1. VIETNAM

3. VIETNAM - OVERVIEW Longest war in U.S. History More than 58,000 killed
300,000 wounded
14,000 disabled
800,000 veterans labeled as have significant to severe problems of readjustment

4. Background of the war VIETNAM HO CHI MINH 1890-1968
A French colony that was invaded and occupied by the Japanese during WWII
Ho Chi Minh – Organizes group to resist the Japanese called the Vietminh
Ho Chi Minh supported Communism
Ho Chi Minh – Attacks French at Dien Bien Phu – French leave
Ends French Occupation-Vietnam divided into North and South Vietnam

5. President Eisenhower Did not intervene to help French
Sent arms, ammunition, supplies and $$ to aid French Forces
Strong belief in the domino theory
Policy of Containment

6. GENEVA ACCORDS
Peace agreement Vietnam divided at 17th parallel Vietminh controls northern Vietnam with Ho Chi Minh French withdraw from Vietnam General elections are to be held Ngo Dinh Diem, South Vietnamese Leader

7. NGO DINH DIEM President of South Vietnam Roman Catholic
Corrupt & Brutal leader
Repression of Buddhists
Prevents elections stated in Geneva Accords
Prevents Vietnam from being united
Vietminh form NLF – military forces become known as Vietcong
Civil war between North & South Vietnam
Eisenhower sends $$, weapons & advisors to support South Vietnam

8. PRESIDENT KENNEDY Believed in Domino Theory Contain Communism
Goal to display strength in Vietnam
Sends aid – Military advisors
Presses Diem government to make changes
Diem government overthrown, Diem assassinated
Kennedy assassinated

9. TONKIN GULF RESOLUTION
Pres. Johnson inherits Vietnam
South Vietnam on verge of collapse
Johnson wants to increase military
USS Maddox attacked by N. Vietnam
Tonkin Gulf Resolution-Congress gives Pres. Power to expand war in Vietnam
Johnson expands U.S. troops in South Vietnam
Johnson has power to use further force in Vietnam

10. PRESIDENT JOHNSON Operation Rolling Thunder
President orders bombing of military targets in North Vietnam
Targets Ho Chi Minh Trail – supply line going through Laos and Cambodia to S. Vietnam
North sent supplies to Vietcong South Vietnam by Ho Chi Minh Trail
Increased bombing does not weaken enemy – escalates the war
Johnson broadens war
South Vietnamese join Vietcong

11. HO CHI MINH TRAIL
A network of paths used by the North Vietnamese to transport supplies to the Vietcong in South Vietnam

12. U.S. FORCES MOBILIZE DRAFT American forces increased
Gov. depends on draft
Some excused for health reasons
Deferments for college
Lottery system was implemented
Some left for Canada-draft dodgers
Pres. Carter later pardoned draft dodgers

13. IMPACT OF MEDIA Americans question U.S. policy News – nightly reports
News crews on battle fields
Walter Cronkite – questions American Leaders on war on national tv after TET Offensive
Doves – Oppose War
Hawks –Support war

14. TURNING POINT OF THE WAR
TET OFFENSIVE-
TURNING POINT OF THE WAR
Vietnamese New Year N. Vietnamese Troops & Vietcong attack U.S. Military bases in South Vietnam0 Civilians suffered Communists seen as strong U.S. chances of winning war diminished- DOUBTS!! Cronkite gives assessment of war on tv Events cause Pres. Johnson not to run for another term

15. ANTI—WAR MOVEMENT
Kent State – National Guard shoots and kills 4 students
Peace movements become mainstream
26th Amendment – 18 Yr. Vote
My Lai Massacre - Search & destroy mission – Vietnamese Civilians killed
Lt. Calley-Charged & convicted of murder
Pentagon Papers – Document leaked to press – U.S. lied to by government officials over War

16. PRESIDENT NIXON Goal to achieve victory in Vietnam
Vietnamization – turn fighting over to Vietnamese –bring U.S. troops home
SETTLEMENT JANUARY 1973
U.S. withdraws all troops from S. Vietnam
Help rebuild South Vietnam
Both sides agree to release all prisoners of war

17. LEGACY OF VIETNAM 58,000 KILLED U.S. Lost respect of foreign countries
Confidence in U.S. military is weakened
War Powers Act – 60 day limit to President committing troops
Vietnam Memorial – Washington D.C.
Counterculture –Rebellion of teens against the mainstream American society