1. Vietnam War

2. The Growth of Vietnamese Nationalism
1940 Japan invades Vietnam
Vietnam wants to take control of their government
No longer wanted foreign control
Ho Chi Minh
Lived in Europe
1919 petitioned for freedom from French Control
He petitioned at the Versailles Peace Conference
He was ignored
Visited the Soviet Union and advocated for communism
Created Vietminh
United communist and non-communist to get Japan out of the country

3. American Involvement in Vietnam
America Aids the French
1946, French returned to Vietnam to take back colonial power
Needed the assistance of the US
The US was against colonialism
Feared that Vietnam would become communist if there was no intervention.
Domino Theory
If Vietnam fell to communism then the rest of the region would fall to communism.
Guerillas
Troops that blended in with civilians
Hard for enemies to detect and fight against.

4. Kennedy Takes Over Became president in 1961
Did not want communism to spread in Southeast Asia
Number of American Servicemen jumped
2,000 in 1961
15,000 in 1963
Diem’s government was unpopular
He made strategic hamlets
Villages surrounded by weapons
Uprooted villagers to live in these hamlets
People were very mad about having to leave their farms and loved one behind.

5. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution The United States send Troops
Johnson and Vietnam
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The United States send Troops
August 2, 1964
Reported that North Vietnamese boats shot torpedoes at American destroyer boats
“Take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.”
Congress gave President Johnson the right to start war
1964
Vietcong bombed bases where Americans were stationed.
Johnson’s approval ratings jumped from 41% to 60% with the bombings.
80% of Americans feared that Southeast Asia would fall to Communism if America did not get involved.

6. Ho Chi Minh Trail Jungle paths
North Vietnam sent supplies to Vietcong fighters
The path went through Cambodia and Laos
Never attacked by US because the trail wasn’t in Vietnam

7. Anti-War Movement Hawks and Doves Anger at the Draft Hawks Doves
People who wanted the war to continue
1968
53% wanted a stronger military action in Vietnam
Doves
People who wanted the war to stop
24% wanted to end the war
College students could defer being drafted
Working class families had to send sons to fight because they could not afford college.
1969
62% of battle deaths came from drafted servicemen
Disproportionate numbers amongst minority servicemen

8. 1968 The Tet Offensive Johnson drops out of the race
Vietnamese New Year
Guerilla fighters launched attacks on Air Bases in South Vietnam
Invaded the Embassy in Saigon.
America fought back and almost destroyed the Vietcong
The American people were distraught that an almost defeated people could put up such a fight.
People lost hope
Johnson drops out of the race
Eugene McCarthy decides to challenge President Johnson for the Democratic Presidential Nomination.
March 31, 1968
Johnson decides not to run for another term of office.
Nixon becomes President
Republican candidate
Declared that he would end the war in Vietnam

9. The War winds down Linkage Vietnamization Massacre at My Lai
Improving relationships with China and the Soviet Union
This was to cut back on the aid both of these countries sent to North Vietnam
Vietnamization
Withdrawal of American Troops with South Vietnam troops taking over.
Massacre at My Lai
Spring of 1968
Lieutenant William Calley
Sent to prison for war crimes
Massacred unarmed civilians
Older men, women, and children
The United States leave the war