1. Vietnam Soviet supported North, communist
Ho Chi Minh
USA supported South, Ngo Dinh Diem
Dictator, but not communist
Guerilla warfare
started in the South
Early 1960’s
Communists, but many saw it as a fight to liberate Vietnam from foreign domination

2. America Enters Vietnam
Domino theory:
American foreign policy
A communist victory in Vietnam would cause countries across SE Asia to fall to communism as well

3. America Enters Vietnam
Domino theory:
American foreign policy
A communist victory in Vietnam would cause countries across SE Asia to fall to communism as well
Ho Chi Minh aided Viet Cong
Communist rebels trying to
overthrow S. Vietnam’s government
US first sent supplies
then troops

4. President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ)
August 1, 1964 S. Vietnamese raided North
N. Vietnamese retaliated, attacked the Maddox (US Navy destroyer)
LBJ reported attacks to Congress
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
August 7, 1964
Authorized President to use all necessary measures to prevent further aggression in SE Asia

5. America Enters Vietnam
US begin bombings
500,000 troops
Guerilla war
Turning Point
Viet Cong knew the land & villagers
North sent supplies

6. Americans Oppose the War
Vietnamese & American casualties
POWs
MIAs

8. North Vietnam Wins the War
President Nixon established a cease-fire
January 1973
US agreed to remove troops
North Vietnam agreed not to invade the South
… 2 years later, North invades the South
Some dominos fell… Laos & Cambodia

9. Soviet “Vietnam” in Afghanistan
Afghan warlords took up arms against Soviet- supported Afghan government
1979, Soviet Union enters war with Islamic country, Afghanistan

10. Soviet Afghan War (1979-1989) Mujahedin: Muslim religious warriors
Fought the Soviets
Mountains of Afghanistan
Mid 1980’s, US began to smuggle modern weapons to mujahedin
As difficult as fighting in jungles of Vietnam
Crisis in morale for Soviets

11. Soviets envied the prosperity of the West
End of Cold War
Command economy
Inefficiency & waste
Low wages & life time job security
Western boom
Soviet stagnation
Unproductive agriculture
Consumer goods were inferior, luxury goods were rare
Couldn’t keep up with arms race
Soviets envied the prosperity of the West

12. Soviet Union Economy struggled Morale was low from long war
Eastern Europe wanted freedom

13. Fall of the Soviet Union
Mikhail Gorbachev, 1985, came to power
Reforms
Glasnost- openness
Wanted better relations with the world (USA) to better Soviet economy
Bowed out of arms race
Removed troops from Afghanistan

14. First time since 1939, Eastern European countries were free
Communist governments
Late 1980’s, fell one by one
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, etc.
Dissolved Warsaw Pact
First time since 1939, Eastern European countries were free

15. Berlin Wall’s gates were opened
November 9, 1989
Country reunified

16. Fall of the Soviet Union
December 25, 1991
Gorbachev resigns
Ukraine, the Russian Federation, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan declared they were no longer a part of the Soviet Union
Peaceful end to long & terrifying Cold War

18. Communism Around the World
China opened economy to capitalism
Economic boom
But no political reform
Vietnam
Opened itself to the world
Started diplomatic relations with USA
North Korea
Rigid totalitarianism, Isolation
Cuba
Economy deteriorated
Many thought communism wouldn’t outlive its founder, Fidel Castro

19. United States emerged as sole superpower
Americans seemed unsure of the new role as “the world’s policeman”
Protector of freedom, but no rival threat
What do you think America’s military role in the world should be?