Vietnam WarVietnam War

1957 - 19751957 - 1975

Timeline Timeline

• 1883 - France takes control of Vietnam, divided into 3 parts

• WWII - Japan controlled all of Vietnam• Ho Chi Minh returns to Vietnam from China to

fight Japan for Vietnam• Aug. 1945 - Japan is defeated in WWII• Domino Effect - the U.S. worried if Vietnam fell

to communism the surrounding countries would fall

• 1883 - France takes control of Vietnam, divided into 3 parts

• WWII - Japan controlled all of Vietnam• Ho Chi Minh returns to Vietnam from China to

fight Japan for Vietnam• Aug. 1945 - Japan is defeated in WWII• Domino Effect - the U.S. worried if Vietnam fell

to communism the surrounding countries would fall

Timeline continuedTimeline continued

• Vietminh - revolutionaries fighting for freedom, started by Ho Chi Minh

• U.S. supported Minh when they were fighting against Japan

• Sep. 1945 - after WWII France moves into Vietnam to regain control of Vietnam

• U.S. begins to support France against Ho Chi Minh• 1954 - Vietminh defeat France at Dien Bien Phu

• Vietminh - revolutionaries fighting for freedom, started by Ho Chi Minh

• U.S. supported Minh when they were fighting against Japan

• Sep. 1945 - after WWII France moves into Vietnam to regain control of Vietnam

• U.S. begins to support France against Ho Chi Minh• 1954 - Vietminh defeat France at Dien Bien Phu

Geneva conferenceGeneva conference

• Decisions made at Geneva (1954):• 1. Vietnam would be divided in 1/2 at the 17th

parallel• North Vietnam - communist under Ho Chi Minh -

supported by China and USSR• South Vietnam - Republic of Vietnam under Ngo

Dinh Diem - supported by the U.S.• 2. Set up national elections to be held in 1956, but

they never happened because they knew Ho Chi Minh would win

• Decisions made at Geneva (1954):• 1. Vietnam would be divided in 1/2 at the 17th

parallel• North Vietnam - communist under Ho Chi Minh -

supported by China and USSR• South Vietnam - Republic of Vietnam under Ngo

Dinh Diem - supported by the U.S.• 2. Set up national elections to be held in 1956, but

they never happened because they knew Ho Chi Minh would win

More on timelineMore on timeline

• 1957 - many South Vietnamese civilians revolt against Diem

• Vietcong - (National Liberation Front) - civilians living in the south that supported the Vietminh, didn’t like Diem

• They lived a seemingly normal life but would fight against the South and the U.S. whenever they could, even though they lived in the South

• 1957 - many South Vietnamese civilians revolt against Diem

• Vietcong - (National Liberation Front) - civilians living in the south that supported the Vietminh, didn’t like Diem

• They lived a seemingly normal life but would fight against the South and the U.S. whenever they could, even though they lived in the South

Last of TimelineLast of Timeline

• 1963 - Southern Generals take over S. Vietnam, Diem is murdered, no leadership in the South emerges

• 1967 - Nguyen Van Thieu - elected President of the south until 1975

• 1975 - Saigon falls to communists

• 1963 - Southern Generals take over S. Vietnam, Diem is murdered, no leadership in the South emerges

• 1967 - Nguyen Van Thieu - elected President of the south until 1975

• 1975 - Saigon falls to communists

Presidential involvement in

Vietnam

Presidential involvement in

Vietnam• Harry Truman - (1945 - 1953) - supported Minh

to fight the Japanese, began to support the French after WWII

• Dwight Eisenhower - (1953-1961) - Geneva Accord, sent aid and supplies to support the South (Diem)

• John Kennedy - (1961 - 1963) - sent advisors, some military support

• Harry Truman - (1945 - 1953) - supported Minh to fight the Japanese, began to support the French after WWII

• Dwight Eisenhower - (1953-1961) - Geneva Accord, sent aid and supplies to support the South (Diem)

• John Kennedy - (1961 - 1963) - sent advisors, some military support

More on PresidentsMore on Presidents

• LBJ - (1963 - 1969) - ground forces arrive, acknowledge involvement publicly, U.S. begins bombing strikes on the North

• He wanted to control communism - containment• Richard Nixon - (1969 - 1974) - bombing

continues, peace talks begin• Gerald Ford - (1974 - 1977) - Saigon falls and the

U.S. leaves , North and South Vietnam reunify

• LBJ - (1963 - 1969) - ground forces arrive, acknowledge involvement publicly, U.S. begins bombing strikes on the North

• He wanted to control communism - containment• Richard Nixon - (1969 - 1974) - bombing

continues, peace talks begin• Gerald Ford - (1974 - 1977) - Saigon falls and the

U.S. leaves , North and South Vietnam reunify

Vietnam WarVietnam War

• Ho Chi Minh trail - trail through Laos and Cambodia that troops in North Vietnam would use to infiltrate the South

• Gulf of Tonkin incident - Aug. 2, 1964• - U.S. destroyer the Maddox was attacked by North

