The War Escalates

Problems in the South Diem losing support Why?  Not allowing Buddhists to practice their religion  Killing Buddhist Priests  Cracking down on protests  Assassinated in 1963

June 11, 1963 Quang Ngai, protest the policies of South Vietnam’s President Ngo Dihn Diem. Several other monks also commit suicide.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Authorizes President Johnson to:  “take all necessary steps including the use of force.” Basically a declaration of war 1965—American combat forces sent to S. Vietnam Massive Build-Up:  3/65—100,000 troops  12/65—180,000  12/66—360,000  By 1968—500,000 USSR and China supporting N. Vietnamese and Viet Cong By 1969—US spent $100 billion

US Tactics Massive Bombing  Military installations  Oil reserves  RR Napalm Bombing  Sets human flesh aflame Pacification  Burn villages  Move civilians  Search and Destroy— surveillance, air strikes, armed patrols

Viet Cong Tactics Guerilla Warfare Terror and Coercion in the villages Convince citizens to “get rid of US”

Tet Offensive 1/31/68 Lunar New Year—generally a time of truce North launches a huge offensive on major southern cities  Move as far South as the US embassy in Saigon  6 hour, televised battle! NOT successful—militarily  40,000 VC  3,500 US/S. Vietnamese

The chief of the south Vietnam’s National Police executes a Vietcong guerrilla on February 1, 1968, the 2nd day of the Tet Offensive.

March 31, 1968  Johnson announces he will halt bombings of N. Vietnam April 3, 1968  N. Vietnam accepts Johnson’s offer to begin peace negotiations  Ends up taking 5 years for the U.S. to be out of Vietnam

1968 Presidential Election RRichard Nixon says he plans to pull U.S. troops out of Vietnam Tough Position UU.S. stays in Vietnam, public opposition increases WWithdraw troops without peace agreement, Nixon becomes 1 st president to lose a war!!!

Nixon introduces NEW foreign policy Two-Step Plan: 1) Phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam 2) Replace them with trained Vietnamese soldiers South Vietnamese soldiers train in the use of artillery as part of the Vietnamization program.

Coming to a Close… The U.S. dropped more than twice the amount of bombs on Vietnam as they did in both WWII and Korea COMBINED! January 23, 1973, a cease-fire is signed by all parties U.S. troops withdraw completely from S. Vietnam

Once U.S. forces leave S. Vietnam, N. Vietnam launches a major offensive on the South in hopes of capturing Saigon. By April 1975, S. Vietnamese army collapses and N. Vietnamese is on the doorstep of Saigon. President Ford sends $300 million to protect Saigon and remove Americans. April 29, Saigon is overtaken and an emergency evacuation of Americans takes place.

Goodnight Saigon

Vietnam Today Saigon government surrenders on April 30, North and South Vietnam are united as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on July 2 nd.