2. The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

4. Background to the War zFrance controlled “Indochina” since the late 19 th century zJapan took control during World War II zWith U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization after WWII

5. Background to the War zThe French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu zPresident Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France.

6. Background to the War zInternational Conference at Geneva P Vietnam was divided at 17 th parallel O Ho Chi Minh: leader of nationalist forces controlled the North O Ngo Dinh Diem: French-educated, Catholic. Claimed control of the South

7. Background to the War zDemocratic elections to reunify Vietnam set… zDiem backed out of the elections, leading to civil war between North and South

8. U.S. Military Involvement Begins zDictatorial zDictatorial rule by Diem P Diem’s P Diem’s family holds all power P Wealth P Wealth is hoarded by the elite P Buddhist P Buddhist majority persecuted P Torture, P Torture, lack of political freedom prevail zThe zThe U.S. aided Diem’s government P Ike P Ike sent financial and military aid P 675 P 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.

9. Early Protests of Diem’s Government Self-immolation by a Buddhist Monk

10. U.S. Military Involvement Begins zKennedy elected 1960 zIncreases military “advisors” to 16,000 z1963: zJFK supports military coup d’etat zCoup by the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam)generals. zCoup by the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) generals. zUS said it would not interfere zARVN overthrew the government on November 1, 1963. z Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2) zKennedy was assassinated 20 days later (Nov. 22)

11. Lyndon Baines Johnson Johnson assumes presidency after Kennedy’s death Vietnam plagued his presidency 1968 states he decides against running for reelection

12. Johnson Sends Ground Forces zRemembers 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.

13. Johnson Sends Ground Forces zAdvised to rout the communists by Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara zTonkin Gulf Incident  1964 (acc. to Johnson, the attacks were ‘unprovoked’) zTonkin Gulf Resolution P “The Blank Check” * P A joint resolution of Congress P Gave Johnson authorization for war - without a formal declaration of war P What is a Joint Resolution?

14. U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

15. The Ground War 1965-1968 zNo clear territorial goals for the US. zBody counts on TV every night (first “living room” war) zViet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Trail a path from North Vietnam to South Vietnam via Laos & Cambodia. Provides manpower and weapons, etc to the Vietcong/National Liberation Front/ NVA

16. The Air War 1965-1968 z1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam zOperation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965) z1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years. ztargets the Ho Chi Minh Trail. zCarpet Bombing – napalm

17. The Air War: A Napalm Attack

18. Who Is the Enemy? zVietcong zVietcong: P Farmers by day; guerillas at night. P Willing to accept many casualties. P US underestimated resolve and resourcefulness. The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- M MM Mao Zedong

19. Who Is the Enemy?

21. The Ground War 1965-1968 zGeneral Westmoreland zGeneral Westmoreland, late 1967: We can see the “light at the end of the tunnel.”

22. The Tet Offensive, January 1968 zN. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously z(67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon) zTake every major southern city zU.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive zViet Cong all but destroyed zBUT the IMPACT….

23. The Tet Offensive, January 1968

24. Impact of the Tet Offensive zDomestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration zJohnson’s popularity dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%. z‘z‘z‘z‘Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?’

25. American Morale Begins to Dip zDisproportionate representation of poor people and minorities. zSevere racial problems. zOfficers in combat 6 mo.; in rear 6 mo. Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo.

26. Are We Becoming the Enemy? zLt. William Calley, Platoon Leader zConvicted of premeditated murder of 22 Vietnamese civilians zConvicted of premeditated murder of 22 Vietnamese civilians. Calley was sentenced to life imprisonment at hard labor zMylai Massacre, 1968 z200-500 unarmed villagers Charlie Company, 1 st Battalion, 20 th Infantry

27. Nixon on Vietnam zNixon’s campaign promised : Peace with Honor zVietnamization : Encouraged the South Vietnamese to take more responsibility for fighting the war. zHoped to enable the United States to withdraw (gradually) from ‘Nam BUT… zThe “Secret War” P Cambodia – US forces famously invade & bomb. Destabilize the nation. P Laos

28. “Pentagon Papers,” 1971 zDaniel Ellsberg leaked govt. docs. about the Johnson administration and Vietnam zDocs.  Govt. misled Congress & Americans about Vietnam during mid-1960s. P Fighting not to eliminate communism, but to avoid humiliating defeat.

29. The Costs 1.3,000,000 Vietnamese killed 2.58,000 Americans killed; 300,000 wounded 3.Under-funding of Great Society programs 4.$150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending 5.U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust of government, decimated