1. The Vietnam War

2. Essential Idea
The Vietnam War aimed to contain the spread of communism but quickly became unpopular.

3. Domino Theory Domino Theory:
China’s fall to communism threatened containment
Domino Theory – the idea that if Vietnam fell, the rest of East Asia would follow

4. Dividing Vietnam Geneva Accords:
In 1954, Vietnam won independence from France
Geneva Accords – Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam at the 17th Parallel

5. North and South Vietnam
North Vietnam:
Leader: Ho Chi Minh
Government: Communist
Events: Minh wanted to make South Vietnam communist
Vietcong – group of South Vietnamese communists that Minh armed

6. Diem is Unpopular South Vietnam Leader: Ngo Dinh Diem
Government: Anti-communist
Events: Diem used oppressive rule to stop communism
Diem outlawed Buddhism, leading to famous protests by Buddhist monks

7. The Vietcong, Buddhist Protests

8. Diem Killed JFK used CIA “advisors” to overthrow and execute Diem
South Vietnam became unstable and vulnerable to communism
When Lyndon Johnson became president, he wanted to show strength against communism

9. Gulf of Tonkin Gulf of Tonkin Resolution:
Johnson (LBJ) reported that the North Vietnamese had attacked two American ships in the Gulf of Tonkin

10. Gulf of Tonkin
LBJ did not reveal that the American ships were helping the South Vietnamese
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – Congress gave LBJ authority to take “all necessary measures”
The Result:
The Vietnam War began
Causes of Vietnam War

11. Fighting Begins
Operation Rolling Thunder – this was a sustained bombing campaign on North Vietnam

12. Fighting Begins
Johnson sent in over 350,000 troops to fight with the South Vietnamese
American and Vietcong forces became locked in bloody stalemate

13. Vietcong Tactics
Fighting took place in dense jungle, which the Vietcong knew well
Vietcong used guerilla attacks, booby traps, and ambushes against Americans
Vietcong could blend in with civilians, and fighting became very frustrating for Americans

14. American Tactics
America used “search and destroy” missions to destroy the landscape and expose hiding Vietcong
Napalm – a jellied gasoline used to burn down jungles
Agent Orange – a chemical used on jungles that had terrible side-effects on humans

15. Effects of Agent Orange

16. Vietnam Divides the Nation
Issue #1: The “TV” War
General William Westmoreland told Americans that the war was successful
However, TV showed images of many dead or injured soldiers

17. Media vs. Government?
Distrust in American government grew

18. Anger at the Draft Issue #2: The Draft
Many citizens burned their draft cards in protest

19. The Tet Offensive 1. The Tet Offensive
The American government had led the public to believe that they were winning
Tet Offensive – Vietcong launched a surprise attack on American airbases and major cities (in South Vietnam)
It was a political victory for the Vietcong because it showed they could mount a massive attack

20. “Are we losing?”

21. The Massacre at My Lai My Lai Massacre
At My Lai, Americans massacred a village of women, children, and elderly
The My Lai Massacre is a dark spot on the Vietnam War
Survivor's Account
Soldier's Letter

25. Troops Withdraw, Nixon Bombs Cambodia
Vietnamization – process of gradual withdrawal of troops from Vietnam
However, Nixon secretly began bombing of Cambodia

26. The Fall of Saigon 6. Fall of Saigon
Two years after leaving Vietnam, Gerald Ford was president
North Vietnam invaded South Vietnam and captured the capital, Saigon
South Vietnam fell to communism

27. Legacy of Vietnam 7. Legacy of the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War, along with the Watergate Scandal, made Americans distrust the government
Many Vietnam veterans felt unappreciated, and many people felt that America had lost