Going to War in Vietnam Chapter 30 section 2
American Involvement Increases South Vietnam (leader: Ngo Dinh Diem) refuses to hold national elections because he knows Ho Chi Minh will win & country will become Communist. As a result, Ho Chi Minh organizes a new guerilla army—Vietcong.
Vietcong As fighting begins, Eisenhower sends 100s of military advisors to South Vietnam The Vietcong is made up of North & South Vietnamese, but supplied by N. Vietnam
Vietcong The Vietcong grow increasingly powerful through their use of terror & propaganda
Kennedy takes office JFK also supported S. Vietnam in order to stop Communism JFK needs to appear tough on Comm. b/c Republicans accused Democrats of letting China turn to Comm. during Truman’s pres.
Overthrow of Diem US blames Diem’s weak,unpopular, corrupt gov’t for letting Vietcong grow more powerful S. Vietnamese forced to move from homes to “strategic hamlets”- makes Diem even more unpopular
Overthrow of Diem Diem’s most unpopular move: Diem discriminates against the country’s most widespread religion—Buddhism. He bans the display of traditional religious flags for Buddha’s b’day Buddhists protest & are killed. A Buddhist monk sets himself on fire as a protest. Seen on tv & in newspapers worldwide.
Diem overthrown Diem loses support of US because of demonstrations Military generals overthrow Diem in a coup November 1, 1963 He is executed next day JFK killed 3 wks later
Johnson & Vietnam At 1 st, LBJ was hesitant to enter a war with Vietnam – He didn’t want to use US $ and soldiers – Yet, he also needed to appear tough on Communism – So—increases soldiers to Vietnam
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Aug. 2, 1964 LBJ announces that N. Vietnamese torpedo boats had fired on 2 American destroyers in Gulf of Tonkin LBJ insists the acts are unprovoked & the US is ready to retaliate
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution c’ued LBJ asks Congress to authorize use of force against N. Vietnam Aug. 7, 1964 Congress passes Gulf of Tonkin Resolution—authorizes President to use all necessary means to repel any attacks as well as help any country in SE Asia The resolution becomes justification for entering a war with N. Vietnam
US sends in troops The Vietcong begins attacks on bases with Americans, resulting in US airstrikes against N. Vietnam Most US citizens support the airstrikes March 1965, LBJ launches “Operation Rolling Thunder”: a sustained bombing campaign and 1 st US combat troops sent into Vietnam
Operation Rolling Thunder
US confidence By end of ’65, US has more than 180,000 US troops were in Vietnam In 1966, the number was over 360,000 US had strongest army---thought conflict would be over quickly
Why the US was mistaken: US had a difficult time competing against Vietcong guerilla warfare: – traps – ambushes – excellent at hiding and virtually disappearing US goes on “search & destroy” missions
Chemical warfare US has trouble with Vietnam’s geography— heat, rain, jungles They use napalm-a jellied gasoline that explodes on contact. Dropped napalm from planes & destroyed the landscape. Also use “Agent Orange”-a chemical that strips leaves from plants & shrubs
Ho Chi Minh Trail Vietcong stronger than US thinks and is not willing to give up N. Vietnamese support (arms, advisors, soldiers) help Vietcong greatly by sending supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail Johnson not willing to attack Ho Chi Minh Trail because it passed through countries not associated with the war
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Ho Ci Minh Trail
North Vietnam was getting support from China & USSR One of main reasons LBJ refused to launch a full-scale invasion of N. Vietnam was the fear that a large attack would bring China into war
Questioning the war 220,000 Vietnamese killed End of 1966, more than 6,700 Americans had been killed Because of this, many US citizens begin to question America’s involvement in the war
SECTION 3 : VIETNAM DIVIDES THE NATION