1. Lesson 1 The Cold War and Vietnam
The Vietnam War Era ( )
Lesson 1 The Cold War and Vietnam

2. Lesson 1 The Cold War and Vietnam
The Vietnam War Era ( )
Lesson 1 The Cold War and Vietnam
Learning Objectives
Explain the steps Kennedy took to change American foreign policy.
Analyze the causes and effects of the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Assess the outcome of the Berlin Crisis and other foreign-policy events of the 1960s.
Describe the reasons that the United States helped the French fight the Vietnamese.
Identify ways in which the United States opposed communism in Southeast Asia.
Analyze how the United States increased its involvement in Vietnam.
John Kennedy
Fidel Castro
flexible response
Peace Corps
Alliance for Progress
Bay of Pigs invasion
Cuban missile crisis
Nikita Khrushchev
hot line
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Berlin Wall
Ho Chi Minh
domino theory
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)
Vietcong
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

3. I. Kennedy’s Presidency A. Election of 1960 1. Democrat - John F
I. Kennedy’s Presidency A. Election of Democrat - John F. Kennedy - Catholic 2. Republican – Richard Nixon – V.P.

4. Cold War
Kennedy wanted to prepare the US to fight nuclear war and guerilla warfare
Military Policy,
1.Flexible response – Create special forces – Green Berets
Fight any type of conflict
Eisenhower – “massive retaliation”

5. Cold War and Kennedy Limit the Spread of Communism
Politically and economically help countries
Peace Corps – (1961) American Volunteers to assist developing countries
“Third World” – developing nations in Asia, Latin America
Provide technical, educational and Health Services
Alliance for Progress – economic development with other countries
Resurrect good neighbor policy with Latin America
$20 Billion to help Latin American countries
Industry, agricultural, health and welfare

6. Kennedy & CUBA
Just 90 miles off the coast of Florida, Cuba presented the first big test of JFK’s foreign policy
Eisenhower administration drew up plans to invade Cuba
CIA mission
Dictator Fulgencio Batista dictator of Cuba (anti-communist)
Could be controlled by USA
(1959) Openly Communist, Cuba was led by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro who welcomed aid from the USSR
US controlled 75% of the sugar crop
b. Castro promised to get rid of poverty
c. Castro wins and takes over U.S. companies land
d. U.S responds by imposing trade barriers on Cuba
e. Cuba turns to USSR for aid

7. Kennedy Responds to Communism in Cuba
Analyze Maps Based on the information in the map, what factors might have influenced President Kennedy's decision to launch the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, in 1961?

8. BAY OF PIGS CIA Operation/ Eisenhower
Train Cuban Exiles
Invade Cuba and overthrow Fidel Castro
Kennedy learned of the plan only nine days into his presidency
JFK approved the mission
Bay of Pigs was a disaster
1,200 Cuban exiles invade Cuba
25,000 Castro Cuban supporters backed by USSR
USA did not provide air support with invasion
JFK faced political ramifications
Bay of Pigs Invasion – Awesome Histories

9. Cuban Missile Crisis USSR + Cuba Summer of 1962
Nikita Krushchev – Soviet Premier
Promises to support Cuba
Summer of 1962
USSR shipment of weapons to Cuba include nukes
U-2 Spy plane, 1962
Photographs of missiles in Cuba
Joint Chiefs want to bomb Cuba
JFK and advisors use diplomatic measures
US forces sent to Florida
JFK addresses public
“Quarantine” Cuba
Impose a naval blockade to prevent missiles from being delivered
13 Days – Quarantine Clip

12. 13 DAYS
When
more Soviet ships headed for the U.S. with weapons, JFK ordered a blockade
The first break in the crisis occurred when the Soviets ships turned back
Finally, Khrushchev agreed to remove the nuclear weapons from Cuba in exchange for a U.S. promise NOT to invade Cuba
For 13 days in October, 1962 the world stood still as the threat of nuclear war gripped the planet

13. h.

