The Vietnam War For 2000 years, the Vietnamese fought for independence…

Background/Overview French Colonial Rule: 1800s → WWII –Vietnamese “nationalist” movement led by Ho Chi Minh –Post WWII: FR tried to reassert power ( ) US Response –Support of FR: Containment –Lesson of Korea: Domino Theory

1 st Indochina War: French Forces, US Money –US “busy” in Korea –1/3 of FR war paid for by US Battle of Dienbienphu –French defeat Geneva Accords –Vietnam divided into 2 countries at 17 th Parallel North Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh (communist) South Vietnam: Ngo Dinh Diem (anti-communist) –Elections in 2 yrs to unify the country…

Ike & JFK’s Vietnam Policy Political Support –Ease FR out –“Nation Building” Economic Support –US aid US Dilemma –Free elections? –Corrupt SV gov’t –Need to stand firm

Growing Problems: Internal Revolution Aggression from the North Insurgency in the South –VC (Vietcong) –Ho Chi Minh Trail Buddhist Protests Diem overthrown –SV goes through 5 more inept gov’ts Ngo Dinh Diem

LBJ’s War Limited US involvement –Communists winning? –VC gaining strength 1964 – Gulf of Tonkin Incident –US destroyers attacked by NV gunboats in Gulf of Tonkin Gulf of Tonkin Resolution –“Declaration of War” sort-of – Gave President complete control over what the US did in Vietnam

US Strategy/Policy Goals Goals & Objectives –Containment & strength Attrition –Search and Destroy Escalation of troops –500,000 max in 1967 Bombing –Agent Orange & Napalm Strategic Hamlet Program –Concentration villages Vietnamization –Give the war over to the the SV Secret War –Fight across the border Effects –No demonstrable effects

Problems/Issues Tet Offensive –Coordinated NV & VC offensive –US wins, but psychological victory for NV/VC NV support from USSR & China Lack of US consensus –Hawks v. Doves –Silent Majority Credibility Gap –Pentagon Papers: Secret Defense Dept study showed LBJ administration lied about the war to win public support Student Protest Movement –Kent State: 4 Students killed by National Guard My Lai Massacre –Villagers killed by US troops –American public shocked Picture from the My Lai Massacre Student Protestors at Kent State University

Exiting the War & the End Peace talks → 1968 –US/SV Demands: –NV/VC Demands: –Neither willing to compromise Peace with Honor, –Kissinger & “Realpolitik” Re-offensive 1972 –Force NV to negotiate Final Round, 1972 → –Agreements made on what had previously been rejected Vietnam divided –US withdraws all troops –Nixon promises continued $$$ & weapons to SV –But Watergate… March 1975, NV attack against SV –US does nothing April 1975 Vietnam unified –Communist Vietnam today… Signing the Paris Peace Agreement North Vietnamese tank entering SV capital of Saigon

The Legacy of Vietnam 58,000 US casualties US image tarnished Shattered public’s trust in gov’t and military Shattered belief American technology and $$$ could bring victory Vietnam Vets return to a country that shuns them US debates whether it can/should be the “World’s Policemen…”