Late 1800’s – Vietnam becomes a French Colony Ho Chi Minh starts Vietnamese Independence Movement Ho Chi Minh creates Communist Party in Vietnam, is exiled to USSR and China but stays involved

1940 Japanese take Vietnam Ho Chi Minh returns to fight Japanese for independence (with US support) Declares independence in 1945

France returns in 1945, supported by US France fights for control of Vietnam US sends over $1billion to help Goal is to contain Communism France loses war, leaves “Domino Theory” If one country falls to the Communists, more will follow

Ends French Indochina Divides it into Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam Vietnam divided between Communist North and anti- Communist South on the 17 th parallel

Ngo Dinh Diem is the leader of South Vietnam Ho Chi Minh leads the north They agree to have elections in 1956 Diem refuses to hold elections, becomes totalitarian

Vietcong form in 1957 Southern opposition to Diem Communist Ho Chi Minh Trail Path through Laos and Cambodia used to arm Vietcong Goes through jungles

US sends 16,000 troops by 1963 to train South Vietnamese troops Goal: Contain Communism Problem: Diem unpopular and Vietcong are growing This is a CIVIL war

Diem is a problem Moves villages Attacks Buddhists, jailing leaders and burning temples US decides to oust Diem Arranges military coup Diem is assassinated Nov. 1, 1963

South Vietnam is unstable Aug. 2, North Vietnamese boat fires on USS Maddox in Tonkin Gulf They report same thing 2 days later and return fire Report is questionable

Johnson persuades Congress to pass Tonkin Gulf Resolution NOT a declaration of war Johnson uses this to bomb North Vietnam and send 50,000 soldiers to battle Vietcong President can take “all necessary measures to repeal any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.”

US increases ground war in Vietnam, believing defeat of Communism in Vietnam is essential. By Dec. 1965, 180,000 troops in Vietnam By 1967, 500,000 US troops in Vietnam

American Commander in South Vietnam Un-Impressed with Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) “Only possible response is the aggressive deployment of US troops”.

Fight a “War of Attrition” by wearing down the Vietcong Win over villagers in rural areas if possible Conduct search and destroy missions where Vietcong are hiding, even if it means killing civilians

To root Vietcong out of tunnels, US uses Napalm – gasoline based bomb that sets fire to the jungle Agent Orange – leaf killing toxic chemical that wipes out jungles These hurt civilians and cause cancer later

Americans begin to oppose war Opposition starts with students who are being drafted into a conflict that they believe the US should not be involved in Martin Luther King Jr. also opposes the war Marches and Protests are held

Tet is the Vietnamese New Year US forces expect calm North Vietnamese state major offensive attack, taking much of South Vietnam and attacking the American Embassy in Saigon 40,ooo North Vietnamese and Vietcong die Over 100,000 civilian casualties and millions left refugees 1600 Americans die and 8000 wounded Leads a broad section of Americans to question being in the war and increases anti-war movement

60% of Americans oppose the War “The Living Room War” – people watch on TV President Johnson decides not to run for re-election after Anti-War Senator Eugene McCarthy nearly beats him in Presidential Primaries Johnson also said that the US would seek negotiations to end the war Robert F. Kennedy enters the race for President 1968 becomes a turbulent year

April 4 – Martin Luther King assassinated in Memphis Violence breaks out in 100 cities June 4 – Robert F. Kennedy wins California Primary, is assassinated College Campus protests attract 40,000 at 100 campuses Columbia University buildings taken over by students for one week, 900 are arrested

10,000 protesters arrive to protest convention in Chicago Mayor sends out 12,000 police and 5000 National Guard Aug. 28 protesters meet at park to march, police beat crowd with nightsticks and spray mace Some protesters fight back, entire thing is caught on TV Riots spread to downtown streets, protesters scream “The whole world is watching”.

Richard Nixon is Republican Candidate Will restore law and order, end conflict in Vietnam Hubert Humphrey, Johnson’s VP is Democrat Candidate Last man standing for the Democrats George Wallace, “Dixiecrat” Gov. of Alabama, runs on segregation and states rights platform Nixon Wins

Through “Vietnamization”, US troops will withdraw and give South Vietnamese a greater role August ,000 troops come home Within 3 years, troops drop from 500,000 to 25,000 Policy developed by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger Wants “Peace with Honor” US needs to maintain dignity Nixon still continues bombings, says his gradual policies will appeal to the “silent majority”

NY Times reports tha in March 16, 1968 US troops massacred civilians in My Lai in South Vietnam When no Vietcong were found in village, they massacred over 200 people at orders of Lt. William Calley, Jr. Directive: “Kill anything that breathed”. Calley goes to jail My Lai increases opposition to war

1970 – Nixon invades Cambodia to root out Vietcong 1.5 million students protest, close down 1200 campises May 4 - At Kent State University in Ohio, students burn down ROTC building National Guard fire into student protesters Nine wounded, four killed Similar protest at Jackson State leads to 12 wounded and 2 killed 10 days later

December 21, 1970 – Congress repeals Tonkin Gulf Resolution Limits President’s ability to act October 26, 1972 – Nixon agrees to withdraw troops even if North Vietnam will not leave South Vietnam December 16, 1972 – Talks between US, South Vietnam and North Vietnam break off, Nixon drops 100,000 bombs on Hanoi and Haiphong January 27, 1973 – Nixon signs agreement to end war, leave Vietnam March 29, 1973 – US troops leave Vietnam

1975 – Saigon Falls to North 58,000 troops killed, 303,000 wounded on US Side 2 million Vietnamese die Veterans are not welcomed at home 15% of the 3 million who served have PSTD Many become drug addicted, homeless South Asia remains in turmoil War is a scar on America PENTAGON PAPERS show that the troop levels and body counts were falsified

November 1973 President must inform Congress within 48 hours of sending troops to a hostile area without declaration of war Troops cannot remain there more than 90 days without a declaration of war from Congress