The Vietnam The Vietnam War War

1954 - 19751954 - 1975

U.S. begins involvement

Domino Theory – if South Vietnam fell to communism, neighboring countries would also fall to communism like a row of dominos

Resisting communism in South Vietnam might prevent this collapse

President Kennedy1960-1963

z Kennedy sent aid and Kennedy sent aid and Military Advisors to assist Military Advisors to assist South VietnamSouth Vietnam

z Requested by South Vietnamese Requested by South Vietnamese Govt.Govt.

z JFK felt democracy in South JFK felt democracy in South Vietnam would serve as a Vietnam would serve as a model to other developing model to other developing Asian, African, and Latin Asian, African, and Latin American countriesAmerican countries

President Kennedy

President Johnson1963-1968

z Under President Johnson, Under President Johnson, the U.S. would become deeply the U.S. would become deeply involved in Vietnaminvolved in Vietnam

z U.S. ships were attacked by the North Vietnamese in international waters

z Congress passed The Gulf of Congress passed The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964 Tonkin Resolution in 1964

z Congress voted to give Johnson full military, “blank check”, powers to stop North Vietnam aggression due to attacks.

Johnson escalates the War

• Congress never officially declared war• Johnson used the Gulf of Tonkin

Resolution to escalate (increase) the war• LBJ ordered massive bombings raids

over North Vietnam and sent more troops

• By 1968 - 500,000 U.S. soldiers in Vietnam

• New Weapons• Napalm – sticky gasoline-based jelly that

burns; great damage• Agent Orange – herbicide killed jungle

cover used by VCPresident Johnson

1968 - The Tet Offensive

z Vietcong launched massive simultaneous Vietcong launched massive simultaneous offensive throughout South offensive throughout South

z Seizing capital city of SaigonSeizing capital city of Saigonz Vietcong committed brutal acts of terror Vietcong committed brutal acts of terror

against South Vietnam officialsagainst South Vietnam officialsz American forces finally beat back the offensiveAmerican forces finally beat back the offensive

z Turning point in the warTurning point in the warz Demonstrated to American public that victory Demonstrated to American public that victory

was on the waywas on the wayz Disproved the rhetoric of the US govt that the Disproved the rhetoric of the US govt that the

Vietcong were weak, under supplied, Vietcong were weak, under supplied, disorganized and low in moraledisorganized and low in morale

The Tet Offensive

1968 - The Tet Offensive

1968 - The Tet Offensive

z Roy Benavidez 1935-1998 (CLICK HIS NAME FOR VIDEO-stop at 4 min)(CLICK HIS NAME FOR VIDEO-stop at 4 min)

z Born in Cuero, TXBorn in Cuero, TXz Master Sergeant in the Army Special ForcesMaster Sergeant in the Army Special Forces

z Facing constant fire, carried wounded members Facing constant fire, carried wounded members of his platoon to rescue-helicoptersof his platoon to rescue-helicopters

z Critically wounded, Benavidez refused to stop Critically wounded, Benavidez refused to stop gathering survivorsgathering survivors

z Benavidez saved the lives of 8 menBenavidez saved the lives of 8 menz AwardsAwards

z Distinguished Service Cross for heroismDistinguished Service Cross for heroismz Congressional Medal of HonorCongressional Medal of Honor by President Ronal by President Ronal

Reagan in 1981Reagan in 1981z Benavidez dies in San Antonio in 1998Benavidez dies in San Antonio in 1998

Anti-War Movement

z Media has a great influence in shaping public opinionMedia has a great influence in shaping public opinionz Newspapers, radio, televisionNewspapers, radio, television

z First time America audiences could watch WARFirst time America audiences could watch WARz President Johnson (LBJ) told U.S. public they were President Johnson (LBJ) told U.S. public they were

winning the warwinning the warz Journalist reported different storyJournalist reported different storyz ““Credibility Gap” Credibility Gap” is the name given when is the name given when

Americans lost faith in their government’s Americans lost faith in their government’s reliability on telling the truth about Vietnam Warreliability on telling the truth about Vietnam War

Anti-War Movement

z Disconnect among young Americans who objected their country’s Disconnect among young Americans who objected their country’s involvement in Vietnaminvolvement in Vietnam

z Mass anti-war movements occurred from 1965 until the end of the war Mass anti-war movements occurred from 1965 until the end of the war in 1975in 1975

z Protesters burned draft cards, marched in Washington DC, held rallies Protesters burned draft cards, marched in Washington DC, held rallies and staged demonstrationsand staged demonstrations

z By 1968, millions of young Americans actively protested the warBy 1968, millions of young Americans actively protested the warz Anti-War movement influenced Military policyAnti-War movement influenced Military policyz American “doves”American “doves”

z Wanted U.S. withdraw from Vietnamz Saw war as a civil war between North and South Vietnamz Believed U.S. leaders were acting immorally by bombing civilians and burning villages

z American “hawks”American “hawks”z Supported the warz Believed it was an attempted to protect South Vietnam from Communist takeover

