1. Vietnam War

2. Vietnam History
France controlled Vietnam until WWII when Japan took it over
After WWII, Vietnam declared themselves independent
France, however, wanted their former colony back

3. Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh was committed to Vietnamese independence and created the Vietminh to ensure that independence

4. France vs. Vietnam War broke out between France and Vietnam in 1946
France controlled all major cities
Vietminh controlled countryside and gathered peasant support

5. US Support Truman gave France monetary support
He wanted to ensure France was an ally against the Soviet Union and to uphold containment policy
US believed in the Domino Theory: “If one country fell to communism, other countries would also fall like a row of dominoes”

6. France Loses The French were overrun at Dien Bien Phu
France surrendered and made a peace agreement at Geneva

7. Geneva Accords Agreement
Vietnam was divided on the 17th Parallel
Vietminh controlled North Vietnam
France controlled South Vietnam
National elections were to be held in 1956

8. Domino Theory
Eisenhower did not sign agreement for fear of Domino Theory

9. US Involvement US gave Ngo Dinh Diem (leader of South Vietnam) money
Diem had a corrupt dictatorship and would not make land reforms
He showed favoritism towards wealthy and Catholics
Rigged elections in his favor

10. Ngo Dinh Diem Diem cancelled national elections to reunify Vietnam
Feared Ho Chi Minh would win
Vietminh created National Liberation Front in South Vietnam to overthrow Diem
Kennedy tripled aid and # of US advisors to Vietnam

11. Diem’s Overthrow
South Vietnamese government fired on Buddhist monks protesting against Diem
Monks set themselves on fire to protest Diem
World opinion of Diem changed after seeing pictures of this

12. US planned overthrow of Diem by assassination (early November)
3 Weeks later Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald

13. Johnson Takes Office
Johnson announced that North Vietnam fired on U.S. destroyers in Gulf of Tonkin
He urged Congress to give him authority to ‘take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the US to prevent further aggression’

14. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
In response Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Years later it was discovered that US ships were helping South Vietnamese commandos raid and spy on North Vietnamese islands…basically provoking them

15. Operation Rolling Thunder
Feb 1965 – Vietcong attack U.S. base in South Vietnam killing 8 Americans
Retaliation: Johnson ordered first bombing of North Vietnam called Operation Rolling Thunder

16. Ho Chi Minh Trail Primary Target: Ho Chi Minh trail
Supply route from North Vietnam to South Vietnam
1st combat troops sent 1 month later led by General Westmoreland

17. Fighting the War
US led air war on military bases, roads, factories, and homes in North and South Vietnam

18. Search and Destroy
US tried to wipe out Vietcong through ‘search and destroy missions’
Waded through mud, mosquitos, jungle grasses, leeches, heat, mines
The Problem: Who were Vietcong and who were friendly peasants?

19. Search and Destroy

20. Pacification Try to win over South Vietnamese civilians
Moved civilians out of villages and into ‘safe camps’ and burned village
Vietnamese resented moving and having their village destroyed
Some ended up becoming Vietcong

21. Guerilla War Vietcong tactic: ambushes, surprise, hit and run attacks
Had tunnels for shelter and protection from air raids
2 Vietcong advantages: knew the terrain and had support from peasants

23. Khe Sanh 1967 US noticed increased traffic along Ho Chi Minh Trail
US suspected an assault by Vietcong
Attack came in January 1968 at base in Khe Sanh

24. Khe Sanh 77 Day siege ended with US still holding base
However, Khe Sanh was diversion for real attack on cities in South Vietnam

25. Tet Offensive
Vietcong led a massive surprise attack on South Vietnamese cities the 1st day of the Vietnamese New Year (Tet) January 30, 1968

26. Tet Offensive US recaptured cities taken but many lives lost
1,100 – US soldiers
2,300 – South Vietnamese soldiers
12,500 civilians
35,000 enemy troops

27. Tet = Turning Point of War
Showed no place was safe causing Americans to lose confidence in the war
Showed horrifying images and hopelessness of the war
Vietnam was the first Televised War in US history
Protests began to grow at home