Goal 11Part 6 Vietnam and American Involvement (75)

Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam -COMMUNIST / Revolutionary leader of Vietnam During WWII – Ho Chi Minh revolutionizes Vietnam and formed the VIETMINH = Main Goal – Win independence from foreign rule! Success – Japan lost in WWII – Vietnam is FREE (Ho Chi Minh takes over)

Vietnam

U.S. Involvement in Vietnam Vietnam foreign Policy / Cold War CONTAINMENT (Control Communism) Eisenhower ( ) issued his idea of the DOMINO THEORY (1953) – countries on the brink of communism were like a row of dominos waiting to fall!

Geneva Accords 1954 – Allies meet in Geneva, Switzerland to come Up with peace agreement Geneva Accords – a temporary division of Vietnam on the 17 th parallel (containment) North – Ho Chi Minh (Com) South – Ngo Dinh Diem (Dem) *Elections were supposed to be held in 1954 *Diem called them off – he knew he would lose to the communist

Vietcong 1957, a Communist group in South Vietnam Ho Chi Minh LOVES this!!!! - Ho Chi Minh Trail Ho Chi Minh starts to send resources to the Vietcong along pathways via Laos & Cambodia (neighboring countries) Purpose: help spread Communism

Problems with Diem (South Vietnam Leader) Persecuted Buddhist *(attack on Religion is Democracy) Repressive Tactics with his people 1961 – American Coup assassinated Diem (Purpose: creates stability for South Vietnam) Coup D’etat: a sudden overthrow of a government in order to replace it

Lyndon B. Johnson Takes Over ****Tonkin Gulf Resolution** 1964 – Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson Story: North Vietnamese boat torpedoes American destroyer, U.S.S. Maddox (patrolling the Gulf of Tonkin in North Vietnam) – Torpedo missed and America FIRES BACK causing a lot of damage Days later, a “supposed” attack from North Vietnam on the Maddox again! * President LBJ was prompted to launch an attack on North Vietnam / LBJ asked Congress and its on!

Tonkin Gulf Resolution YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS!!!!!!!!! Congress agrees to support Johnson and the Vietnam War A declaration of war on North Vietnam / * Gave LBJ “broad” military powers in Vietnam * (these are limited powers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) *********** Operation Rolling Thunder ****************** VERY FIRST operation “attack” on North Vietnam After Tonkin Gulf Resolution

Fighting in the Jungle

2 New “CHEMICAL” weapons used in Vietnam / Search and Destroy Missions Napalm – a gasoline-based bomb (set fire to jungle) Agent Orange – leaf-killing toxic chemical (3 rd generation children – still affected today) *Search-And-Destroy Missions* Uprooting civilians suspected with ties to Vietcong “destroying the town, to save it” Most Famous: My Lai Massacre

Great Society Suffers $ from programs were used to pay for Vietnam / high taxes / high inflation Living Room War – nickname for Vietnam *******Credibility Gap – growing between LBJ and American people (LBJ would say one thing, and the American people would see another)

A Divided Nation New Left - growing “YOUTH” movement in the 1960s that demanded “sweeping” changes in America (LIBERAL) Students for a Democratic Society – most famous New Left organization / focused on “proper” democracy in America and greater individual freedom! (1) HAWKS (predator / anger) – support War in Vietnam (2) DOVES (prey / peace) – supports “Withdrawal” from Vietnam VIETNAM CAUSED MORE “STUDENT PROTESTS” THAN ANY OTHER WAR IN U.S. HISTORY

Tet Offensive (Turning Point in Vietnam) ***Tet Offensive - surprise attacks on American Embassy in S. Vietnam (right when we though it was over) Tet Offensive = changed American “public” opinion more than anything else in the Vietnam War***** American people are fed up with Lyndon B. Johnson

1968 Presidential Election and America Lyndon B. Johnson DOES NOT run (PRESSURE) Popularity plummeted “Vietnam killed the lady I really loved….the Great Society” - LBJ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated by James Earl Ray Robert Kennedy Brother of John F. Kennedy A Senator from New York Strong hopeful candidate for the Presidency Assassinated by a Jordanian Immigrant (Sirhan Sirhan)

1968 Assassinations

1968 Presidential Election Richard M. Nixon (Rep.) WINS Remember: LBJ decides NOT to run!!!!!

Nixon and “VIETNAMIZATION” 1969 – Nixon announced “Vietnamization” – the “gradual” withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam WHY? In order to allow South Vietnamese to take amore active role in the war (rebuild their own country) “Peace with Honor” - Nixon and Henry Kissinger (National Security Advisor) - So…just like any politician…he lied!

Silent Majority American people who DO NOT express their opinions publicly America during Vietnam War– 3 Sections (1) Hawks (2) Doves (3) Silent Majority

My Lai Massacre – American troops massacred innocent/ UNARMED civilians in the village of My Lai “Kill anything that breathed” Victims: 504 deaths MOST FAMOUS *Search & Destroy Mission

Invasion of Cambodia Nixon announced another invasion Why Cambodia? (Supplied Vietcong) Invasion of Cambodia First bombing – Nixon DID NOT tell Congress Major Domestic reaction: LARGEST STUDENT PROTEST IN AMERICAN HISTORY - 1,200 closed universities

Violence at Kent State (Caused by the invasion of Cambodia) Kent State  Massive Student Protest / burnt down the ROTC building  National Guard step in  National Guard fire live ammunition into the student protesters  Killed 4, injured 9

Violence at Kent State

26 th Amendment “Voting age is 18” – lowered from 21 to 18 - passed in response to student activism against the Vietnam War (dividing the country)

Pentagon Papers Pentagon Papers = 7,000 page document, By Robert McNamara, revealed that the American government NEVER intended to withdraw troops from Vietnam! American Reaction: ANGER toward government      (Credibility gap widened)

1972 Presidential Election Nixon is REELECTED!!!!! March 29, 1973 *The Vietnam War is OVER (U.S. involvement) Result: North Vietnamese troops STAYED in South Vietnam North Vietnam was still fighting South Vietnam without American help!

The Fall of Saigon / end of Vietnam War (1975) North Vietnam attacks South Vietnam and S. Vietnam begs America to send troops (we don’t) but we do send resources! New President, Gerald Ford, (Took over after Nixon’s Watergate Scandal) North Vietnamese tanks took Saigon (S. Vietnam) – South Surrenders…Vietnam War in over Containment didn’t work!

Legacy of Vietnam War War Powers Act (1973) - made the president inform Congress within 48 hours of sending forces into hostile areas ****LIMITED “PRESIDENTIAL” POWERS (Caused by the first bombings of Cambodia)

Vietnam Poster Create a poster that visually communicates a theme or time period of the Vietnam War Purpose: To better understand a particular aspect of the war on its impact