the vietnam era, 1954-1975
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The Vietnam Era, 1954-1975. American History (CHA3U1) Chapter 33. Introduction. The period 1954 – 1975 would see unprecedented change in all areas of American society Tremendous prosperity and power would both benefit and hurt American society. Sec. 1: Cold War Challenges (pgs. 924-29). - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Vietnam Era, 1954-1975
American History (CHA3U1)
Chapter 33
Introduction
The period 1954 – 1975 would see unprecedented change in all areas of American society
Tremendous prosperity and power would both benefit and hurt American society
Sec. 1: Cold War Challenges (pgs. 924-29)Crises in Cuba – Castro took power 1959 The Bay of Pigs Invasion – 1,400 Cuban
exiles supported by the CIA invade Cuba in 1961 total failure
The Alliance for Progress - $20 billion pledged to 19 Latin American countries to aid development and curtail communism
The Cuban Missile Crisis – October 1962 Pres. Kennedy forced Soviet Union to remove missiles from Cuba
Cuban Missile Crisis
Sec. 1: Cold War Challenges
The Peace Corps – 1961 help stop poverty & disease stop communism
Peace Corps Volunteers – lived among local people and gave them practical help for their problems (e.g. sewage system, medical)
Nationalism in Africa – new nations in Africa had boundaries created by European colonial powers that didn’t take into account ethnic / tribal differences conflict (e.g. Congo)
Sec. 1: Cold War Challenges
Challenges From the Soviet Union – Soviet leader Khrushchev thought he could intimidate Kennedy
The Berlin Wall – Soviets built a wall to keep East Germans from escaping into West Berlin
Quarrels over Nuclear Testing – Soviets resumed atmospheric nuclear testing in 1961 1963 treaty ended such testing
Dominican Intervention – 1965 20,000 US troops sent to put down Communist rebels
Krushchev and Berlin Wall
Sec. 1: Cold War Challenges
Israel and Korea – friction with Soviets Arab-Israeli War – 1967 - American backed
Israel quickly defeated Soviet backed Egypt, Syria & Jordan
The Pueblo Incident – January 1968 N. Korea seized US spy ship that was in international waters and kept them for 1 year
Sec. 2: War in Vietnam (pg. 930-34)
Trouble in Southeast Asia – Soviets aided countries vying for national liberation
War in Laos – Kennedy and Khrushchev agreed to cease-fire in 1961
Kennedy and Vietnam – divided into Communist North and Non-communist South in 1954 after French defeated 1963 Kennedy had sent 16,000 advisers
Sec. 2: War in Vietnam (pg. 930-34)
Johnson’s Choices
1. Admit defeat and pull out causing possible domino theory in SE Asia
2. Limited support that would end in defeat
3. Actively attack N. Vietnam with loss of American lives and high financial costs
North and South Vietnam
Sec. 2: War in Vietnam
Escalation Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – August 2, 1964 N.
Viet torpedo boats supposedly fire on US ships Congress gives Pres. Johnson unaccountable power to wage war
A Different Kind of War – guerrilla & terrorist warfare fought by VC against stronger US
Search and Destroy – heavy bombardment of suspected VC positions (e.g. napalm, agent orange)
Victims of Napalm
Sec. 2: War in Vietnam
Resistance to Peace – N. Viet resisted peace attempts believing they could outlast US who had over 500,000 troops in Vietnam
N. Vietnamese Leader Ho Chi Minh
Sec. 2: War in Vietnam
Tet and Retreat – end of 1967 Gen. Westmoreland said end was in sight
Vietcong Attack Turns the Tide – Jan. 1968 VC attack all major S. Viet cities VC totally defeated but a propaganda victory
Peace Talks Begin – Mar. 31/ 68 US bombing stops peace talks in Paris May ’68 fail
Sec. 3: Protest and Reaction(pgs. 936-40)
Growing Opposition to War – reasons for fighting began to be questioned
Senate Hearings on the War – televised hearings carried the senators’ doubts about the war to millions of American homes
Hawks and Doves – supporters and opposition to war
Sec. 3: Protest and Reaction
Student Protests – antiwar protests centered on college campuses
Protests Against the Draft – student deferment allowed rich to avoid war by staying in school while poor drafted – some conscientious objectors, draft dodgers
Violence on Campus – 1970 Kent State & Jackson State University 4 & 2 students killed
Sec. 3: Protest and Reaction
New Beliefs and Values – younger generation rejected parents conservative values long hair, communes, sex, drugs & rock music (Woodstock 1969)
A Conservative Backlash – resented lack of respect for established order by spoiled rich college kids
Sec. 3: Protest and Reaction
1968: The Turning Point – majority of
Americans turned against war policy The Race for President – Pres. Johnson
drops out of race and Robert Kennedy is assassinated by Arab nationalist
The Candidates – Richard Nixon (Rep.), Hubert Humphrey (Dem.), George Wallace (I)
The Election of 1968 – Nixon wins narrowly
R. Kennedy and R. Nixon
Sec. 4: Secrecy and Summitry(pgs. 941-45)
A New Policy – focused on foreign policy Nixon Proclaims Détente – SALT (Strategic
Arms Limitation Treaty) with Russians (1972) Nixon and China – visits China in 1972 after
allowing trade & travel and moving Seventh Fleet from protecting Taiwan
Sec. 4: Secrecy and Summitry
War in Vietnam – Nixon promised to end war, but didn’t want to lose or prolong protests
The Pentagon Papers – leaked secret gov’t documents which showed four presidents lied about American involvement in Vietnam
Nixon Announces Vietnamization – US troops replaced by S. Viet. cease fire agree. 1973
The End of the War – 1974 N. Viet attacks S. Viet Saigon captured April 1975
Sec. 4: Secrecy and Summitry
War in the Middle East – Egypt & Syria attack Israel Oct 6, 1973 but USA helps Israel win
Arab countries retaliate by placing oil embargo on USA economic problems
Egypt and Israel resume diplomatic relations thanks to US Sec. of State Henry Kissinger
Conclusion
Vietnam War would be the first war the United States loses WHY? because they lost home front support
The legacy of Vietnam would lead to a mistrust of government and less American military involvement throughout the world