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After the French defeat by Northern Vietnamese forces in 1954, Geneva Accord provided a temporary peace agreement, dividing Vietnam along 17th parallel and calling for an election by 1956 to unify the country. Ngo Dinh Diem, leader of South Vietnamese Nationalist party, cancels elections with U.S. support, sparking conflict and the creation of the Vietcong

Vietnam War *Extension of Cold War (prevent communism from spreading) Vietcong *Rebel group in S. Vietnam = Supported by Ho Chi Minh in North Ho Chi Minh *Leader of communist party in Vietnam. Founder of the Vietminh (NVA – North Vietnamese Army) Domino Theory *Idea that if one nation became Communist, others would fall to communism

How did Americans respond? Support for South Vietnam (ARVN – Army of the Republic of Vietnam) Initial financial support for the French colonial effort following WWII Later support for Ngo Dinh Diem’s anti- communist regime (repressive to Buddhist religious majority) Provision of “advisors” beginning toward the end of Eisenhower administration; increased under Kennedy

The Vietminh: A Revolutionary Peasant Army Goal: Independence, not necessarily a communist revolution

Ho Chi Minh Trail: supply line by which North Vietnam provided arms, supplies and other resources to the Vietcong who were fighting against Diem in the South.

The Spark Gulf of Tonkin Incident: Aug 2 – 4, 1964 N. Vietnamese patrol boats fire torpedoes at American destroyers on August 2 U.S. fails to reveal that this was actually in retaliation for a covert reconnaissance and marine mission which resulted in shots being fired at N. Vietnamese ships by U.S. destroyers N. Vietnamese were THOUGHT and SAID to have fired upon the U.S.S. Maddox on Aug 4 did not actually happen – poorly trained sailors with little experience interpreting sonar signals and equipment incorrectly – “Tonkin Ghosts” Upon closer investigation, it would have been easy to see that there was room for doubt about the attack. In fact, the Johnson administration knew that the evidence was dubious, but nonetheless, Johnson gave the go-ahead for retaliatory attack within 30 minutes of the Aug 4 incident, and by August 7, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution had been approved by Congress, granting Johnson the power to conduct military operations without declaring war and with virtually no congressional oversight

LBJ ESCALATES THE WAR LBJ uses his new powers on February 1965, Operation Rolling Thunder First sustained bombing of North Vietnam June 1964, 50,000+ U.S. troops in Vietnam End of 1965, 180,000 Americans in Vietnam 1967 - 500,000 Americans in Vietnam

How did Americans respond? Draft Selective Service System = required men to serve in war. Draft dodging “working-class” war

The Draft: birthdate chosen in a lottery system; all registered and eligible men with that birthdate required to report for duty.

Draft Dodgers/Anti-war protesters burning their draft cards

How did Americans respond? Doves v. Hawks Doves = against war Hawks = supported war

Hawks: Despite the breadth of the anti-war movement in the U. S Hawks: Despite the breadth of the anti-war movement in the U.S., in reality the majority of Americans (65%) actually supported the war in Vietnam until the late 60s

How did Americans respond? Political Youth movement = college students that demanded change in gov’t/society Not primarily an anti-war group, but very active in that movement against Vietnam Participated in protest at 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago (police riot ensued) Participated in 1969 student march at Kent State (violent clash with police resulted in 4 deaths New Left

Kent State University (Ohio) Anti-war protest turns violent when protesters clash with police, resulting in the deaths of 4 students