1. THE VIETNAM WAR

2. IMORTANT DATES OF THE VIETNAM WAR

3. DATES CONTINUED

4. AND MORE DATES

5. MAP OF VIETNAM AND INDOCHINA
Vietnam is a long, narrow, hilly nation on the eastern edge of Southeast Asia.
Vietnam is bordered on the east by the South China Sea and on the west by Cambodia (Kampuchea) and Laos.

6. THE FRENCH RULE INDOCHINA
By the 1500’s the French started to exploring Vietnam in search of spices and to convert the Vietnamese to Christianity.
When French missionaries were murdered, France sent its navy to protect the others.
France took control of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) and it became the colony of French Indochina.

7. JAPAN GAINS CONTROL
During World War II the Japanese took control of Indochina.
The leader of the Vietnamese was Ho Chi Minh, who wanted to bring communism to Vietnam.
To wage war against the Japanese he formed the League for the Independence of Vietnam = Vietminh

8. WAR BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND THE VIETMINH
In 1946 a war broke out between the French and the Vietminh, led by Ho Chi Minh.
The French were trying to regain their colony after the defeat of the Japanese.
1950, the Vietminh, with help from China attacked the French.

9. AMERICAN AID TO THE FRENCH
At first the U.S. remained neutral.
1950 = President Truman sent the French money, arms, and technology.
President Eisenhower increased the aid.
1954 = The U.S. was paying for 80% of France’s war.

10. DIEN BIEN PHU
In 1954 the Viet Minh surrounded a large French Army at the city of Dien Bien Phu.
The French begged the U.S. for help, the U.S. refused.
Dien Bien Phu fell, The French cleared out of Vietnam.

11. THE GENEVA ACCORDS A Peace Conference was held in Geneva, France.
France and Great Britain on one side, China and the Soviet Union on the other.
Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel.
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam, leader was Ho Chi Minh.
The State of Vietnam (South Vietnam)

12. DIVIDED VIETNAM
Election were to be held in two years to select a government for the entire country.
Ngo Dinh Diem – leader of South Vietnam would not go along with the Geneva agreements.

13. ‘DOMINO THEORY’
If one area in Indochina became communist all other areas in Indochina would fall and become communist after it.

14. VIETCONG
Anti-Diem forces known as the Vietcong began attacks in South Vietnam against Diem forces.
VIETCONG = Communist receiving aid form Ho Chi Minh, or nationalist who wanted Vietnam united.

15. THE U.S. IN VIETNAM Most who opposed Diem were communist.
Eisenhower sent more aid to the Diem government over the next four years.
The Vietcong were taking over the country side.

16. KENNEDY AND VIETNAM
In 1961 a special task force advised Kennedy to send troops to assist Diem.
Kennedy sent advisors who would help to train Deim’s Troops.
He also supplied Diem with helicopters.

17. KENNEDY CONTINUED…..
By 1963 there were 17,000 American advisors in Vietnam.
November 1, 1963 a military coup overthrew the Diem regime, Diem was executed.
Kennedy agreed to send American air-support and combat troops to the new South Vietnamese government.

18. JOHNSON IS PRESIDENT The South Vietnamese government was worse.
The Vietcong now controlled 80% of the countryside of South Vietnam.
30,000 North Vietnamese were helping the Vietcong Guerrillas.

19. JOHNSON CONTINUED…..
As vice-president Johnson opposed sending combat troops to Vietnam.
He did not want to be thought of as a weak president.
U.S. needed to live up to its anti-communist policy
Advisors assured him it would take only a small amount of troops.

20. GULF OF TONKIN
On August 2, 1964 the U.S. accused North Vietnam of attacking an American destroyer “Maddox” in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the coast of Vietnam.
On August 4th the U.S. reported the Maddox was attacked again.

21. GULF OF TONKIN CONTINUED…
The U.S. launched a bombing mission against North Vietnam to retaliate for the attacks against the “Maddox”.
North Vietnam denied the attacks.
The public was not told that the U.S. was leading South Vietnam forces on secret raids against northern coastal villages or that the “Maddox” was collecting intelligence for the missions.

22. GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION
On August 7, 1964, the U.S. Congress adopted the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
The president could take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against armed forces of the U.S. and to prevent further agression.

23. GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION CONTINUED……
Most of the resolution was drawn up before the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
It allowed Johnson to send American forces into Vietnam without a formal declaration of war against North Vietnam.
Johnson was to treat this as a formal declaration of war.
This was the beginning of full scale U.S. military aid to South Vietnam.

24. OPERATION “ROLLING THUNDER”
In February of 1964 the U.S. began bombing the Ho Chi Minh Trail = a route from North Vietnam into South Vietnam which was used by the north to supply the Vietcong in the south.

