJackson State University zMay 10, 1970 z2 dead; 12 wounded

March on the Pentagon October 21, 1967 –Last of 5 days of protests organized by the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam –Famous speakers came to address the crowd (Robert Lowell, Benjamin Spock) –The protest escalated when the leaders of the Youth International Party announced they were going to “exorcise” the Pentagon  People surrounded the building and chanted spells to try and drive out the “evil war spirits”  Tear gas was released into the crowd  2,500 troops guarded the Pentagon  681 arrested

The Moratorium Rally (D.C.) November 15, 1969 –America’s biggest anti- war demonstration ever  250, ,000 protestors present –A little less wild  LBJ was out of office and Nixon had initiated his “Vietnamization” plan  Police had learned how to handle protests –3,000 Police –9,000 Army troops –200 Lawyers –75 Clergymen –Protest was peaceful for the most part  135 arrests made

Kent State In response to Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia –Didn’t want to be drafted May 1, Day One –Huge demonstration on the College’s commons –Around midnight rowdy bikers began throwing bottles and vandalizing cars in the street –Approximately 100 students joined in –Police eventually got the situation under control

Kent State (cont.) May 2, Day Two –State of Emergency declared in Kent  Ohio Governor, James A. Rhodes, called in the National Guard –Demonstrations continued on campus  Reserve Officer Training Corps building was set on fire –Firemen and police were pelted with rocks by the surrounding crowd –10:00 p.m.- National Guard set up camp on Kent State’s campus  Used tear gas and arrested the protestors  At least one person was bayoneted May 3, Day Three –More protests –Curfew imposed on students

Kent State (cont.) The National Guard was sent in to maintain order on Kent State’s campus

Kent State (cont.) May 4, Day Four –Pre-planned rally commenced  Approx. 2,000 people present –National Guard told them to disperse  People refused  Troops sprayed the crowd with tear gas –Crowd began throwing rocks and chased the National Guard off campus  “Pigs off Campus!” –After being chased up a hill by the angry protestors, the National Guard opened fire on the crowd  Firing lasted 13 seconds  4 dead  9 wounded

Kent State (cont.) The National Guard was chased up a hill by angry students A shocked student grieves over a dead body, shot down by the National Guard