The Vietnam War: America’s Longest War Chapter 29.1

The Vietnam War Domino Theory – If Vietnam fell to communism, the rest of Southeast Asia would also become communist

History of Vietnam Vietnam had spent years fighting colonial powers China and France France abandoned Vietnam after being defeated by Ho Chi Minh and Vietminh at Dien Bien Phu during First IndoChina War Ho Chi Minh was a communist and a nationalist

Divided Vietnam 1954 Geneva Accords Vietnam was divided at 17 th parallel Ho Chi Minh became president of Communist North Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem became president of South Vietnam Geneva Accords called for 1956 election to help unify Vietnam Ho Chi Minh agreed South Vietnam refused to support elections, Vietnam remained divided

U.S. Involvement Truman Doctrine pledges to aid any nation threatened by communism Eisenhower 1 st sent military advisors to South Vietnam / 675 advisors by 1960 By 1963 the end of JFK’s presidency – 16,000 advisors on advice by LBJ Diem was very unpopular due to corruption and insistence that Buddhists follow Catholic laws --- assassinated by South Vietnamese military with U.S. backing

1964 Election Vietnam War major focal point Johnson called for restraint in U.S. involvement Goldwater proposed nuclear weapons Landslide victory for LBJ Daisy Ad 1964

LBJ Robert McNamara was Secretary of Defense under both JFK and LBJ North Vietnamese forces (Vietminh) gain more territory and loyalty of South Vietnamese Vietcong – communist guerillas in the south National Liberation Front – political party members of Vietcong LBJ decides to escalate the war (send American troops)

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution LBJ claims North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked U.S. destroyers in Gulf of Tonkin Details were very sketchy – later shown attack did not occur Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – Gave president authority to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the U.S. and to prevent further aggression” Gave LBJ complete control without declaration of war from Congress

Battlefield Conditions Nearly 3 million Americans served in Vietnam Americans have superior weapons, supplies, and technology Many South Vietnamese seemed indifferent, many turned off by dishonest government Although outnumbered – Vietcong have success using guerilla warfare Americans had trouble identifying friends from foe Vietcong used ambushes, tunnels, booby traps, and mines

Tunnel Rats

Air War Operation Rolling Thunder U.S. begins bombing North Vietnam with B-52 Planes 3 years of “continuous” bombing of North Vietnam Agent Orange – herbicide used to expose Vietcong hiding places Later found to be very dangerous to humans Napalm – jellylike substance which would burn human flesh

Escalation After being elected in his own right in 1964 LBJ decides to escalate war By the end of ,000 American troops were in Vietnam Led by General William Westmoreland Despite escalation and bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trail in Cambodia and Laos war seems to be a stalemate Escalation continues: 385,000 troops by ,000 troops by ,000 troops by 1968 War at home Hawks (support the war) Doves (oppose the war)