25. ROLLING THUNDER CONTINUED…..
The NVA (North Vietnamese Army) used the Ho Chi Minh Trial to get soldiers into South Vietnam.
In February of 1965 the U.S. began bombing North Vietnam.
1. Slow Down North Vietnamese going into South Vietnam, 2. Force North Vietnam to reach a settlement with South Vietnam.

26. U.S. TROOPS ENTER VIETNAM
In the beginning of 1965 the U.S. had about 20, 000 troops in Vietnam.
End of 1965 = 200,000 troops.
,000 troops.

27. “SEARCH-AND-DESTROY” MISSIONS
Helicopters would land troops in a village suspected of supporting the Vietcong.
1. Spray the huts with machine gun fire.
2. shoot the livestock.
3. burn the village.

28. SERACH AND DESTROY CONTINUED
Most of the casualties were old men and women, and children.
The fighting men were usually hidden in the jungle.
The North and Vietnamese used land mines and booby-traps. These traps were planted where Americans might travel.
They also used hit-and-run and ambush tactics.
There was never a clearly defined battle front.
The enemy was everywhere, all the time, and usually out of sight.

29. WILLIAM WESTMORELAND
General William Westmorland was the commander of American forces in South Vietnam.
His strategy was attrition = kill so many of the enemy that they lose their ability or will to fight.

30. DEFOLIANTS
To destroy the jungles that provided cover for the Vietcong the U.S. sprayed huge quantities of toxic chemicals.
The defoliants (agent orange) caused leaves to drop of plants.
Effects = birth defects of Vietnamese children and children of American servicemen, liver damage, muscular disorders, other problems.

31. THE TET OFFENSIVE
Tuesday January 30, 1968 was the beginning of the Vietnamese New Year.
Both sides announced a holiday ceasefire.
The Vietcong and Communist chose this day to launch a massive offensive.

32. THE TET OFFENSIVE
The Vietcong and communist attacked more than 100 cities throughout South Vietnam.
The communist hoped the assault would spark a popular revolt against the American backed government.
The uprising did not take place.

33. TET OFFENSIVE CONTINUED….
The size and the timing of the offensive shocked all Americans, including the military.
Over 2,000 South Vietnam civilians were murdered in one city alone (Hue),
By April of 1968 the offensive failed. There were 42,000 Vietcong casualties. The U.S. had retaken the cities and towns.
Support for the Saigon government was weaker than ever.
Millions of Americans took a greater interest.

34. THE DOVES AGIANST THE HAWKS

35. THE DOVES AGAINST THE HAWKS
By 1965 many Americans were beginning to have serious doubts about the nations growing involvement in Vietnam.
As the U.S. became more involved in the war the more opposition to the war grew in the United States.

36. THE DOVES Those who were against the war became known as “doves”.
Anti-war musicals, stop-the-bombing marches, burning of draft cards, picketed induction centers, sit-ins and strikes on college campuses.

37. DOVES CONTINUED…..
By ,000 Americans had emigrated to Canada in order to avoid serving in what they called an “immoral war”
The war was a civil war, trying to overcome a corrupt government in Saigon.
The U.S. was destroying the country and population by trying to save it.
Thousands of Americans were being killed or wounded.
The war forced Johnson to abandon his “Great Society”.

38. THE HAWKS Hawks became the term for the people who supported the war.
Believed that Vietnam was vital to American Security and that containing communism was important.
Some wanted to escalate the war to an all-out military effort.

39. VIETNAMIZATION
June 1969, President Nixon announced his program of VIETNAMIZATION = Gradually withdrawing American troops from Vietnam and building up the South Vietnamese Army so they would do most of the fighting.

40. VIETNAMIZATION CONTINUED…..
Vietnamization was done to show the war protesters the government was attempting to end the war in Vietnam.
End of 1969 = 480,000 troops
1970 = 235,000 troops
End of 1971 = 160,000 troops
Nixon hoped to reduce the number of Americans killed = slow protest against the war.

41. BOMBING INCREASES
As Nixon decreased the number of troops in Vietnam he increased the bombing of North Vietnam.
Nixon also ordered the bombings of neighboring Cambodia and Laos.

42. CAMBODIA AND LAOS
The Vietcong were using Cambodia and Laos as sanctuaries.
The Vietcong would travel into South Vietnam from Laos or Cambodia and then return after attacking South Vietnam strongholds.
The bombing of Cambodia and Laos continued until 1973.

43. THE MASSACRE OF MY LAI
American soldiers had killed hundreds of unarmed civilians in the village of My Lai (MEE LY).
Officers had covered up the massacre by reporting there was a battle where 128 Vietcong died.

44. MY LAI CONTINUED In truth, there was no battle.
American soldiers entered the village looking for a Vietcong unit to get revenge for many casualties.
The Americans found only men, women, and children and opened fire.
At least 350 civilians of My Lai were killed.
The massacre further divided the United States.

