1. Vietnam

2. Moving Toward Conflict I. France’s involvement in Vietnam From 1800—WWII, France ruled most of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia) Vietnamese peasants began resisting French rule –French rulers began restricting freedom of speech and assembly

3. Many revolutionaries fled to China and formed a group under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh –Leader of the Indochinese Communist Party Vietminh—an organization whose goal it was to win Vietnam’s independence from foreign rule September 2, 1945—Ho Chi Minh stood in the northern city of Hanoi and declared Vietnam’s independence –The French fought back

4. The US get involved in 1950 backing the French for 2 reasons –Strengthen ties with France –Fight spread of Communism US provided military and economic support –Eisenhower’s Domino Theory—Countries on the brink of Communism are like dominoes waiting to fall one after another

5. The Vietminh overran the French at Dien Bien Phu in May 1954 Geneva Accords— Temporarily divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel –Ho Chi Minh and the Communists ran North Vietnam from Hanoi –Anticommunist Nationalists ran South Vietnam from Saigon

6. US involvement in Vietnam With France gone, the US played a larger role Ho Chi Minh was winning support in the north by breaking up large estates and dividing the land among the peasants –He was considered a hero 1956, South Vietnam’s President, Ngo Dinh Diem canceled elections because of Ho Chi Minh’s popularity –Knew entire country would become Communist US supported Diem’s government in South Vietnam, which soon became corrupt

7. Vietcong—Communist group against South Vietnam, began attacking Diem’s government –Supported by Ho Chi Minh –Ho Chi Minh Trail—Path Ho Chi Minh used to supply the Vietcong in South Vietnam

8. JFK and Vietnam Increased financial aid to Diem --Sent military advisers to train South Vietnamese troops (16,000 by 1963) –Diem began targeting Buddhists –US overthrew Diem on November 1, 1963 –JFK announced he planned to withdraw from Vietnam, shortly before his death

9. LBJ and Vietnam After Vietnam’s removal South Vietnam became more unstable LBJ believed a communist takeover in South Vietnam would be disastrous Tonkin Gulf Incident—The USS Maddox claimed to hear enemy fire and began firing back –Prompted LBJ to authorize bombing strikes on North Vietnam –LBJ asked Congress for powers to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the US and to prevent further aggression” –Tonkin Gulf Resolution Gave LBJ broad military powers in Vietnam By August 1965, 50,000 US soldiers were battling the Vietcong

10. Viewpoints on increasing involvement Lyndon JohnsonDetermined to contain Communism Sent over large numbers of American troops Robert McNamaraLBJ’s Secretary of Defense Supported LBJ’s decision to send troops Dean RuskLBJ’s Secretary of State Supported LBJ’s decision to send troops

11. Viewpoints continued General William Westmoreland American commander in South Vietnam Continued asking for more troops US CongressSupported LBJ’s decisions and strategy American PublicSupported their President, although there were dissenters

12. American Military advantages Military strategies Superior high- powered weaponry Bombings War of Attrition—gradual wearing down of the enemy Preventing Vietcong support by S. Vietnam’s rural population The use of Napalm (gasoline-based bomb that set fire to the jungle) and Agent Orange (a leaf-killing toxic chemical) Search and Destroy missions

13. Vietcong Military advantagesMilitary strategies Knowledge of terrain Ability to blend in with civilians Willingness to pay any price for victory Hit and run ambushes Booby traps and land mines Surprise attacks Guerilla warfare Intense tunneling system (pg 738)

15. Decreasing public support The US economy –As the number of troops in Vietnam grew, the cost of the war grew –Inflation rate rose –LBJ asked for a tax increase Congress agreed after LBJ cut $6 billion in funding for the Great Society

16. Decreasing public support Television –“Living room war” People could watch combat footage Listened nightly to body count statistics –16,000 from 1961-1967 The Fulbright Hearings –LBJ advisers were asked to defend their foreign policies to congress –People felt they weren’t hearing the truth about what was really happening

17. End of the War and its Legacy 1. Nixon adopts a policy of Vietnamization –Vietnamization—Nixon and National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger’s, plan to gradually withdraw US troops so the South Vietnamese could take a more active combat role in the war Silent Majority—Moderate, mainstream Americans who quietly supported the US efforts in Vietnam

18. 2. My Lai massacre shocks Americans –200 innocent Vietnamese were killed by US soldiers 3. Nixon orders invasion of Cambodia –Wanted to remove Vietnamese and Vietcong supply centers from Cambodia

19. 4. First student strike in US history occurs –1.5 million students closed down 1,200 campuses protesting the invasion of Cambodia 5. Congress repeals the Tonkin Gulf Resolution –To protest Nixon’s bombing and invasion of Cambodia without notifying Congress –To gain greater Congressional control over US policy in Vietnam

20. 6. The “Christmas bombings” take place –Nixon bombed North Vietnam cities, Hanoi and Haiphong, as one last push to force a negotiated peace

21. 7. South Vietnam surrenders to North Vietnam –North Vietnam’s full-scale invasion of South Vietnam and the capture of Saigon –No US troops there to prevent the North’s victory

22. 8. Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming –Americans were very torn and bitter about the war 9. Cambodia erupts in civil war in 1975 –Caused by the US invasion of Cambodia in 1970 –1 million Cambodians died

23. 10. Congress passes the War Powers Act –A president must inform Congress within 48 hours of sending troops into a hostile area without a declaration of war –Curbs the president’s war-making powers 11. The draft is abolished –Due to much caused anti-war sentiment