1. Chapter 22 The Vietnam War years State Standards 11.9.3, 11.9.4

2. Moving Toward Conflict From late 1800s until WWII, France ruled most of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, & Cambodia) From late 1800s until WWII, France ruled most of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, & Cambodia) Many revolutionaries fled to China Many revolutionaries fled to China 1940 WWII Japanese take control of Vietnam 1940 WWII Japanese take control of Vietnam 1941, Vietminh created by Ho Chi Minh 1941, Vietminh created by Ho Chi Minh Organization whose goal was to win independence from foreign rule Organization whose goal was to win independence from foreign rule 1945, French regain southern half 1945, French regain southern half

3. America supports French in French Indochina War (1950) America supports French in French Indochina War (1950) Provided French with economic & military support ($15 million) Provided French with economic & military support ($15 million) Vietnamese peasants protest harsh treatment by French Vietnamese peasants protest harsh treatment by French President Eisenhower continued supplying French aid (nearly $1 billion) President Eisenhower continued supplying French aid (nearly $1 billion)

4. LBJ’s Domino Theory – idea that if a nation falls under communist control, nearby nations will also fall LBJ’s Domino Theory – idea that if a nation falls under communist control, nearby nations will also fall 1954, French forced to surrender at Dien Bien Phu 1954, French forced to surrender at Dien Bien Phu France, Great Britain, Soviet Union, U.S., China, Laos and Cambobia met in Geneva, Switzerland France, Great Britain, Soviet Union, U.S., China, Laos and Cambobia met in Geneva, Switzerland Geneva Accords – peace agreement that temporary divided Vietnam along the 17 th parallel. Geneva Accords – peace agreement that temporary divided Vietnam along the 17 th parallel.

5. Election to unite Vietnam Election to unite Vietnam Postponed by Ngo Dinh Diem with support from U.S. Postponed by Ngo Dinh Diem with support from U.S. North Vietnam (Communist) North Vietnam (Communist) Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh South Vietnam (Anti- Communist) South Vietnam (Anti- Communist) Ngo Dinh Diem Ngo Dinh Diem Supported by Eisenhower’s administration Supported by Eisenhower’s administration However, was corrupt and did not redistribute land to peasants, and prohibited Buddhism However, was corrupt and did not redistribute land to peasants, and prohibited Buddhism

6. 1957 Vietcong (National Liberation Front) communist opposition group in Southbegan attacks on Diem Gov. 1957 Vietcong (National Liberation Front) communist opposition group in Southbegan attacks on Diem Gov. Supported by Ho Chi Minh Supported by Ho Chi Minh Supplied troops and arms along a network of paths called the Ho Chi Minh trail Supplied troops and arms along a network of paths called the Ho Chi Minh trail Outside the borders of Vietnam Outside the borders of Vietnam

7. Diem attacked Buddhist killing hundreds Diem attacked Buddhist killing hundreds U.S. urges Diem to stop! U.S. urges Diem to stop! November 1, 1963 U.S. supported coup topples Diem’s regimes November 1, 1963 U.S. supported coup topples Diem’s regimes Diem assassinated against Kennedy’s will Diem assassinated against Kennedy’s will South Vietnam brought under more chaos as a string of military leaders attempt to lead the country South Vietnam brought under more chaos as a string of military leaders attempt to lead the country More unstable than previous gvnt. More unstable than previous gvnt. (Kennedy dies few weeks later…) (Kennedy dies few weeks later…)

8. August 2, 1964 – North Vietnamese patrol boat fires torpedo at two American destroyers August 2, 1964 – North Vietnamese patrol boat fires torpedo at two American destroyers LBJ escalates conflict LBJ escalates conflict Asked Congress for powers to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the U.S. and to prevent further aggression” Asked Congress for powers to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the U.S. and to prevent further aggression”

9. Tonkin Gulf Resolution Tonkin Gulf Resolution Granted Johnson broad military powers Granted Johnson broad military powers Johnson send additional soldiers to Vietnam Johnson send additional soldiers to Vietnam NOT a declaration of war! NOT a declaration of war! LBJ uses his new powers on February 1965, Operation Rolling Thunder LBJ uses his new powers on February 1965, Operation Rolling Thunder First sustained bombing of North Vietnam First sustained bombing of North Vietnam June, 50,000+ U.S. troops in Vietnam June, 50,000+ U.S. troops in Vietnam End of 1965, 180,000 Americans in Vietnam End of 1965, 180,000 Americans in Vietnam 1967 - 500,000 Americans in Vietnam 1967 - 500,000 Americans in Vietnam

10. General William Westmoreland General William Westmoreland Commander of U.S. forces in South Vietnam Commander of U.S. forces in South Vietnam Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) – South Vietnamese Army Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) – South Vietnamese Army Plan – destroy their morale through war of attrition – gradual wearing down of the enemy by continuous harassment. Plan – destroy their morale through war of attrition – gradual wearing down of the enemy by continuous harassment. Track body count of Vietcong Track body count of Vietcong

11. U.S. underestimated Vietcong U.S. underestimated Vietcong Believed war was military struggle Believed war was military struggle Vietcong believed war was a battle for their existence Vietcong believed war was a battle for their existence Vietcong used Guerrilla warfare Vietcong used Guerrilla warfare elusive enemy with surprise attacks elusive enemy with surprise attacks Tunnels in jungle Tunnels in jungle Civilians in village Civilians in village Booby traps and mines Booby traps and mines U.S, tried to expose Vietcong tunnels U.S, tried to expose Vietcong tunnels

12. Napalm – gasoline-based bomb set fire to jungles Napalm – gasoline-based bomb set fire to jungles Agent Orange – leaf-killing toxic chemical Agent Orange – leaf-killing toxic chemical Search and Destroy missions – uprooting civilians with suspected ties to Vietcong Search and Destroy missions – uprooting civilians with suspected ties to Vietcong Killed their livestock, & burned villages Killed their livestock, & burned villages War of attrition – gradual wearing down of the enemy by continuous harassment War of attrition – gradual wearing down of the enemy by continuous harassment “Communist guerillas hide among the people, if you win the people over to your side, the communist have no place to hide” “Communist guerillas hide among the people, if you win the people over to your side, the communist have no place to hide” U.S. most advanced weaponry U.S. most advanced weaponry Military Strategies

25. LBJ’s Great Society suffers LBJ’s Great Society suffers $6 billion reduction in funding to support the war $6 billion reduction in funding to support the war Economy begins to suffer Economy begins to suffer Inflation rate tripled by 1969 Inflation rate tripled by 1969 Becomes living-room war Becomes living-room war 1967, Americans split over support 1967, Americans split over support LBJ’s administration started to quote “body counts” LBJ’s administration started to quote “body counts” Hoped to persuade Americans that Vietcong were going to surrender. Hoped to persuade Americans that Vietcong were going to surrender. Critics concerned with “credibility gap” Critics concerned with “credibility gap”