The Vietnam War

A Long History of U.S. Involvement, 1940s-1975

Why Do We Care about the Vietnam War?

Example of Cold War ideologies and policies Student activism, New Left, protests against

war A media war, heightened exposure/criticism New type of warfare, guerilla war, thorny

questions of friends and foes Draft raised issues of support for war, duty

vs. freedom of dissent

Why Did U.S. Get Involved in Vietnam? General ideological or policy inertia:

Fear of communism Containment policies Domino Theory Duty as powerful nation Peacekeeping nation Learning from past experience with Nazis, Soviets:

leadership believed that they must stop evil before it spread

Video Clip: PBS, “Vietnam: A Television History”

Background History of Vietnam

2000+ years of war: Video Clip Repeated invasions and subjugation from outside

imperial powers China – for 2000 years French – colony since 1860s Japanese – occupiers during WWII: Video Clip Chinese – occupier at end of WWII French again – colony again after WWII U.S.?

Vietnamese resistance to them all Lessons?: (at least some) Vietnamese would resist

U.S. as outside aggressor

Doc: Vietnamese Declaration of Independence

Link to document, written by Ho Chi Minh Criticism of French and colonialism – pointed

out irony of French colonialism vs. French ideals of liberty and equality

Appealed for U.S. support – used language of U.S. Declaration of Independence

Vietnamese supported Allies during WWII Allied “Atlantic Charter” (self-determination),

so let them have independence

Vietminh: Communist or Nationalist? Does it matter? What were goals of Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh?

Independence Resistance to colonialism, outside control Ho and Vietminh were nationalists first, communists second

Why do goals matter? Not all communists are the same Nationalist struggle not the same as communist aggression or

spread of communism If Vietminh were nationalists, then movement was primarily a

home-grown historical phenomena, not part of domino theory or inevitable spread of communism from outside the country

Nationalism, movement for independence provided opening for U.S. to get involved in supportive way, rather than oppositionally OR stay out of internal politics of new independent country of Vietnam

Vietnam, late 1940s and 1950s U.S. support for France – bulwark against communism in Europe

and Asia Allowed France to reassert control over colonies, incl. Vietnam

May, 1950, Truman authorized direct aid to French against Vietminh

U.S. became primary financier of French efforts to defeat Vietminh In early 1950s, 80% of war funds came from U.S., over a billion a

year Problems with U.S. stance?

Anticommunism was primary goal, rather than other U.S. ideals Conflict with U.S. anti-colonial history Conflict with Atlantic Charter: nations have right to self-

determiniation

End of French Control; Now What? Battle of Dien Bien Phu, 1954:

French base in mountains, believed they were unbeatable Vietminh surrounded base, cut off supplies French surrendered: 1500 killed, 4000 wounded, 10000

captured; Vietminh, 8000 killed Lessons?: Vietnamese are strong, committed foe, question

getting involved in war with them OR if you want to fight a war, better to fight yourself rather than leave it to French

Geneva Conference, 1954: What will happen to Vietnam? One country? Or divided like Korea? Elections?: Ho and Vietminh would win Ceasefire; country divided; elections to be held in 1956 Ho accepted compromise under pressure from Soviets and

Chinese

America’s War in Vietnam Problems from the beginning

U.S. support for S.V. leaders in 1950s: Ngo Diem: Catholic (Buddhist majority), corrupt, lacked popular support

Many factions in South Vietnam, French interference – who should U.S. support?

Diem repressed and killed all critics – democracy? S.V. and U.S. violation of Geneva agreement – no election held in

1956 – feared Ho Chi Minh would win Formation of National Liberation Front (NLF) in S.V.: against

Diem, a communist-led coalition of anti-Diem and anti-U.S. forces Civil war in S.V. – should U.S. choose sides in a civil war? Questions:

1. Does U.S. support democracy if those elected aren’t capitalist? 2. Should U.S. support Diem (or any ruler) if he isn’t supported by

his own people?

U.S. Escalation, JFK, 1961-63

U.S. proving its mettle against USSR JFK making up for early failures, proving he was

tough on communism Bay of Pigs, 1961

JFK support for counter-insurgency efforts – 15,000 “advisors,” money, special forces training, arms to S.V.

Secrecy and evasion in U.S. Support for coup against Diem – killed in 1963;

more instability in S.V.

1964: Restraint to Escalation LBJ tried to show restraint Won Presidential election on promises of

restraint in Vietnam (Daisy ad) Domestic goals vs. foreign policy: Video Clip Responded to VC attacks on U.S. bases with

bombing of North Vietnam, Operation Rolling Thunder: Video Clip National Security Council & McGeorge Bundy,

were pro-bombing Opposition, George Ball, UnderSec. of State

LBJ and Tonkin Gulf Resolution, 1964

Video Clip

Importance?:

1965 March 8, 1965, 3500 Marines landed to protect U.S.

airfields used for bombings (Westmoreland’s request): Video Clip

Continued troop build-up, played down or hidden by LBJ and McNamara 72,000 by spring

Change in mission from defensive to offensive against VC (first time offensive)

LBJ promised Ho Chi Minh a TVA on Mekong Delta for Vietnam if Ho ended goals

Bombing did not end supplies from north to south Successful VC attacks on S.V. troops and villages Fall of S.V. government, Nguyen Cao Ky became P.M. –

continuing pattern of instability in South Vietnamese government

1965: “Debate” on Troop Build-up

Video Clip Video Clip McNamara memo

1965: Decision, 200,000 Troops

Summary and Evaluation

U.S. involvement and escalation in Vietnam: based on sound ideals or policies?

Evidence? Major problems or issues? Effects on U.S. society, politics, culture?

Problems of War: My Lai Massacre Pacification strategy: clear strategic hamlets

of Vietcong support Question of friend or foe? Video Clip on pacification strategies My Lai Massacre, March 16, 1968 Between 300-500 civilians killed by U.S. Army

unit Increased domestic U.S. opposition to the war Only one serviceman prosecuted

1968: Protests and Chicago

1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago:

Video, Chicago, 1968: Link to #1 (of 4)

Video, 1968: The Year that Shaped a Generation:Link to #1 (of 6)

1968: Watershed Year

Tet Offensive in Vietnam: losing war Video Clip

LBJ decided not to run for 2nd term: opening for Democratic peace candidate?

Assassinations of MLK and Robert Kennedy Urban riots 1968 Democratic National Convention in

Chicago: Humphrey nominated (pro-LBJ); death of idealistic liberal alternative

Vietnam: Major Events Post-1968

1968 Presidential election: Nixon’s victory Domestically, Nixon ran on southern strategy and

Law and Order campaign themes On foreign policy, ran on “Peace with Honor”

rhetoric Nixon’s Vietnamization strategy: Video Clip Nixon’s mixed war strategies: Video Clip Nixon secrecy: Video Clip

End of Formal U.S. Involvement

April 29, 1975: North Vietnamese took Saigon – U.S. evacuated last personnel

Video Clip