14. EASING TENSIONS Impact of the Crisis Kennedy seen as a leader
Khrushchev lost prestige
Reduce Nuclear Tensions
Move towards Détente – relax tensions between the two powers
Hotline – telephone communication between USA and USSR
1963 – Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Ended above ground nuclear tests
USA, Great Britain, USSR
36 other nations also signed
USSR promises to remove missiles from Cuba and the US secretly promises to remove missiles from Turkey – leads to the Hotline

15. Berlin Wall 1958 – Treaty – divided the city of Berlin
1961 Khrushchev and Kennedy meet in Vienna
Khrushchev wanted the US to recognize formal division of German
Remove US troops from W. Berlin
Khrushchev wanted to challenge the leadership of Kennedy
Kennedy Increase military spending
1961 Russians build the Berlin Wall, separating East (commie) and West Berlin
Was built more for keeping in Communist citizens from escaping than for keeping us out
Skilled workers leaving E. Berlin – move to W. Berlin

16. French Rule in Vietnam China and Vietnam Ho Chi Minh
Vietnam earned independence in 1428.
Still close ties to China remained
1600’s French missionaries went to Vietnam
Since the late 1800’s, the French ruled Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia
Indochina
After WWII, France tried to regain control of these territories
Vietnamese tried to flee to China to escape harsh French Rule.
USA supported France with over 1 billion dollars…and military support (fear of communism)
Events in China and Korea help to convince the USA
Ho Chi Minh
starts a movement to rid Vietnam of both French and Japanese control.
Traveled the world, including USA
Wrote President Wilson for aid against French Rule
The Japanese had taken control while France was busy with WWII.
Vietminh – nationalist group formed by Ho Chi Minh (Communists)
Get rid of foreign rule

17. French Rule in Vietnam:
Post WWII
Cold War
France struggle with North Vietnamese
USA concentrates on “Containing Communism”
In 1950, the US sent $15 million in aid to the French to help them defeat the Vietminh
Containment Policy
The French eventually surrendered at Dien Bien Phu – French outpost
French Colonial Rule comes to an end.
France, Great Britain, Soviet Union, USA, China, Laos, and Cambodia all met with the Vietminh to set up a peace plan – Geneva Accords
This peace plan divided Vietnam into: (17th Parallel)
North Vietnam – Communist
Ho Chi Minh
South Vietnam – Anti-communist
Boa Dai
The USA (Eisenhower) promised Diem aid and training to build a strong government in South Vietnam

18. Domino Theory
Belief that if one country fell to Communism, then eventually the rest of the world would become communist.

19. The US Steps In:
Diem didn’t use the funds as he should and angered many
A strong communist group called the Vietcong had begun attacks on Diem’s government – assassinated thousands of South Vietnamese government officials.
Ho Chi Minh supported the group with weapons and money
He sent supplies via the Ho Chi Minh Trail

20. Reasons for U.S. Involvement in Indochina
Analyze Maps Based on the information in this map, which regions of present-day Vietnam were particularly dangerous for French forces?

21. Reasons for U.S. Involvement in Indochina
Analyze Charts Based on the graphic, were U.S. leaders concerned about the spread of communism only in Southeast Asia or did they fear it would spread worldwide?

22. Kennedy and Vietnam:
Kennedy initially sent Diem more supplies, money, and military advisors
Billions of dollars and military personnel
Diem misused resources
By the end of 1963, 16,000 US military personnel were in South Vietnam
Diem faced turmoil
Communists rebellion
Buddhist rebellions
also attacked Buddhists (he was Catholic)
He burned temples, and killed hundreds of Buddhist clerics (some protested)
Majority of population was Buddhist
Diem is assassinated Nov 1963
Rumors of a coup heard by American intelligence officers
Kennedy originally supported a coup
America denied involvement in the coup of Premier Diem
Kennedy assassinated a week later

23. Johnson and Vietnam
Kennedy wanted to withdrawal troops by 1965
Vice President Johnson takes over
August 1964
A U.S. SHIPS IS ATTACKED BY N. VIETNAMESE. IN GULFOF TONKIN
The torpedo missed, and the Maddox opened fire on the patrol boat
Two days later, the American ships reported enemy fire and opened fire on enemy ships (later it was found that there was no enemy fire)

24. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution:
Johnson decided then to start dropping bombs on North Vietnam
JOHNSON ASKS CONGRESS FOR PERMISSION
TO DO
“WHATEVER NECESSARY”TO FIGHT COMMIES.
CONGRESS AUTHORIZES LBJ TO HAVE TOTAL DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY
“A BLANK CHECK”
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution granted Johnson broad military powers in Vietnam
THE DRAFT STARTS = TROOPS FLOOD INTO VIETNAM

26. Johnson Increases US Involvement:
America Supported America’s involvement
Containment Policy
In 1965, 61% of Americans supported the war, while 24% opposed it
Start of 1965 , 25,000 troops in S. Vietnam
End of 1965, 185,000 troops
1968 – 543,000 troops
That’s half a million!
American commander in S. Vietnam – William Westmoreland (served in WII and Korea), continued to request more troops