1. Vietnam

2. Background France colonized Vietnam in 19th Century
Japan occupied Vietnam during WW11
Geneva Accords, 1954, set plan for Vietnam’s future
French must be south of line (17th Parallel)
Free and fair elections in two years
USA refused to sign Geneva Accords

3. Conflict Building
Eisenhower orders CIA to assist in South Vietnamese elections
Rigged so Ngo Dinh Diem wins
Ho Chi Minh leader of Vietnamese communist part (North Vietnam)
Southern Vietnamese who supported Ho Chi Minh were called Vietcong
US continued to support France until 1956 when France pulled out all troops
US insists keeping South Vietnam free from communism is key to world security

4. “Official” Conflict? Gulf of Tonkin, 1964 Operation Rolling Thunder
USS Maddox on August 2
Gulf of Tonkin Incident, August 4
Resolution August 7 – US will support any Asian country endangered from communist aggression
Allowed US to send massive amounts of troops
Operation Rolling Thunder
March 1965 – November 1968
Continuous bombing, focused on Ho Chi Minh Trail

5. Reality of War 58,000 US soldiers died
Joining early, joining National Guard
25% of US troops drafted
Ways to legally avoid draft
Conscientious objector
student deferments
medical
Difficult war because:
Weather
Warfare tactics
Lack of support and training
Photos

6. Anti-War Movement Early 20s, college students Middle/upper class
Frustrated with “failure to uphold democratic ideals”
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
Free Speech Movement (FSM)
80% of college campuses had protests
Kent State “Massacre” - May 4,1970
Invasion of Cambodia April 30th
4 killed, 9 injured

7. Tet Offensive Vietnamese New Year- Jan 30, 1968 Agreement on ceasefire
Attacked 36/44 provincial capitals
Attacked US embassy

8. 1968 Election Democratic Convention Republicans pick Nixon Protests
Failure to pick candidate
Humphrey and Wallace both run
Republicans pick Nixon
Campaigned on bombing HCM Trail
Vietnamization

9. Vietnamization training South Vietnamese troops to replace US troops
reduce US troop number
Negative reaction
Supporters of war see it as cutting and running
Critics see it as continuing war

10. Wrapping up Vietnam 1970 – Repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Last troops returned home 1973