1. Unit 7 Section 5
The Vietnam Years

2. Background to Conflict1
Following World War II, France attempts to re-establish colonial control of Vietnam
Vietnamese resist under leadership of Communist Ho Chi Minh
Eisenhower’s government supports France in battle against Vietminh rebels – domino theory
French abandon Vietnam after loss at Dien Bien Phu

3. US Involvement Begins
To end conflict officially, US helps draft Geneva Accords treaty
Divides Vietnam at 17th Parallel into North and South
North is controlled by Communists and Ho Chi Minh
South is controlled by anti-communist forces
Elections are promised to reunite country

4. US Involvement Begins
US begins providing economic support to anti-communists in South
President of South, Ngo Dinh Diem, cancels promised elections (fearing a victory by Ho)
Communist guerrillas in the South – the Vietcong – begin attacks against Diem’s government

5. US Involvement Begins
Vietcong supplied from the North via Ho Chi Minh trail
Diem is unpopular; eventually assassinated with US approval
US bombing of North begins; by 1963, JFK has sent in 16,000 military “advisors”

6. Gulf of Tonkin Incident
South grows more unstable after Diem’s death – Lyndon Johnson fears being perceived as “soft on Communism”
August, 1964, US ship attacked by N. Vietnamese patrol boat in Gulf of Tonkin-explained
LBJ asks for action from Congress
Passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution, giving LBJ carte blanche to conduct war against North
Incident is widely believed to have been staged

7. Americanizing the War
LBJ initiates Operation Rolling Thunder – sustained bombing of the North
By June, 1965, 50,000 US troops in country
Early on, majority of Americans supported war based on containment theory
Key US leaders:
Sec. of Defense – Robert McNamara
Sec. of State – Dean Rusk
General William Westmoreland

8. Troop Buildup
South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) quickly judged incompetent by Westmoreland
Believed that without US troops, South would rapidly fall
LBJ and Westmoreland stage massive troop buildup – 500,000 Americans on ground by 1967
Belief in victory through superior weaponry and sheer number of forces will prove incorrect

9. A New Kind of War Difficult fighting for American troops
Guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare by elusive Vietcong
Booby traps and ambush prove constant dangers
US strategy – war of attrition and win “hearts and minds” of Vietnamese people 1

10. A New Kind of War US tactics alienate much of population
Napalm
Agent Orange
Search and Destroy Missions
Civilians suffer
American troop morale drops as difficulty of situation becomes evident
explained 2

11. War at Home Great Society programs suffer due to war costs
War is broadcast on TV – first time ever
Credibility gap develops
Draft is seen as unfair
Deferments for college students
Average age of soldier was 19
African Americans represented in larger percentages
Nation divided into pro-war “hawks” and anti-war “doves”

12. The Protest Movement Many question US involvement in Vietnam
Opposition movement grows
New Left
Students for a Democratic Society lead protests
Large scale protests, burning of draft cards, draft evasion-protest
October, 1967 protest in DC draws 70,000
Conservative backlash against movement
LBJ resolved to stay the course
Anti-War Music

13. 3 4 5

14. From http://www.dailymail.uk
Wikis.nyu.edu