Vietnam War Chapter 19

Domino Theory President Eisenhower Foreign Policy French Indochina: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos

US Involvement President Truman gives $15 million for military assistance to French Indochina President Eisenhower believed that a US failure to respond to Communism in Indochina would damage US credibility

Continued US Involvement in Vietnam Kennedy back US educated, Catholic Ngo Dinh Diem Buddhists vs. Catholics in South Puppet Government?

Why a Civil War in Vietnam? Vietcong: Communists guerillas in South Vietnam

Johnson and Vietnam not want a War in Vietnam South Vietnam losing to Vietcong “Americanization” of the war  send in US troops

Tonkin Gulf Resolution August 1964 Inaccurate reports of N. Vietnam attacks on US ships near N. Vietnam in Gulf of Tonkin Congress, “President can take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent any further aggression.”

War has begun?! Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Johnson had power to use armed force in Vietnam No formal declaration of War

War Escalates 1965 –184,000 troops 1968 –536,100 troops Escalation intended to lead to a quick US victory Prevent Communist takeover of Asia

Tet Offensive January, 1968 Communists made major gains and about to capture the South Vietnam capital, Saigon Showed Communist strength Americans realized its going to be a long war

Debating the War Johnson, 1965 –Pledged aid to Vietnam since 1954 –Need to maintain commitments…not want US to look untrustworthy –Communist South Vietnam threaten all Southeast Asia –Communist China support North Vietnam as part of “a wider pattern of aggressive purposes”

Arguments against the War North Vietnam fight for nationalistic reasons Not vital to US security or economy Too costly South Vietnam corrupt and undemocratic Americans being killed

Draft Protestors Enemy no threat to the US Students set fire to draft cards Occupy buildings Move to Canada By 1966, country divided between –“Doves” anti-war –“Hawks” pro-war

Cultural Radicals Students against war Preached love and nonviolence Counterculture –Personal honesty –Creativity –Oppose American social norms Marriage Patriotism Business

1968: Year of Turmoil TV show war casualties Johnson not seek reelection Election of 1968 RFK assassinated –Arab nationalist Sirhan Sirhan Richard Nixon elected –Republican

Social Impact of Vietnam War Deep divisions within American society WWII veterans vs. counterculture/ students Returning Vietnam Vets disillusioned by lack of receptiveness in American society Challenge trustworthiness of political officials

Johnson’s Policies Continued…. Johnson sent negotiators to Paris to meet with North Vietnamese –So did Nixon Johnson sent troops into Vietnam –So did Nixon

“Vietamization” Nixon announced a gradual withdrawal of US troops Train South Vietnam troops to carry on war alone Nixon secretly ordered bombing raids over Cambodia to cut off N. Vietnam supply lines

More Protests Initial supporters became anti-war as war continued November, ,000 people March in Washington

Kent State Ohio 1970 National Guard fire on peaceful student protesting 4 students killed

Pentagon Papers Daniel Ellsberg –Official in the Department of Defense –Release secret Pentagon study about US involvement in Vietnam –Hoped turn public opinion against war –Nixon ordered it not to be published New York Times v. United States –Freedom of speech –Print Papers

Election of 1972 Nixon run for re-election Senator George McGovern 26 th Amendment –Lowered the voting age to 18 Nixon won by a landslide –People listened to Kissinger’s message that “Peace is at hand”

Withdrawal from Vietnam 1972 Nixon order bombing of North Vietnam, including capital Hanoi South Vietnam still losing ground Negotiations continued…

Cease-Fire, 1973 Last US troops would leave Vietnam North Vietnamese forces in South Vietnam would stay there South Vietnam’s government would remain in place until elections were held Vietcong return all prisoners of war and account for US missing persons

Nixon’s Fall from Grace CREEP –Campaign to Re-Elect the President Threatened companies to donate to campaign Sabotaged the opposition Used IRS to attack enemies Spied Watergate –Woodward and Bernstein –Tapes Nixon Resigns, 1974

North Vietnamese Victory 1975 weak South Vietnamese government fell to North Vietnam and Vietcong Cambodia, Laos also fell to Communist control How powerful is the US?

Consequences of the Vietnam War 58,000 Americans died 365,000 wounded Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Agent Orange Drugs Cost $150 Billion Increase National Debt Inflation

Lessons of War? Cost of war vs. Great Society Wise to intervene in foreign affairs? Trust government? Trust politicians?

War Powers Act Tonkin Gulf Resolution War Powers Act, 1973 –Within 48 hrs. of sending troops into combat, the President must inform Congress of the reasons for the action –If troops fight abroad for more than 90 days, the President must obtain Congress’s approval for continued fighting or bring the troops home

Vietnam War Policy Of Containment Civil War/ Imperialism Long Term Causes Gulf Of Tonkin Short Term Cause Loss Of Lives Loss Of Billions $$ Immediate Effects Reluctance To Get Involved Economic Troubles Huge National Debt Long Term Effects