1. The Vietnam War

2. Who’s war is it?

3. Who is in control of Vietnam?
1800 to WWII: French
WWII: Japan
After WWII: Back to French or Independent?
French troops back
Ho Chi Minh wants communism
1953 Eisenhower sends support to help French beat Commies (3/4 of cost paid by USA)

4. Vietnamese Civil War Ngo Dinh Diem Anti-Communist Pro-West, Catholic
Ho Chi Minh
Influenced by Communists in China and USSR
Wants a united Vietnam
Army=Vietcong (VC)
Ngo Dinh Diem
Anti-Communist
Pro-West, Catholic

5. Build Up to a larger war 1960: Kennedy elected
Increases troops
Diem’s (S. Vietnam) gov’t was corrupt
Many people in S. Vietnam upset with gov’t leads to huge protests
Discrimination against Buddhists

6. US Cold War Policy Our P.O.V.
USA and W. Europe=GOOD=Free=Democracy
USSR and Commies=BAD=Not free=Dictatorship
Containment: Don’t let communism spread beyond where it already is
Domino Theory: If Vietnam falls to communism, then Thailand, then India, etc (slippery slope to world domination)

7. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Congress gives LBJ authority to “take all necessary measures to repeal any armed attack against the United States.”
No Declaration of War (Art I, Sec 6.11)

8. “Americanization” of War
Operation Rolling Thunder
US takes the offensive by escalating troops and military actions

10. “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”

11. Agent Orange

12. The Elusive Enemy Vietcong and Vietminh use surprise/sneak attacks
Only engage when they know victory is assured
US technological advantage not obvious

13. Vietcong tunnels

14. Discontent in America Lower morale on war front due to stalemate
Doves and Hawks argue back home
War was draining US resources; LBJ struggles to get his social programs initiated

15. Students Protest Nationwide

16. Tet Offensive

17. Johnson doesn’t run for re-election