Question of the Day 4/16
• What movie is this exchange from?
Fat Man at Bench: It was a bullet, wasn't it? (main character): A bullet? Fat Man at Bench: That jumped up and bit you. (main character): Oh, yes sir. Bit me right in the buttocks. They said it was a million dollar wound, but the army must keep that money 'cause I still haven't seen a nickel of that million dollars.
VIETNAMUnderstanding both sides of the conflict
• SOUTH• DEMOCRATIC• Supported By Democratic
Countries• United States and Anti Communist
allies• Modern Weapons• Chemical Weapons
• NAPALM
• NORTH• COMMUNIST• Supported By Communist
Countries• Soviet Union• China
• Weapons were dated• Guerilla warfare
Similar to North and South Korea
IMPERIALISM Vietnam freedom revolution
breaks into 2 Groups North• The People's Republic of China • Soviet Union
• recognized the Viet Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam as the legitimate government of Vietnam.
• Capital in HanoiSouth• United States• Great Brittan
• recognized the State of Vietnam as the legitimate Vietnamese
• Capital in Saigon
French- 1850s.---- Japan& French ---- Japan
1950s- French/Japan Removed
a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
Ho Chi Minh
• Communist Rebel leader against French and Japanese imperialism
• Backed by Soviets and China• Leader of Viet Minh's Democratic
Republic of Vietnam
• Soon to be Leader of Communist North Vietnam
DOMINO THEORY if one state in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect.
Containment
• Aggressive war broke out in 1950 between (Soviet and China) Communist North and (United States and Great Brittan) Democratic South
• Containment was a United States policy to prevent the spread of communism abroad.
example of communist expansionism directed by the Soviet Union
Vietnam War
Viet Cong• Soviet trained and armed
militants using Guerilla Warfare trying to defeat democratic south and unite Vietnam in Communism
• Use of terrorism, explosives, car bombs, Punji sticks, land mines, poison, trip wires, etc..
South Vietnamese • United States backed, armed,
and trained militants trying to defend democracy and overthrow the communist north to unite Vietnam in Democracy.
• Use of artillery, helicopters, gunships, 50 Caliber machine guns, napalm,
U.S. mindset on the warFirst Televised war
• After images of the violence hit main land America, Vietnam war became HUGELY unpopular.
Where the fighting happened
• Deep jungle & in the Streets of villages• Terrorist action• Human and car bombs in crowded areas
Boat People• Vietnamese people Defecting
from the country. Leaving on boats and landing along the U.S. coast line
• Many fisherman, shrimping industry, and port workers
Brain Drain
• Educated Vietnamese leaving the country before the fighting escalated.
• Staying in their new country, unable to go back and help build on the education
Ended in 1975 when Saigon fell to the North.
– now known as Ho Chi Minh City
Death Toll
Vietnamese Casualties American Casualties
United States of America58,286 killed and missing in action4
Democratic Republic of Vietnam & Viet Cong1.1 million killed2
Total casualties of all countries involved reach close to 1,400,000.
1.4 million lives
Question of the Day 4/17
•What were some things that made fighting the Viet Cong difficult for US troops?