1. The Vietnam War 1955 - 1975 Chapter 31

3. Indochina - Background French Colony WWII leads to nationalist movements Ho Chi Minh organizes Vietminh French reassert control w/ US support (1946-1954) Dien Bien Phu – May 7, 1954

4. Indochina - Background Geneva Accords Divides Vietnam at 17 th parallel Provides for elections in 2 years French pull out Ho Chi Minh controls the North Ngo Dinh Diem controls the South

5. Ho Chi Minh May 19, 1890 – Sept 2, 1969 Leader of the Vietnamese nationalist movement

6. Ngo Dinh Diem Noble Family Roman Catholic Dictatorial Powers Supported by US until 1963 Out of touch with the Vietnamese People Assassinated in ’63

7. Early Protests of Diem’s Government Self-immolation by a Buddhist Monk

8. US Involvement - Background Anti-communist atmosphere Events of late 1940s and 1950s China, Korean War, Soviet atom bomb, McCarthyism, Alger Hiss, etc. Made alternative vision/solutions difficult

9. US Involvement - Background Kennedy Years Test of US resolve/credibility Test of “flexible response” Test of Kennedy’s youth/inexperience

10. JFK – Increased US Involvement Abandon Ngo or deepen US involvement? Increased US military advisors from 652 to 16,000 strengthen S. Vietnam army with US technology pressure Ngo into making necessary reforms.

11. JFK – Increased US Involvement Fall of Ngo Dinh Diem Nov.1, 1963, a coup overthrows and kills Ngo Three weeks later JFK is assassinated.

12. The Vietnam War Part II: US Involvement and Escalation

13. Johnson’s War "I’m not going to be the president who saw SE Asia go the way China went."

14. Tonkin Gulf – Aug. 4, 1964 N. Vietnamese fire on US ships Tonkin Gulf Resolution 414/0 – House 88/2 – Senate “all necessary measures”

15. Tokin Gulf Resolution Not a declaration of war Granted broad military powers 1965 first US combat troops arrive 1967 – 500,000 US troops

16. Challenges US Goal – Get the North to stop fighting -- War of attrition Highly motivated enemy Guerrilla tactics Unclear enemy Sinking morale

17. The Ground War 1965-1968 zNo territorial goals zBody counts on TV every night (first “living room” war) zViet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Trail

18. Who Is the Enemy? zVietcong zVietcong: P Farmers by day; guerillas at night. P Very patient people willing to accept many casualties. P The US grossly underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness. The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win.Mao Zedong The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- Mao Zedong

19. If we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be you who tires of it. Ho Chi Minh:

20. Who Is the Enemy?

21. The Soldiers A working-class war Minorities Lower income “Manipulatable” draft

22. U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

23. Opposition – Protest to Resistance Pre-existing protest atmosphere Student led movement Draft resistance Hawks and Doves Silent Majority Kent State – May 4, 1970

24. Anti-War Demonstrations Columbia University 1967

26. Hell no, we won’t go!

27. Democratic Convention in Chicago, 1968 Student Protestors at Univ. of CA in Berkeley, 1968 Anti-War Demonstrations

28. zMay 4, 1970 z4 students shot dead. z11 students wounded Kent State University zJackson State University zMay 10, 1970 z2 dead; 12 wounded

30. Tet Offensive – January 30, 1968 Surprise attack Lasted a month “Lost” Walter Cronkite Greatly shook American resolve

31. My Lai Massacre 1968 Search and destroy mission None found/no enemy fire received 500 Killed

32. The Ceasefire, 1973 zConditions: 1. U.S. to remove all troops 2. North Vietnam could leave troops already in S.V. 3. North Vietnam would resume war 4. No provision for POWs or MIAs zLast American troops left South Vietnam on March 29, 1973 z1975: North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam zSaigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City

33. The Costs 1.3,000,000 Vietnamese killed 2.58,000 Americans killed; 300,000 wounded 3.Under-funding of Great Society programs 4.$150 Billion in U.S. spending 5.U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust of government, decimated

34. 2,583 American POWs / MIAs still unaccounted for today.

35. The Vietnam Memorial, Washington, D.C.

36. Memorial to US Servicemen in Vietnam

37. 58,00058,000

38. Wars Legacy “Credibility Gap” War Powers Act 48 hours notice 90 Days 26 th Amendment – 18 year olds vote

39. Lessons for Future American Presidents 1.Wars must be of short duration. 2.Wars must yield few American casualties. 3.Restrict media access to battlefields. 4.Develop and maintain Congressional and public support. 5.Set clear, winnable goals. 6.Set deadline for troop withdrawals.