1. VIETNAM

2. Dien Bien Phu (1954) French defeated at Dien Bien Phu
Geneva Agreement (1954)
Divides Vietnam at 17th parallel
Ike uses Domino Theory as justification for intervention
Support Diem in S. Vietnam

3. Diem Regime (54-63) Ngo Dinh Diem president Diem’s popularity fades
JFK has 16,000 men in S Vietnam.
Diem’s popularity fades
Attacks Buddhist
Nepotism
Results
Vietcong grows in South
Diem overthrown by
military coup (63)

4. Tonkin Gulf Incident (1964)
LBJ’s standing shot up
In a few years, his credibility will be destroyed

5. U.S. Role Increases Vietcong attack U.S base at Pleiku (1965)
Operation Rolling Thunder ( )
Limited War
Not invade the North. Don’t want China or Soviets involved
Decided on war of attrition and pacification (hamlets)
Alienate peasants

6. Jungle Warfare The enemy: Vietcong Who truly is the enemy? Dangers
Farmer and guerilla
Willing to accept high causalities
Resolved
Who truly is the enemy?
They all look the same
Search and destroy missions
Unsuccessful
Alienate peasants
Dangers
Ambushes
Booby Traps
Land Mines
Heat
Malaria
Foliage
Napalm
Agent Orange
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Limited War
Wins based on body count
Other issues
drugs

8. 1968: A Pivotal Year The Tet Offensive Effects Jan. 30, 1968
LBJ outlines plans to end the war peacefully
Escalation stops
LBJ not run for Prez
Divided Democrats

9. Morale Low No territorial gains
Body counts on T.V every night (MEDIA PLAYS A BIG ROLE!!!)
1968 = 500 dead a week
Wonder what we were fighting for
Were we becoming the enemy?

10. Protest: Hawks vs Doves
Columbia University 1968
March on the Pentagon 1967

11. Protest: African American

12. Nixon’s War “Peace with honor” “Vietnamization” Nixon’s Doctrine
U.S honor existing commitments, but in future, Asia will have to fight their own wars (no troops)
Secret War w/ Cambodia
Appeals to “silent majority”
Tough on crime
Not push Civil Rights policies
“Southern Strategy”

13. My Lai Massacre (Spring ’68)
villagers massacred by U.S. soldiers
Revealed in Nov. ’69, increasing protest

14. Student Protest (1970) Kent State (Ohio) Jackson State (Miss.)
Possible Results
Congress repealed Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
26th Amendment (1971) – lowering the voting age to 18

15. Pentagon Papers (1971)

16. End of War Saigon falls 1975 (under Carter) “Christmas Bombings” (’72)
Paris Accords (Jan. ’73)
U.S withdraw in 60 days
17th parallel divide N and S
POWs released
War Powers Act (‘73)
Prez must notify Congress within 48 hrs of deploying troops
Must withdraw troops unless gets Congress approval within 90 days
Saigon falls 1975 (under Carter)

17. The Cost 3 mill Vietnamese killed 58,000 Americans killed
300,000 wounded
2,583 POW/ MIA
$118 billion
Lose of trust in govt
Genocide in Cambodia