1. The War in Vietnam

2. Background Vietnam had a 2000 year history of nationalism
Had consistently fought off Chinese invasions
Colonized by the French in the late 1800’s
Both France and Vietnam appealed to the US for help

3. The Vietminh were led by Ho Chi Minh
The French were defeated at the siege of Dien Bien Phu in 1954
Vietnam was split until elections could be held.
Ho Chi Minh

5. North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) vs
North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) vs. The Republic of Vietnam (RVA) and the US

6. US Involvement Eisenhower begins to send “advisors” (500)
Kennedy increases this number (16000)
Johnson will GREATLY increase this number (536,000 by 1968)

7. Domino Theory If one falls, the rest will follow
This was our FIRM belief in the region (Appeasement!!!)
Johnson’s commitment
Containment

10. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Alleged attack on a US warship by Vietnamese patrol ships
LBJ used this to push the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution through Congress (416 to 0, 88 to 2)
Greatly expanded the President’s War Powers

12. Battlefield Conditions
Vs. guerilla warfare in the swamps and jungles

13. Viet Cong could retreat into Laos and Cambodia for protection

14. Vs. booby traps and land mines

15. Vs. the intricate tunnel system

16. South Vietnamese government was corrupt, and did not help the war effort as much as it could have.

18. Toll on Civilians Communist Brutality
Viet Cong Forces killed thousands of civilians as they were forced from cities

19. Massacre at My Lai
American forces killed 400 civilians who were suspected supporting the Viet Cong
American helicopter pilots helped to save many others

20. Intensifying The War
LBJ gradually steps up the war in terms on manpower and dollars

21. Ho Chi Minh Trail
Steady stream of supplies that moved through Laos and Cambodia
Caused LBJ to start bombing North Vietnam
US never stopped

22. Ho Chi Minh Trail

23. Ho Chi Minh Trail

24. Rolling Thunder
Nonstop, intensive bombing campaign of North Vietnam

25. Chemical Weapons and Defoliants were used (Agent Orange)

27. Tet 1/30/68 – series of surprise attacks all throughout South Vietnam
Viet Cong were turned back with very heavy losses
Government had been telling people that the North Vietnamese were on the verge of surrender

28. Effects of Tet
showed that the Viet Cong could still mount major offensive
images of fighting on American TV turned many against the war
led many to believe the war was un-winnable

29. Effects on LBJ’s Presidency
LBJ went from being a very popular president in 1963/1964, to one of the most unpopular by 1968.
Vietnam, in effect, wrecked his presidency.

30. Troop Levels in Vietnam
1965
Beginning – 25,000 End – 184,000
1966 – 385,000
1967 – 485,000
1968 – 536,000

31. Political Divisions Student Activism Baby Boomers Sit-ins, Teach-ins
Free Speech Movements

32. Resistance to the Vietnam War, and the draft for the War
Formation of “The New Left” from Student Demonstration Groups

33. Students for a Democratic Society
“SDS groups”
Major college protest group
Organized protests among student groups
Protested against Vietnam War and “Oppressive Government”

34. Johnson Decides not to Run
Tet Offensive convinces Johnson that he cannot win the war, nor the election, seeks peace with North Vietnam
Johnson not running causes the Democratic Party to Split into several factions

35. The Election of 1968
Democratic National Convention results in protest and rioting
Nixon tells America about his “Secret Plan” to win the war in Vietnam
Nixon Wins the Election

36. 1968 Assassination of MLK Tet Offensive
LBJ decides not to run for re-election
RFK is assassinated
Democratic National Convention / Election of 1968
Passage of the 26th Amendment

37. The Last Years of the War 1968
Nixon Elected
Paris peace talks begin

38. 1969 Nixon announces policy of “Vietnamization”
Formation of the “Weather Underground Terrorist Group

39. 1970 Nixon calls for law and order Appeals to the “Silent Majority”
Students killed while protesting at Kent State in OH, and Jackson State in MS

40. 1971
Nixon meets Elvis

41. 1972 Nixon Re-elected US troop levels in Vietnam fall to 24,000
North Vietnam renews attacks on South Vietnam
Nixon orders the most intensive bombing of the war

42. 1973
US troops are completely withdrawn from Vietnam.

43. 1975
Saigon falls to the North Vietnamese, the war is over

44. At Home - 58,000
US Soldiers were killed, 2500 were either POWs or MIAs. Many returning Vietnam Vets felt unappreciated. Ideas about the war left the country divided for years to come. Vietnam was the longest and least successful war in American history.

45. South Vietnam falls to The North Vietnamese army in 1975
South Vietnam falls to The North Vietnamese army in Millions of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians died in the war.