1. Vietnam War until 1968

2. Vietnam Controlled by France until WW2
Japan took it during WW2, opposed by the Viet Minh

3. Viet Minh Vietnamese Communists who fought for independence
In WW2, supported by US & China against Japan
Founded by Ho Chi Minh

4. Ho Chi Minh Vietnamese Communist Leader
National hero for fighting for Vietnamese independence

5. French claims to Vietnam
After WW2, France tried to regain control of Vietnam
Indochina War
Viet Minh defeated French in northern city of Dien Bien Phu

7. Geneva Accords - 1954 Treaty separated Vietnam into N&S
North – Communist
South – Nationalist
National election to decide which system for unified Vietnam

9. Conflict inside Vietnam
SV pres Ngo Dinh Diem feared communists would win the nationwide election
Refused to allow the election
US supported him

11. Ngo regime Vietnam – majority Buddhist
Diem was Christian, had laws passed that restricted Buddhism

12. Vietcong (VC) Organization of Communists living in South Vietnam
Worked to overthrow Diem
Assassinated SV officials

13. Vietcong (VC) VC was located in SV Communist allies in NV helped
Supply line from N to S nicknamed “Ho Chi Minh Trail”

15. JFK & Vietnam At first, supported Diem’s rule
Didn’t want to look “soft on communism” so supported strongest anticommunist
Then, Diem’s oppression of the people got worse

16. Diem & Buddhism Diem began imprisoning & killing Buddhist monks
Some protested by committing ritual suicide

18. JFK & Vietnam US public horrified by repression of Buddhists in SV
JFK approved a US / SV coup to overthrow Diem
Diem was assassinated in the coup

19. Gulf of Tonkin US Navy was on patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin area
NV shot torpedoes at USS Maddox

21. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Congress gave LBJ power to expand military presence in Vietnam
US began bombing targets in north
War escalated

22. US gets involved LBJ’s top advisors urged him to  number of US troops
Most in US supported involvement in Vietnam at first
Containment doctrine
1965: 61%
LBJ’s top advisors urged him to  number of US troops

23. Troop buildup Gen William Westmoreland wanted more US troops
Said US troops would fight better than US-trained S Vietnamese
Reported battlefield success to convince them to add troops
Credibility Gap – public eventually didn’t trust reports

24. Gen. William Westmoreland

25. Troop buildup Number of US soldiers in Vietnam Mid-1964 16,000
End of ,000
,000

26. Fighting in the jungle
US had superior weapons, but jungle was very tough to fight in
Provided cover for VC guerilla tactics
Elaborate tunnel systems allowed for escape and/or resupply
VC could blend into villages

27. Fighting in the jungle
US had superior weapons, but jungle was very tough to fight in
No front line of advance – attacks were hit and run everywhere
Booby traps & land mines
Jungle weather
Ridiculous insects

28. War of attrition
Gradually wear your enemy down & destroy morale until they quit
Gen Westmoreland’s main strategy
Didn’t work at all – Vietcong were way too committed to their cause

29. War on rural Vietnamese
Had to keep S Vietnamese from joining Vietcong cause
Very difficult because US had to destroy the jungle to win
To fight out in the open
Angered the locals

30. Getting rid of jungle
US used Napalm and Agent Orange to destroy the jungle

31. Napalm

32. Napalm

33. Agent Orange

34. Agent Orange

35. Morale of US soldiers
US military strategies caused morale of troops to drop
No end in sight
Many became alcoholics & drug addicts
Draftees were drag on morale

36. War at home Impact on LBJ’s Great Society programs for the poor
High cost of war = massive debts
$ that would have gone to help poor went to war
Gov had to raise taxes also

37. How the Draft always worked
Since WWI:
All men register when they turn 18
Anyone not excluded (usu medical reasons) between serves

38. How Vietnam War Draft worked
People got out of it:
Med exemptions (many were bogus)
National Guard
Coast Guard
College deferment
Most people who avoided service were wealthy & white

39. African Americans & Vietnam
10% of total population of USA
20% of Vietnam deaths
MLK spoke about “cruel irony”
Fighting for others’ freedom & equality when they didn’t have it themselves