1. AIM: Why did the United States go to War with Vietnam?
The Vietnam War
AIM: Why did the United States go to War with Vietnam?

2. Do Now Respond to the above quote. Do you
I volunteered….Ever since the American Revolution
my family had people in all the different wars, and
that was always the thing- when your country needs
you, you go. You don’t ask a lot of questions.”
-Vietnam Soldier
Respond to the above quote. Do you
Agree or disagree with this soldier’s
motives for going to war? Why? What
Does it mean to serve your country? List
And explain reasons you would fight and
Die in a war.

3. I. Vietnam: Overview
The Vietnam War was the longest War in American history
up to this point, and the only War the United States lost.
During WWII most Americans had felt deeply proud of their
participation in the war.
Vietnam became a study in limits for American Citizens:
the limit of their country’s power and of their country’s
government.
This painful awakening remained long in America’s
memory, and shaped US foreign policy for decades to come.

4. Overview Cont. Over 58,267 (Dept of Defense)
Americans and 4 Mil Vietnamese
were killed in the Vietnam
War.

5. The Vietnam Memorial, Washington, D.C.

6. 58,267

7. Vietnam War Memorial A Mother to her Dead son:
“ I came to this black wall again to see and
touch your name, and as I do I wonder
If anyone ever stops to realize that
next to your name, on this black wall, is
You mothers heart. A heart broken 15
Years ago today, when you lost your life in
Vietnam.”

8. II. Vietnam Presidents Eisenhower (Ike): (‘52-60)
1st President in Vietnam.
Places roughly 700 “advisors” in Viet
JFK (‘61-’63):
Ups the number of troops to 16k
LBJ (‘63-’68): drastically increases US
presence in Viet.
Nixon (69-74): First increases and then
removes US troops.

9. Background to the War Viet was a French colony after WWII
Vietnamese saw FR as imperialists and rebelled
U.S. gave billions of $ to support Fr
Ho Chi Minh had been fighting for Vietnamese independence since World War I.
The U.S. gave France aid to win its support in American anticommunist efforts in Western Europe.

10. Indochina

11. Background to the War The French lost control of
Vietnam in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu.
Vietnamese trapped Fr for 55 days. Fr lost 15,000 men
Fr surrendered ‘54
Ho Chi Minh had been fighting for Vietnamese independence since World War I.
The U.S. gave France aid to win its support in American anticommunist efforts in Western Europe.

12. Background to the War International Conference at Geneva
Vietnam was divided at 17th parallel
Ho Chi Minh’s communist North
Ngo Dinh Diem, a French-educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the South (Supported by U.S.)
Realizing he would Diem backs out of elections.

14. Background to the War
A date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnam
Fearing a loss US supported Diem backed out of the elections, leading to war between North and South.
Realizing he would lose, Diem backed out of elections.

15. Domino Theory Remember: Us Foreign Policy was
Dictated during the cold war by the
Domino theory.
Domino Theory: Belief that if one
Country “fell” to communisms, the
surrounding countries would also fall.

17. Do Now In your own words answer the following:
Why did the United States become
Involved in Vietnam? Who was Ho
Chi Minh? What Was the Domino theory?

18. “In human terms at least, the war
In Vietnam was a war that nobody won-
A struggle between victims. Its origins
Were complex, its lessons disputed, its
Legacy still to be assessed by future
Generations. But whether a valid venture
Or a misguided endeavor, it was a tragedy of
Epic dimensions.” - Stanley Karnow

20. U.S. Military Involvement Begins
Repressive dictatorial rule by Diem
Diem’s family holds all power
Wealth is hoarded by the elite
Buddhist majority persecuted
Torture, lack of political freedom prevail
The U.S. aided Diem’s government
Eisenhower sent financial and military aid
675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.
Realizing he would Diem backs out of elections.

21. Early Protests of Diem’s Government
Self-immolation by a Buddhist Monk 1963
-There were many more after this
-Helped spur Diem’s downfall

22. U.S. Military Involvement Cont.
Kennedy increases military “advisors” to 16,000 (‘60)
1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese military coup d’etat – Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2)
Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. 22)
Kennedy’s advisors were clearly fighting a covert war by 1963.
MacNamara has suggested that he believes Kennedy would have pulled the U.S. out, but evidence in inconclusive.
JFK realizes Diem is a liability; offers quiet support to a Vietnamese military coup d’etat.
The coup results in the brutal murders of Diem and his brother
The Vietnamese generals overthrow one another. A relatively stable, but tyrannical government emerges. It is little better than Diem’s.

24. Kennedy Assassination Nov. 22nd 1963

25. Johnson Sends Ground Forces
Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China  Domino Theory revived
I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.
What Johnson told Congress
What he didn’t tell Congress:
He had already written the resolution before the “incident.”
The U.S. naval vessels were aiding ARVN in commando raids in North Vietnam at the time.
He learned that the attack probably hadn’t occurred.
The U.S. navy was not on the “high seas” but in N. Vietnam’s 12 mile territorial limit.

26. Do Now “The Vietnamese people deeply love Independence,
freedom and peace. But in the face of United States
aggression they have risen up, united as one man.
You can kill ten of my men for every one I
kill of yours, but even at those odds,
you will lose and I will win.”
-Ho Chi Minh
Respond to the above quote. Is military might enough to conquer any
nation? Why? Why not? Why do you think the United States had such
a difficult time accomplishing victory in Vietnam?

27. Johnson Sends Ground Forces
In order to do this he needs authorization to send more troops.
AUGUST 1964: In the Gulf of Tonkin incident North Vietnamese torpedoed American boats off of the coast of North Vietnam. (This account is later found to be fake)
What Johnson told Congress
What he didn’t tell Congress:
He had already written the resolution before the “incident.”
The U.S. naval vessels were aiding ARVN in commando raids in North Vietnam at the time.
He learned that the attack probably hadn’t occurred.
The U.S. navy was not on the “high seas” but in N. Vietnam’s 12 mile territorial limit.

28. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Based on the Gulf of Tonkin Incident Johnson pushed for
the passage Of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution authorized the president to
“take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the f
Forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.”
This act allowed Johnson to drastically increase the number of
Americans fighting in Vietnam with no formal declaration of war.

29. U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam
Kennedy’s advisors were clearly fighting a covert war by 1963.
MacNamara has suggested that he believes Kennedy would have pulled the U.S. out, but evidence in inconclusive.
JFK realizes Diem is a liability; offers quiet support to a Vietnamese military coup d’etat.
The coup results in the brutal murders of Diem and his brother
The Vietnamese generals overthrow one another. A relatively stable, but tyrannical government emerges. It is little better than Diem’s.

30. Activity!
Read answer
Questions 1, 4-6