The Vietnam War

Why did the U.S. fight the Vietnam War? Find your seat Find your seat Staple +place JFK Assignment in HW/LW bin Staple +place JFK Assignment in HW/LW bin 1960s Quiz– use pen; hand in when finished 1960s Quiz– use pen; hand in when finished Take out notebook/ notes (unpinned video Qs) Take out notebook/ notes (unpinned video Qs) Handouts: Handouts: Johnson/Vietnam Policy Document Johnson/Vietnam Policy Document Vietnam Quiz (practice) Vietnam Quiz (practice) Test Review (HW33) Test Review (HW33)

Background Vietnamese always struggled for independence Vietnamese always struggled for independence 939 A.D. & 1428 won independence from China 939 A.D. & 1428 won independence from China 1883 France took over the region 1883 France took over the region Combined with Laos and Cambodia to make “French Indochina” Combined with Laos and Cambodia to make “French Indochina”

Ho Chi Minh Led the fight for independence Led the fight for independence Communist Communist 1941 organized resistance movement called Vietminh 1941 organized resistance movement called Vietminh Declared independence after WWII Declared independence after WWII U.S. supported France U.S. supported France  France was an ally against communism  Ho was Communist

Spread of Communism in Asia 1949 Mao Zedong’s Communists took China 1949 Mao Zedong’s Communists took China 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea Vietminh—guerilla tactics: attack without warning and retreat Vietminh—guerilla tactics: attack without warning and retreat “domino theory” “domino theory” Eisenhower was willing to commit money, but did not want another war Eisenhower was willing to commit money, but did not want another war

DIEN BIEN PHU Domino Theory 1954 Defeat of French 1954 Defeat of French The fall of one Southeast Asian nation to Communism would prompt neighbors to fall “like dominoes in a row” The fall of one Southeast Asian nation to Communism would prompt neighbors to fall “like dominoes in a row”

Geneva Accords International agreement on Indochina International agreement on Indochina Supervised cease fire Supervised cease fire Vietnam divided along 17 th parallel Vietnam divided along 17 th parallel North Vietnam—Communist North Vietnam—Communist South Vietnam—anti-Communist, French- sponsored South Vietnam—anti-Communist, French- sponsored Neither South Vietnam nor United States signed the agreement Neither South Vietnam nor United States signed the agreement

South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) Defensive military alliance Defensive military alliance U.S., Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Pakistan, and the Philippines U.S., Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Pakistan, and the Philippines Member nations offered to aid, upon request, Cambodia, Laos, and South Vietnam Member nations offered to aid, upon request, Cambodia, Laos, and South Vietnam

Gulf of Tonkin Suspected North Vietnam attacks on U.S. spy ships Suspected North Vietnam attacks on U.S. spy ships Neither ship was actually fired upon Neither ship was actually fired upon U.S. used the incident to escalate the conflict U.S. used the incident to escalate the conflict

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Congress gave President Johnson authority Congress gave President Johnson authority “to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression” Increase presidential war powers Increase presidential war powers

Ngo Dinh Diem president of South Vietnam president of South Vietnam controversial 1956 election put him in power controversial 1956 election put him in power Anti-Communist Anti-Communist Initially supported by U.S. Initially supported by U.S. Overthrown in a coup by his own generals and U.S. Overthrown in a coup by his own generals and U.S. Killed in 1963, three weeks before JFK Killed in 1963, three weeks before JFK

National Liberation Front (NLF) Also known as Viet Cong Also known as Viet Cong Led by Communists in South Vietnam Led by Communists in South Vietnam Opposed Diem Opposed Diem Successful tactics Successful tactics

Escalation Increasing attacks and troop levels without drawing in China or U.S.S.R. Increasing attacks and troop levels without drawing in China or U.S.S.R ,000 troops ,000 troops ,000 troops ,000 troops ,000 troops ,000 troops

Tet Offensive 1968 North Vietnamese and Vietcong launched a major series of attacks on American military bases and South Vietnam cities North Vietnamese and Vietcong launched a major series of attacks on American military bases and South Vietnam cities Turned many Americans against the war Turned many Americans against the war Johnson decided not to seek reelection Johnson decided not to seek reelection

Violence at Home 1968 Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, which set off riots throughout the U.S. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, which set off riots throughout the U.S. Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated while running for president Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated while running for president Clash between protestors and police at 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago Clash between protestors and police at 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago Richard M. Nixon won the election of 1968 Richard M. Nixon won the election of 1968

Quick Quiz What did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution say? What did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution say? What event occurred in the Gulf of Tonkin? What event occurred in the Gulf of Tonkin? What was the most widely used chemical to clear the forests and expose the land What was the most widely used chemical to clear the forests and expose the land

Nixon Vietnamization-- Vietnamization--