The Vietnam War For 2000 years, the Vietnamese fought for independence…

Background/Overview French Colonial Rule: 1800s → WWII –Vietnamese “nationalist” movement led by Ho Chi Minh –Post WWII: FR tried to reassert power ( ) US Response –Support of FR: Containment –Lesson of Korea: Domino Theory Geneva Accords –VN divided

Growing Problems: Internal Revolution Aggression from the North Insurgency in the South –VC (Vietcong) –Ho Chi Minh Trail Internal Protests –Buddhist monks –Corruption in the Gov’t Diem overthrown –SV goes through 5 more inept gov’ts Ngo Dinh Diem

LBJ’s War Limited involvement → – Gulf of Tonkin Incident –US destroyers attacked by NV gunboats in Gulf of Tonkin Gulf of Tonkin Resolution –“Declaration of War” sort-of – Gave President complete control over what the US did in Vietnam

US Strategy/Policy Goals Goals & Objectives –Containment & credibility Attrition –Search and Destroy Escalation of troops –500,000 max in 1967 Bombing –Agent Orange & Napalm Strategic Hamlet Program –Concentration villages Vietnamization –Give the war over to the SV Secret War –Fight across the border

Problems/Issues Tet Offensive –US wins, but psychological victory for NV/VC NV support from USSR & China Lack of US consensus –Hawks v. Doves –Silent Majority Credibility Gap –Pentagon Papers: Secret Defense Dept study showed LBJ administration lied about the war to win public support Student Protest Movement –Kent State: 4 Students killed by National Guard My Lai Massacre –Villagers killed by US troops; US public shocked Peace Treaty –US & NV withdrawal –1975 reunification Picture from the My Lai Massacre Student Protestors at Kent State University

The Legacy of Vietnam 58,000 US casualties US image tarnished Shattered public’s trust in gov’t and military Shattered belief that US technology and $$$ could bring victory Veterans return to a country that shuns them US debates whether it can/should be the “World’s Policemen…” Vietnam communist today….

Reflection Questions 1.In your opinion, could the US have avoided involvement in Vietnam in the 1950s and 60s? 2.What do you think was the greatest problem/issue that the US faced in its involvement in Vietnam? 3. List two things that you learned that were interesting &/or that you will remember easily a month from now.