1. The Vietnam War 1945 - 1975

2. Vietnam 1945 - 1954 Area of SE Asia known as Indochina, governed by France since late 19 th cent. Northern area undergoes communist revolution, led by Ho Chi Minh

3. Vietnam 1945 - 1954 Communist forces (called the Viet Minh) fight the French for 9 years; climactic battle fought at Dien Bien Phu French surrender (go figure); burden falls to US to prevent communist expansion

4. Vietnam 1945 - 1954 Independent Vietnam declared; noncommunists, aided by US, set up Republic of South Vietnam, capitol in Saigon Vietnam divided along 17 th parallel

5. US Involvement in Vietnam Eisenhower sends $$ and advisors to build S. Vietnamese Army, installs Ngo Dinh Diem Diem, with Eisenhower and John Foster Dulles

6. US Involvement in Vietnam Diem very unpopular with Vietnamese; why: Catholic in land of Buddhists French educated Brutal against dissenters Buddhist monk protesting suppression of Buddhism in Vietnam

7. US Involvement in Vietnam By 1960, 17,000 advisors in Vietnam JFK expands American presence, increases troop numbers and financial commitment; why? Officers of Army of S. Vietnam Advisors to S. Vietnamese Army

8. US Involvement in Vietnam By 1963, Diem govt. so unpopular JFK decides to have him removed as president S. Vietnamese Army officers stage coup, execute Diem outside of Saigon Eventually replaced by Nguyen Van Thieu Wall on which Diem and family executed

9. US Involvement in Vietnam JFK begins to reconsider commitment to Vietnam, but assassinated Nov. 22, 1963 LBJ more committed to anti-communist South; reasons? LBJ with Thieu, 1965

10. The Gulf of Tonkin LBJ needs excuse to increase troop levels August 2, 1964, N. Vietnam allegedly fires upon US warship in the Gulf of Tonkin No definitive proof of attack LBJ cites this as evidence of N. Vietnamese aggression

11. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution LBJ asks Congress for authority to pursue war (a “blank check”); issues Resolution to expand involvement in war Immediately expands number of troops, eventually to 500,000

12. US Troops in Vietnam 2 mil troops served in Vietnam Led by Gen. William Westmoreland 55,000+ killed in action

13. US Troops in Vietnam Main opponents – North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and South Vietnamese communists called Viet Cong (VC) Much difficulty in fighting Viet Cong, due to guerrilla activity and ability to blend into society

14. 1968 and the Tet Offensive By Jan. 1968, US military promising a “light at the end of the tunnel” Jan. 31: Viet Cong launch attacks all over S. Vietnam; televised in US Attacked from sanctuaries in Cambodia and Laos

15. 1968 and the Tet Offensive Military defeat for VC, but televised battle turns American opinion against the war Protests intensify

16. 1968 Election War protests and stress cause LBJ to decline second term; Nixon wins narrow election on promise to end war and reduce American commitment (the “Vietnamization” of the war)

17. Nixon and the War Nixon’s strategy is force NV to negotiate; handled by Nat’l Security Advisor Henry Kissinger 1970 – began secret bombing of Cambodia; 1971 – expanded to Laos

18. Nixon and the War Reasons for bombings: to end supply of Viet Cong from NVN through Laos and Cambodia The “Ho Chi Minh Trail”

19. Nixon and the War Bombings kept from American people for several months Protests grow Kent State, May, 1970

20. Nixon and the War Relied less on ground troops and more on massive bombing of the North Strategy works; NV returns to negotiating Operation Rolling Thunder

21. Nixon and the War Main provisions of agreement signed Jan. 1973: Guarantee SVN independence from NVN Return to 17 th parallel Return POWs/MIAs End of US bombing Senator John McCain, 5 years in POW camp

22. Aftermath of the War One week later, North invades South, takes over Saigon, renames it Ho Chi Minh City Agreement not meant to last; last Americans pull out on April 30, 1975

23. Aftermath of the War Vietnam unified under communist rule 1995 – Pres. Clinton recognizes nation of Vietnam; with help of Sen. McCain