Vietnam War
Why did the United States become involved in Vietnam? Essential Question
Indochina
French Indochina Interest in Rubber Plantations Converted minority to Catholic faith: gave them positions of privilege Forced labor system for peasants Export rice crop in times of starvation 1930’s rebellion against French
Japanese Occupation of Indochina 1940-45 After fall of France in June 1940, Japan invaded Indochina French Colonial Gov’t Cooperated with Japanese (Vichy France) Ho Chi Minh led Nationalist forces against Japanese U.S. provided him with aid At end of War, France took back Indochina Vietnamese resistance to French rule
French Defeated in Indochina Dien Bien Phu 1954
Geneva Conference, 1954 Vietnam divided along 17th parallel, pending nationwide elections in ‘55
U.S. Involvement Began Ngo Dinh Diem , South Vietnam, rejected nationwide elections Eisenhower provided military aid to Diem Ho Chi Minh accepted Soviet aid
Viet Cong National Liberation Front South Vietnamese Communist rebels Fought in armed forces and guerrilla groups
Buddhist Revolt, 1961 JFK sent military advisors to Vietnam Diem repression of Buddhism Buddhist anti-government demonstrations
Assassination of Diem, 1963 JFK approved S.V. generals plan to stage coup Generals Assassinate Diem & his brother Nhu
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution USS Maddox fired on by North Vietnamese in Gulf of Tonkin Congress authorized use of American troops in Vietnam
Our Troops: the Infantry 53% blue collar families Median Age 19 By 1968 54% drafted 58% of dead drafted
Controversies of the Vietnam War
Why were we going to war in Vietnam? Our Government: Containment of Communism Vietnamese People: Why did we want their country?
The Draft Old enough to die, but not to vote. Deferments for marriage & college. Fortunate Sons serve in the Reserve>Don’t go to the War
What would Kennedy have done?
Search & Destroy How do you find and defeat the enemy?
Who is the enemy?
Agent Orange & Napalm
Operation Rolling Thunder 7 million tons of bombs dropped on Indochina 24.6 tons per square mile 8.8 tons of bombs per person
Tet Offensive, 1968 Turning Point In Vietnam War Surprise attack on Vietnamese New Year on 41 S. V. cities Proved war far from over Johnson Decided not to run for re-election
Kent State 1970 Nixon bombed Cambodia Student Protests Increase
Government Secrets & Lies Special Forces sent in 1958 Bombing of Laos from 1957-1962 Lies about Gulf of Tonkin The Spin on the War Pentagon Papers
U.S. Negotiations with North Vietnam, 1969-72 Henry Kissinger began secret talks with Vietnam Nixon bombed Hanoi & Haiphong My Lai Massacre
End of Vietnam War 73 - U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam
What lessons can we learn from Vietnam?