Vietnam The Cold War and Impact in the United States

ORIGINS - of the Conflict A former French colony declares independence after WWII, fights with France 1954 – Dien Bien Phu – Viet Minh defeat French Divided by the UN into North and South, to hold elections – 17 th parallel

The Sides North communist Ho Chi Minh Vietminh - independence Viet Cong - S Ho Chi Minh Trail South – democratic Ngo Dinh Diem – corrupt Cancels elections because fears Ho Chi Minh will win

Truman & Eisenhower Send supplies and weapons to aid the French Support Diem – even though corrupt

America and Vietnam

Kennedy Fueled $$$$ to South Supports military coup to overthrow Diem – assassinated 1963 – 16,000 troops sent as advisors

Johnson Gulf of Tonkin – US ships to defend Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – broad military powers for Johnson – sends 500,000 troops – escalates the war TET Offensive – New Year – massive urban attack

Nixon and Vietnam

Vietnamization

Nixon Vietnamization – gradual withdrawl and return military back to S.Vietnamesse Peace with Honor – massive bombing of Cambodia & Laos Withdraw troops – all leave by 1973

Vietnam Protests

Warfare Guerilla Warfare, Jungle terrain, tunnels Difficult to identify enemy – search and destroy missions Agent Orange and Napalm, bombings Drug use of military

Home front Protests Kent State My Lai Masacre Jane Fonda Draft – unfair deferments, TV War

Watergate

Impact 1975 – S. Viet fall, unified under communism – containment failed 58,000 US soldiers died Poor treatment of returning Veterans “credibility gap” – Pentagon Papers Watergate Scandal War Powers Act

Assessment Explain key events & effects of the Vietnam war Summarize & compare the policies of Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon in the war – you should be able to classify their policies and give examples Interpret the significance of key events

VIETNAM Legacies of The War Results Protests Against War Types of Warfare Reasons for US Involvement Soldiers Presidential Policies Complete the Web Diagram as a Review