President Nixon1969-1973

z Republican President Richard Nixon was Republican President Richard Nixon was elected in 1969elected in 1969

z Reasons for winning electionsReasons for winning electionsz Division among Democratic PartyDivision among Democratic Partyz Assassination of Robert Kennedy (younger Assassination of Robert Kennedy (younger

brother to JFK)brother to JFK)z Staunch anti-communistStaunch anti-communistz Promised Americans “peace with honor” Promised Americans “peace with honor”

in Vietnamin Vietnamz However war dragged on for 5 more yearsHowever war dragged on for 5 more years

z Henry Kissinger aided NixonHenry Kissinger aided Nixonz Introduced “Vietnamization”Introduced “Vietnamization”

z Increased bombings and diplomacyIncreased bombings and diplomacy

Vietnamization – South Vietnam Army gradually took over the brunt fighting allowing U.S. forces withdrawal, same time increase bombing of North Vietnam and provide military aid to South Vietnam

Invasion of Cambodia – Nixon believed war would shorten if supply routes (Ho Chi Minh Trail) from North to South could be cut. 1970 U.S. invaded Cambodia

Diplomatic Overtures – Nixon negotiated with Vietnam’s communist allies (China and Soviet Union) to put pressure on North Vietnam

Vietnamization

Nixon’s Vietnam Policy

Nixon – Public Anti-War

INCREASESz Increased with bombing of Increased with bombing of CambodiaCambodia

z 1969 – National guardsmen 1969 – National guardsmen shoot and kill 4 students shoot and kill 4 students demonstrating at Kent State, demonstrating at Kent State, OhioOhio

z College campuses across the College campuses across the nation close due to student nation close due to student demonstrationsdemonstrations

z Student engaged in mass Student engaged in mass marches on Washington D.C. marches on Washington D.C. and other major citiesand other major cities

Kent State UniversityKent State University

Nixon – Public Anti-War

INCREASESz Nixon and VP Agnew insisted most Americans Nixon and VP Agnew insisted most Americans supported the warsupported the war

z ““Silent Majority” Silent Majority” is what they called themis what they called them

z Exchanges between anti-war and pro-war supporters Exchanges between anti-war and pro-war supporters became violentbecame violent

z Pentagon Papers Pentagon Papers

z leaked documents in 1971 New York Timesleaked documents in 1971 New York Times

z revealed several Presidents before Nixon LIED to America about revealed several Presidents before Nixon LIED to America about Vietnam (goes back to Vietnam (goes back to “credibility gap”“credibility gap”) )

z President felt Vietnam could not be won but didn’t want the President felt Vietnam could not be won but didn’t want the disgrace of defeat with their Presidencydisgrace of defeat with their Presidency

Democratic Convention Democratic Convention in Chicago, 1968in Chicago, 1968

Student Protestors Student Protestors at Univ. of CA at Univ. of CA

in Berkeley, 1968in Berkeley, 1968

Anti-War Demonstrations

The Fall of Saigonz Vietnamization gradually reduced U.S.

armed forces in Vietnamz 1973 – Kissinger led negotiators in Paris

to work a cease-fire agreement with North Vietnam

z Nixon agreed to pull out all remaining U.S. troops from Vietnam if North Vietnam would release U.S. prisoners of war

z After U.S. withdrawal fighting continued

The Fall of Saigonz South Vietnamese Army incapable of stopping

advance of North Vietnam Armyz April 30, 1975, Saigon (South Vietnam capital)

fell to North Vietnamz Saigon (present day Ho Chi Minh City)

marked the end of the Vietnam Warz South Vietnamese government officials,

military officers, and soldiers who supported American presence in Vietnam were sent to Communist “re-education camps” where they faced torture, disease and malnutrition

26th Amendment Most states set the voting age

at 21– Draft (take or selected)

age in the military was 18 Many Americans protested the

law during Vietnam War– Saying it was unfair to send

someone to war without letting them vote

Ratified in 1971– Lowered the voting age to

18

Vietnam War Legacy1. Death and Destruction – 58,000+ Americans died

1. Many suffered physical and psychological injuries2. 1+ million Vietnamese killed; many more left homeless

2. Impact at Home and abroad – expenses led end of some Great Society programs

1. Brought rising inflation2. Demonstrated that public opinion can affect government policy3. Crisis in American self-confidence; next to the U.S. Civil War, Vietnam War was most

divisive war in U.S. History

3. Limits Presidential Power1. Both Korean and Vietnam Wars, U.S. President sent troops into extended combat

without declaration of war from Congress2. 1973, Congress passed WAR POWERS ACT – sets limits on President’s power in a

conflict without formal declaration of war by Congress3. The act requires the President to inform Congress within 48 hrs of sending troops to

fight overseas; if within 60 days Congress doesn’t approve of usage of these forces, President must withdraw them