1. Events and Ideas 6 The Vietnam War
World History
Unit 8

2. Essential Questions:
What factors contributed to the US involvement in Vietnam?
Was cost of the Vietnam War (political cost, economic cost, and the lives lost) worth the effort to stop the spread of communism? Explain your answer.

3. Crash Course #38 Cold War in Asia

4. Vietnam was split in two at the 17th parallel at the Geneva Accords in 1954
North Vietnam is granted communist status with the communist leader Ho Chi Minh
South Vietnam is a democratic country with Ngo Dinh Diem their leader
The Nation is Split
US enters the war in Vietnam to stop the spread of communism.
1964 – US troops to Vietnam.
If South Vietnam fell, other states in Asia were at risk.
Communism was contained in Korea, it could work in Vietnam too.

5. Domino Theory
In 1956 North Vietnam began small attacks into South Vietnam
The US believed if South Vietnam fell to communism, other countries in Asia were at risk.
The US had been able to contain communism in Korea, so they felt they could contain it Vietnam too.
US enters the war in Vietnam to stop the spread of communism.
1964 – US troops to Vietnam.
If South Vietnam fell, other states in Asia were at risk.
Communism was contained in Korea, it could work in Vietnam too.

6. Ho Chi Minh
Local communist party ruler, was active in fighting French colonial rule.
Elected President of North Vietnam.
Blended nationalism to communism.
Perfected the deadly art of guerrilla warfare.

7. Nov. 22, 1954
July 16, 1965
May. 12, 1975
                

8. Ngo Dinh Diem Ngo Dinh Diem, head of the South Vietnam government.
Ho Chi Minh, local communist party ruler, was active in fighting French colonial rule. August 1945 – Vietminh is formed (alliance of forces under Communist leadership) and seized power in much of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh elected President. France refuses to accept the new government – France agrees to a peace settlement and leave Vietnam. Vietnam was divided into two parts. Communists based out of Hanoi, control the North. Non-Communists based out of Saigon, control the South.
Ngo Dinh Diem, head of the South Vietnam government.
Diem started to get aid from the United States.
1965 – South Vietnamese communist guerrillas known as Viet Cong wage war in South Vietnam.
VC are on the verge of taking over the country.
NEXT: Napalm picture
Ngo Dinh Diem, head of the South Vietnam government.
Diem started to get aid from the United States to fight off attacks for North Vietnam.

9. A U.S. Soldier search for Viet Cong
Vietnam War
1965 – South Vietnamese communist guerrillas known as Viet Cong wage full war in South Vietnam.
VC are on the verge of taking over the country.
Ho Chi Minh, local communist party ruler, was active in fighting French colonial rule. August 1945 – Vietminh is formed (alliance of forces under Communist leadership) and seized power in much of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh elected President. France refuses to accept the new government – France agrees to a peace settlement and leave Vietnam. Vietnam was divided into two parts. Communists based out of Hanoi, control the North. Non-Communists based out of Saigon, control the South.
Ngo Dinh Diem, head of the South Vietnam government.
Diem started to get aid from the United States.
1965 – South Vietnamese communist guerrillas known as Viet Cong wage war in South Vietnam.
VC are on the verge of taking over the country.
NEXT: Napalm picture
A U.S. Soldier search for Viet Cong

10. Viet Cong Stands for “Vietnamese Communists”
The guerrilla force that fought against South Vietnam
President Ngo Dinh Diem gave them the name to belittle the rebels

11. A suspected Viet Cong is interrogated.
Vietnam War
March, 1965 – President Lyndon Johnson decided to send in U.S. troops.
An attempt to prevent a Communist victory.
By late 1960s – War was stalemated.
Neither side could achieve total victory.
March, 1965 – President Lyndon Johnson decided to in U.S. troops.
An attempt to prevent a Communist victory.
Late 1960s – War was stalemated.
Neither side could achieve total victory.
NEXT: EXECUTION
A suspected Viet Cong is interrogated.

