1. US History 3/21/12 Mrs. Housenick
The Vietnam War
US History
3/21/12
Mrs. Housenick

2. Origins of the Vietnam War
French controlled Vietnam since 1800s
After World War II, Vietnamese push for independence
Lead by Ho Chi Minh--wanted Vietnam to be independent and communist
US supports French
We don’t want communism to spread
Want to protect our investments in Vietnam

3. The Division of Vietnam
1954: Vietnamese kick French out, gain independence
Vietnam divided
North Vietnam Communist--lead by Ho Chi Minh
South Vietnam Democratic--supported by US
US gives money to South Vietnamese, begin to send “military advisors” to help

4. The Domino Theory and US Containment in Vietnam
Eisenhower’s Domino Theory
Was a continuation of Truman’s policy of containment
Eisenhower believed we must contain Communism in Vietnam, or all of Asia would fall
1960s: North Vietnamese begin to send Vietcong--communist rebels into South Vietnam to make them communist
US increases military involvement in South Vietnam to contain communism to North

5. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Increase in US Involvement
1964: US spy boat off coast of North Vietnam clashed with Communist patrol boats
Unclear whether US provoked attack or what exactly happened
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution--Congress gave President Johnson power to take any necessary action to defend South Vietnamese from Communists
Johnson sends 500,000 troops into Vietnam
JOHNSON MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR ESCALATING WAR IN VIETNAM!

6. An Impossible War
Fighting in Vietnam unlike anything US troops had experienced
Wet, dense terrain made movement difficult
Vietcong (VC) used guerilla tactics to ward off US troops
VC had miles of underground tunnels and bunkers to dart in and out of

7. Credibility Gap and Unpopularity of War
Throughout 1960s, politicians kept saying we were about to win in Vietnam
1968: Tet Offensive--massive attack by North Vietnamese on US troops in South
Showed US government wasn’t being honest about how strong enemy still was
1969: My Lai Massacre--news got out of American invasion of South Vietnamese village, where our soldiers killed 200 women, children and old men

8. Credibility Gap and Unpopularity of War ctnd.
Americans begin to feel there is a credibility gap between what the government is saying about the war and what is really going on
Made worse when secret government documents called Pentagon Papers published in NY Times--showed history of government lies
Many begin to question, “what are we fighting for?”
War is so unpopular, President Johnson decides not to run again for president

9. Nixon and Vietnamization
1968: Nixon becomes President, wanted to end war honorably
Introduced Vietnamization--plan to pull out US soldiers, have South Vietnamese fight communists on own
US did begin to pull troops out of South throughout 1970s
Also passed War Powers Act—requires president to get Congress’s approval within 60 days of military action.

10. The End of the War 1973: Cease fire declared
US begins massive pull out of any remaining troops
As we were leaving, North once again invaded South
ALL OF VIETNAM BECAME COMMUNIST!
First war US lost
57,000 Americans killed, 4 million Vietnamese