45. INVASION OF CAMBODIA
Nixon’s secret bombing of Cambodia did not destroy the Communist bases.
Without asking Congress or the government of Cambodia Nixon ordered an invasion in April of 1970.

46. CAMBODIA CONTINUED…….
Nixon believed the invasion would wipe out communist bases, shorten the war and save American lives.
20,000 U.S. soldiers invaded Cambodia = The Communist went further back into Cambodia.
The U.S. captured enemy supplies, but did nothing to the North Vietnamese war effort.

47. MORE PROTEST AT HOME
The invasion of Cambodia caused more protest in the U.S.
Congress voted to repeal the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
Students held more strikes and protests at more than 400 colleges and universities.

48. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
The governor of Ohio called in the National Guard to keep the peace at Kent State.
Demonstrators were ordered to leave = they responded by throwing rocks.
Guardsmen opened fire killing four students.

49. MORE ON KENT STATE
The killings at Kent State continued to split the Nation.
Nixon made the problem worse by calling the protesters “bums.”
100,000 people in N.Y. agreed = America, Love it or Leave it.

50. A DIVIDED GENERATION
30,000 young men left the U.S. for other countries to avoid the draft.
20,000 deserted the military.
Others evaded the draft by going to college.

51. A DIVIDED GENERATION CONT…
3 million Americans fought in Vietnam.
Most came form poor and working-class backgrounds = training for better jobs.
Many who fought believed that military service was their duty as citizens.

52. A U.S. SOLDIER IN VIETNAM
The average age of a U.S. soldier in Vietnam was 19.
Could rarely see the enemy.
Could not trust his allies.
Fought in jungles and rice paddies.

53. The U.S. SOLDIER CONTINUED…
As the war continued morale declined.
Many soldiers began to find the war pointless.
Drug use greatly increased.
Some began refusing to go on missions.
Officers were wounded or killed by their won men.

54. THE ENDING OF THE WAR
On October 26, 1972 National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger announced, “peace is at hand”.
After three years of talks, Kissinger and Le Duc Tho of N. Vietnam agreed to a cease fire

55. SOUTH VIETNAM IS NOT SURE…
South Vietnamese president Nguyen Van Thieu wanted the U.S. to promise that they would step in if the Communist broke the agreement.
Nixon promised, but Thieu still was not convinced.
Le Duc Tho(N.Vietnam) suspended the peace talks.

56. The “CHRISTMAS BOMBINGS”
To show Thieu that the U.S. was behind him Nixon ordered one more huge bombing.
Dec. 18, 1972 Nixon ordered a two-week bombing attack on Hanoi and Haiphong.
To force N. Vietnam to sign the agreement.

57. CHINA, U.S.S.R. AND THE U.S.
The raids were meant to show support for South Vietnam.
China and the U.S.S.R. were pressuring N. Vietnam to settle the war.
Both the U.S.S.R. and China were trying to improve relations with the U.S.

58. THE FINAL SETTLEMENT The cease fire was signed on January 27, 1973.
More than 500 American prisoners were released form the “Hanoi Hilton” prison.
The U.S. withdrew its troops, sent aid to South Vietnam

59. FORD AND THE END OF THE WAR
The war continued between North and South Vietnam
By 1975 North Vietnamese forces were advancing towards Saigon (Capital of South Vietnam)

60. FORD CONTINUED…..
Gerald Ford took over for President Nixon when he resigned the presidency in 1974, Ford was Nixon’s vice-president.
President Ford asked congress for more military aid to save South Vietnam.
Congress refused to give the Aid.

61. SAIGON FALLS
With the U.S. out of the war, South Vietnam had no chance against the communist.
On April 30, 1975 Saigon fell to the communist.
The American ambassador and his staff were evacuated.

62. RESULTS OF THE WAR ON THE U.S.
3 million U.S. soldiers went to Vietnam.
60,000 U.S. soldiers died in Vietnam.
365,000 U.S. soldiers were wounded.
It cost the U.S. 150 billion dollars to fight the war.
Respect for the U.S. Government was lost by many of its citizens.

63. MORE RESULTS OF THE VIETNAM WAR
The defeat in Vietnam was unbelievable by many Americans = Not invincible.
Many Americans confidence in their system of government was questioned.
People lost faith in the people they elected to lead them.
Taxes were not increased to fight the war = budget deficit & national debt.

64. WAR POWERS ACT
Congress passed the WAR POWERS ACT on November 7, 1973 by overriding Nixon’s veto = The president must inform congress within two days of any use of American troops in a foreign country. The troops most be removed within 60 days if congress does not show support.

65. EFFECTS ON THE U.S. SOLDIER
Did not receive a hero’s welcome when returning home.
Hard to find jobs and readjusting to civilian life.
More than 500,000 have suffered psychological problems.