12. Children flee a South Vietnamese napalm strike.
Napalm is a flammable liquid used in warfare. It is a mixture of a gelling agent and either gasoline
This picture was to become one of the most iconic of the war

13. Ho Chi Minh Trial
Allowed for movement of soldiers and war supplies from North Vietnam to battlefields in South Vietnam.
The Trail played a key role in the Communist victory over South Vietnam.

14. National Chief of Police Nguyen Ngoc Loan, executes an NLF officer in Saigon during Tet. Images of the killing shocked the world.
National Chief of Police Nguyen Ngoc Loan, executes an NLF officer in Saigon during Tet. Images of the killing shocked the world.

15. US embassy compound in Saigon in the Tet Offensive
A large-scale offensive during the Vietnamese holiday of Tet
In surprise simultaneous assaults they attacked 36 provincial capitals and five of the six major cities.
In Saigon they penetrate the US embassy compound
                                                        
US embassy compound in Saigon in the Tet Offensive

16. Politics during the War
President Johnson was condemned for his handling of the war.
The war was costly.
Johnson refuses to run for reelection.
Nixon wins the election in 1968 on pledge to end the war in Vietnam.
President Johnson was condemned for his handling of the war.
The war was costly.
Johnson refuses to run for reelection.
Richard Nixon wins the election with his pledge to stop the war and the American people back together again.
Domino theory is unproven. Bad relations develop Communist China and the Soviet Union. President Nixon improved relations with China. Vietnam proves that American military might has limitations.
Despite the massive superiority in equipment and firepower, the United States failed to ultimately defeat the Vietnamese. Growing number of troops and the length of the Vietnam War created a backlash from college students in the United States. Televised images of the war – aired in United States – helped to turn public opinion against the war.
U.S. Bombing of North Vietnam

17. My Lai Massacre
300 + unarmed citizens were massacred by U.S. Army soldiers.
Mainly women and children
Prompts widespread protests in the US
The mass murder of 347 to 504 unarmed citizens of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), almost entirely civilians and the majority of them women and children, conducted by U.S. Army forces on March 16, Before being killed, some of the victims were raped and sexually molested, beaten, tortured, or maimed. Some of the dead bodies were also mutilated
The incident prompted widespread outrage around the world and reduced U.S. support at home for the Vietnam War

18. Joseph Miller lies dead shot on 5/4/1970
Student Protest
Students protest the My Lai Massacre and the Viet Nam War in general at Kent State University
The Ohio National Guard began shooting during the protest on campus.
4 students are killed and 9 are wounded.
More Americans turn against the war.
1970 – Student protest at Kent State turns violent.
4 students are killed and 9 are wounded.
Shot by Ohio National Guard during riots on campus.
Nixon is startled, more Americans turn against the war.
Young people rebelled through clothing, music, and protests. Colorful, folk-inspired, mock-military. Student unity was focused due to their stance on the war. “Trust no one over 30!”
Joseph Miller lies dead shot on 5/4/1970

19. Vietnam War to 1975
Support for the war was low in the United States.
No clear military victory appeared to be coming soon.
1972 – Nixon reelected with the promise to end the war
Support for the war was low in the United States.
No clear military victory appeared to be coming soon.
1972 – Nixon reelected.
Promises to end the war in Vietnam.
U.S. helicopter spraying defoliant, Agent Orange that later caused birth defects in soldiers future children

20. Vietnam War Comes to an End
1973 – President Nixon negotiated an end to the war.
1975 – North Vietnamese troops unite all of Vietnam.
America’s commitment to containment in Asia comes to an end.
1972 – Nixon reelected.
1973 – President Nixon negotiated an end to the war.
1975 – North Vietnamese troops unite all of Vietnam.

21. Retreat
Vietnamese civilians – allies of the war effort in Vietnam, desperately attempt to escape Vietnam on an Air America helicopter.

22. Vietnam is Reunited
Americans left Vietnam in 1973, but continued to give South Vietnam financial and military aid.
In April 1975 the South Vietnamese regime collapsed and Vietnam was united under communism.

23. Essential Questions:
What factors contributed to the US involvement in Vietnam?
Was cost of the Vietnam War (political cost, economic cost, and the lives lost) worth the effort to stop the spread of communism? Explain your answer.