1. Chapter 28
Vietnam War

2. Learning Objectives Understand political situation in Vietnam in 1960s
Know how US became involved in Vietnam
Identify reasons why Americans were against the war
Discuss the event that led to end of the War
Analyze music and culture during Vietnam War

3. A Distant War Divides the Nation
France held Vietnam as a colony until Japan took it over right before WWII
In 1946, when WWII was over, the Japanese had to leave Vietnam, & the country wanted its independence
France had other ideas – wanted it back as a colony
French fight against Ho Chi Minh & his followers - Communists

4. A Distant War Divides the Nation
Ho Chi Minh’s troops win a great battle, and French leave the country
Peace Treaty signed
Divides Vietnam into 2 parts
North Vietnam - communist
South Vietnam – democratic
Elections to be held 2 years later to see who would rule whole country
Ho Chi Minh takes over North, makes it communist
Ngo Dinh Diem becomes leader in the South

5. A Distant War Divides the Nation
US & South Vietnam afraid communists will win the election and make whole country communists
Then, all other surrounding countries may become communist – like a row of dominos
Domino Theory
US begins to see Ho Chi Minh as a threat to all of Asia

6. An Unpopular Leader In 1956, Ngo Dinh Diem cancels elections
He creates a non-communist country in the South
US, under Eisenhower, agrees to support Diem
However, Diem is not liked in South Vietnam
No free speech
Imprisons people who speak out against him
Restricts religious practices
Buddhists must become Catholic

7. An Unpopular Leader 1n 1957, people organize to fight Diem
Viet Cong – Communists in the South
They join with troops in the North to fight Diem
This is the beginning of the Vietnam War

8. Help from United States
After Eisenhower, Kennedy helped Vietnam by sending advisors
Advisors sometimes fought
The Viet Cong used guerrilla warfare
Hit and run surprise attacks
Diem becomes more unpopular
South Vietnamese military want to depose (remove) him from office
The military killed Diem and took charge of country
Kennedy killed, War becomes President Johnson’s

9. The Fighting Continues
It was difficult to fight Viet Cong because many people in the South supported them
Also, supplies were from the North to the Viet Cong in the South on the Ho Chi Minh Trail
The Trail was partly in Cambodia
Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense (head of US Military), said US could win this war, if they just sent more help (troops and money)

10. Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Aug 1964, US warship says it was attacked by North Vietnamese gunboats in the Gulf of Tonkin (coastline of Vietnam)
Congress passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which gives President extreme powers to send troops there if US is feeling threatened in any way
He doesn’t need Congress to declare war in order to send the troops

11. Bombing of North Vietnam
In 1964, Johnson wins a landslide victory in the presidential election
This means people like his policies
He promises US troops would not be sent to Vietnam, but also said he would fight communism
Secretly, he was planning to bomb North Vietnam
When 8 Americans were killed at a military base in the South, Johnson ordered the bombing to begin
Over 3 years, US drops 500 tons of bomb/day on the North – only made them fight harder against US
By June 1965, more than 50,000 troops in Vietnam

12. Conflict Grows
US had very difficult time fighting Viet Cong guerrilla warfare – couldn’t find the enemy
Used napalm & Agent Orange to clear areas – wanted to eliminate hiding areas
Napalm – sticky gasoline jelly, ignites upon contact and burns whatever it touches
Agent Orange – a chemical used to kill plant life (usually weeds)
Millions of Vietnamese civilians were killed by these weapons – many of them were innocent
By end of 1966, more than 385,000 US troops there

13. Tet Offensive
Tet = beginning of Vietnamese New Year – most important holiday
Celebrate for several days
Both sides agree to a truce – stop fighting
Troops go on holiday leave – rest & relaxation
North Vietnamese troops & Viet Cong conduct surprise attack in many cities all over South Vietnam
US embassy & military base in Saigon are attacked & damaged

14. Tet Offensive
Even though US wins this battle after about a month, it is significant because Americans realize that the Viet Cong and North are much stronger than they’ve been told by the US government
TV images of the war reinforced the belief that the US government was lying about the US winning the war
This leads to less support for the War in the US
Other people thought we should keep fighting communism

15. Voices Against the War
Many young people (high school & college) began protesting the War
The police, national guard & War supporters often clashed with them
May 1970, students at Kent State University in Ohio were killed & wounded in a clash with National Guard
People also began to protest the draft
College students could get a “deferment” & not serve – usually the wealthy, & people thought unfair

16. Voices Against the War
Poor whites and minorities (especially African Americans) were drafted
People started to burn their draft cards and some left the country to avoid the draft

17. Election of 1968 President Johnson lost a lot of support
War took away money from the Great Society
Johnson shocked people when he announced he would not run for president
Two other Democratic candidates were:
Robert Kennedy
Eugene McCarthy
Both were against staying in the War
2 months after Dr. King was killed, Bobby Kennedy was assassinated

18. Election of 1968
Democrats needed to find a candidate to run for president
Met in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention
Riots broke out between police and young people protesting the War
There were many arguments inside the Convention Hall also – and all of this was televised
Finally picked VP Hubert Humphrey to run
Richard Nixon was chosen by Republicans
He promised to end the war, and was elected

19. The War Ends After Nixon’s election, the War lasted another 4 years
In early 1969, Nixon ordered planes to bomb Ho Chi Minh Trail, which also went through Cambodia & Laos
They wanted to stop supplies from coming down this Trail and Viet Cong from hiding there
Bombing lasted for more than a year
US government lied about it & said it was only in Vietnam

20. The War Ends Nixon announces new plan to end the war
Vietnamization – US troops would start leaving & South Vietnamese troops would take over
US would only give some aid, but not troops
Meanwhile, the Pentagon Papers were printed in the newspaper
Secret papers that showed President Johnson was planning to send troops even when he promised not to
Nixon tried to prevent the papers from being published, but Supreme Court said they could be
Fighting lasted 2 more years
In 1973, peace agreement was signed in Paris

21. After The War All US troops left Vietnam by March 1073
South was easily defeated within 2 years
North invaded and took over the South capital city, Saigon – called the “Fall of Saigon”
Vietnam was now united under communism
The Veterans returning were treated badly since so many people had seen war on TV for the first time – they blamed soldiers
Not until 1980s that people pay respect to the troops & created a memorial – The Wall
More than 58,000 US died, and millions of Vietnamese