1. The Vietnam War
Chapter 31

2. Background of the War
Vietnam had history of nationalism dating back 2,000 years.
1st resisting China.
1800s, France claims Vietnam & faces similar resistance.

3.                                                                                       
                                                                                      
Background Continued
Ho Chi Minh – Leader of League for the Independence of Vietnam = Vietminh.
Vietnamese nationalist and communist
Fought for independence before, during & after WWII

4. Background Continued
May 1954 – Vietminh forces defeat French at Dien Bien Phu.
Geneva Accords, July 1954 – Vietnam divided near the 17th parallel.
Ho Chi Minh = North
Ngo Dinh Diem = South
GA called for unification elections in 1956.

5. Early United States Involvment
1950 – U.S. provided aid to French in Vietnam effort.
1954 – U.S. shifted aid to anti-Communist South Vietnam.
1960 – Eisenhower sends 675 U.S. military advisors to S. Vietnam.

6. Kennedy’s Vietnam Policy
JFK determined to stop spread of communism.
16,000 military advisors by the end of 1963.
Did not intervene in coup to oust Diem in Nov
3 weeks later Kennedy assassinated.

7. Johnson Commits to Containment
“I am not going to be the President who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.” - LBJ

8. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
“Resolved…the Congress…supports the…President, as Commander and Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.”
Public Law ; 78 Stat. 384 * August 10, 1964

9. The Course of the War, 1965-1968 1965 – 184,000 1966 – 385,000
1967 – 485,000
1968 – 536,000

10. Tet Offensive
January 30, 1968
Simultaneous surprise attacks throughout South Vietnam by the Viet Cong and NVA.
Major psychological victory.
Hue massacre – 3,000-5,000 killed by communists.

11. My Lai Massacre March 1968 U.S. troops murder over 400 Vietnamese.
“We huddled them up. We made them squat down….I poured four clips into the group….Well, we kept right on firing….I still dream about it….Some nights, I can’t even sleep. I just lay there thinking about it.” – Pvt. Paul Meadlow

12. Public Opinion Turns Against War
Tet Offensive
My Lai TV
No end in sight

13. 1968 Presidential Election
LBJ does not run
Robert Kennedy assassinated
Richard Nixon elected
Has plan to get U.S. out of Vietnam

14. Kent State Massacre May 4, 1970
Nat. Guard Soldiers open fire on protesters demonstrating against expansion of war into Cambodia.
4 killed, 9 wounded

15. American Withdrawal
January 1973 – U.S., North and South Vietnam and the Viet Cong sign Paris agreement.
April 29, 1975 – Saigon falls amid American evacuation of its embassy.
1,000 Americans and 6,000 Vietnamese rescued.

16. After the War 2 dominoes did fall – Laos & Cambodia.
1.5 million Vietnamese fled by boat.
>58,000 US killed
>300,000 wounded
>2,500 POW/MIA
Vietnam Memorial in DC completed 1982
1995 – US restored full diplomatic relations with Vietnam
Proved American technology and money could not always bring victory.