1. Vietnam War 1955-1975

2. Vocabulary Viet Cong – National Liberation Front (NLF) or North Vietnamese Communist Ho Chi Minh – communist Revolutionary leader of North Vietnam Domino Theory – if one state in a region falls to communism surrounding nations will too Attrition – military strategy of wearing down the enemy by continual loss of personnel and material

3. Vietnam War Cold War proxy war fought from 1955 to 1975 Occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Second Indochina War

4. First Indochina War 1946-1954 – North Vietnam supported by USSR and China – South Vietnam supported by USA and France Viet Cong (Communist) fought guerilla war against anti-communist forces Peace treaty ending war divided Vietnam along 17 th Parallel

5. Truman Doctrine Containment policy continues Eisenhower pledges firm support to S.Vietnam – Sends advisors to train their military S. Vietnam cracks down on communist sympathizers – Arrest 100,000 people – torture and execution 1961 JKF advised to increase support

6. Domino Theory if one Southeast Asian nation fell to communism, many would follow Kennedy increases aid to Vietnam – 1962 : 9,000 troops present in Vietnam

7. War Escalates South Vietnam leaders toppled in a coup and killed (CIA involved) – Three weeks before JFK assassinated President Lyndon Johnson persuaded to increase U.S. military and economic support

8. Gulf of Tonkin Incident 8/2/1964 USS Maddox was attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats 8/4/1964 second attack on U.S. ships in Gulf Incident used as excuse to rapidly increase U.S. involvement in conflict – 8/4 event was false radar images – 8/2 event never happened!

9. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Gave LBJ authorization to use our military in SE Asia Not a declaration of war Resolution authorizing the president to do “whatever” necessary to SE Asian nations suffering from communist aggression. – Rapid escalation of the war - President could do anything he wanted!

10. Escalation March 1965 – LBJ decides to send more troops – American public in support – June 1965: 82,000 – July 1965:immediate dispatch 100,000 – 1966:another 100,000 – November 1967:500,000 War of attrition – to kill as many enemy troops as possible – not to secure territoy

11. First Televised War Most Americans watch Vietnam war on the TV news Constant horrific images of the war Oct 1967 mass antiwar protest in Washington D.C Government is facing loss of public support – 15,000 American soldiers lost

12. Tet Offensive 1967 Viet Cong sought to strike a decisive blow to U.S It was a coordinated series of attacks on 100 cities and towns – Unable to hold them against American counterattack Shocked American public who had been told we were winning war 1968 – LBJ’s approval falling – US enters peace talks – He does not seek re-election ~ Richard Nixon elected

13. Vietnam War Ends Richard Nixon continues peace talks while escalating the bombing of North Vietnam Anti-war protest grow especially on college campuses 500,000 men become ‘draft dodgers’ by fleeing to Canada Nixon ends the draft and institutes an all volunteer army that we have today

15. Vietnam War Ends 1973 America begins pulling troops out – Congress limits funds to fight war Fighting continues until 1975 when Saigon fell to the Communist Evacuation of the American Embassy

16. Vietnam War Ends U.S. Casualties 58,303 303,000 wounded South & North Vietnam united as a communist nation – Communism not contained 1986 – Vietnam introduces free-market economic reforms 1990s re-established diplomatic ties with U.S.

17. Vietnam War Ends America did not loose the Vietnam war from a military perspective but rather it was lost in the court of public opinion.

18. Questions to Ponder What was the result of the first Indochina War? What is the Domino Theory? What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution? What role did television play in the Vietnam war?