Vietnam torpedo boats• - U.S. fires back and calls in the C. Turner Joy for

reinforcement• - LBJ orders air strikes against the NVA (Vietminh)

• Ho Chi Minh trail - trail through Laos and Cambodia that troops in North Vietnam would use to infiltrate the South

• Gulf of Tonkin incident - Aug. 2, 1964• - U.S. destroyer the Maddox was attacked by North

Vietnam torpedo boats• - U.S. fires back and calls in the C. Turner Joy for

reinforcement• - LBJ orders air strikes against the NVA (Vietminh)

More on VietnamMore on Vietnam

• Gulf of Tonkin resolution - after the incident in the Gulf the Senate passed this resolution allowing the President to take any means necessary to prevent further aggression.

• Some say the Gulf attacks never happened• 1964 election - LBJ v. Barry Goldwater• Goldwater wanted more action in VietnamLBJ wins the election

• Gulf of Tonkin resolution - after the incident in the Gulf the Senate passed this resolution allowing the President to take any means necessary to prevent further aggression.

• Some say the Gulf attacks never happened• 1964 election - LBJ v. Barry Goldwater• Goldwater wanted more action in VietnamLBJ wins the election

Action in VietnamAction in Vietnam

• Operation Rolling Thunder - 1965 - 68 -- bombing raids on North Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh trail

• Largest operation of the war• Approx. - 92,000 Vietnamese killed during this

campaign and 850 Americans• Started after the NVA attacked a U.S. base in the

South• Start of U.S. troops in full combat against the NVA

• Operation Rolling Thunder - 1965 - 68 -- bombing raids on North Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh trail

• Largest operation of the war• Approx. - 92,000 Vietnamese killed during this

campaign and 850 Americans• Started after the NVA attacked a U.S. base in the

South• Start of U.S. troops in full combat against the NVA

More action in NamMore action in Nam

• William Westmoreland - Supreme commander of U.S. troops in Vietnam

• Time - Man of the Year• Khe Sahn - U.S. marine base held under

siege by the NVA for 77 days• Operation Niagara - bombing raids outside of

Khe Sahn to protect the base

• William Westmoreland - Supreme commander of U.S. troops in Vietnam

• Time - Man of the Year• Khe Sahn - U.S. marine base held under

siege by the NVA for 77 days• Operation Niagara - bombing raids outside of

Khe Sahn to protect the base

U.S. advantages and Disadvantages in the

War

U.S. advantages and Disadvantages in the

War• Advantages - Better weapons,

technology

• Disadvantages - they knew the land better, ambush tactics, more people and all they knew was war

• Advantages - Better weapons, technology

• Disadvantages - they knew the land better, ambush tactics, more people and all they knew was war

Fighting techniquesFighting techniques

• U.S. and Southern troops (pro - American)

• 1 Air raids - peppering the area• 2 Napalm - fire bombs• 3 Search and Destroy • 4 Agent Orange - defoilant that killed

vegetation so they could see the enemy

• U.S. and Southern troops (pro - American)

• 1 Air raids - peppering the area• 2 Napalm - fire bombs• 3 Search and Destroy • 4 Agent Orange - defoilant that killed

vegetation so they could see the enemy

Taking a hill/ communication network

in Vietnam

Taking a hill/ communication network

in VietnamWalk until fired uponPull back and call in air supportPepper the areaNapalmOn the move againRepeat

Walk until fired uponPull back and call in air supportPepper the areaNapalmOn the move againRepeat

NVA and Vietcong techniques

NVA and Vietcong techniques

• Ambush• Boobie traps - trip wires, pits, dynamite• Attack and release - hit and hide in

tunnels• Terrorizing civilians in the South

• Ambush• Boobie traps - trip wires, pits, dynamite• Attack and release - hit and hide in

tunnels• Terrorizing civilians in the South

TermsTerms

• Charlie / Chuck - VietCong• Purple Heart - wounded• Silver Star - bravery• Bronze Star - heavy battle• Hawk - supporter of the war• Dove - those who were opposed• Bob Dylan - singer (opposed the war, supported

rights of African - Americans)• Counter culture - hippies, doves

• Charlie / Chuck - VietCong• Purple Heart - wounded• Silver Star - bravery• Bronze Star - heavy battle• Hawk - supporter of the war• Dove - those who were opposed• Bob Dylan - singer (opposed the war, supported

rights of African - Americans)• Counter culture - hippies, doves

My LaiMy Lai

• Village in South Vietnam attacked by American soldiers

• 200 women and children killed

• Village in South Vietnam attacked by American soldiers

• 200 women and children killed

End of the WarEnd of the War

• Richard Nixon- Eisenhower’s VP • Elected President in 1968• Henry Kissinger - Nixon’s foreign policy

advisor for the War• Nixon Doctrine - Nixon’s policy, looked to

reduce American obligations in the war• Mao ZeDung - China’s communist leader

• Richard Nixon- Eisenhower’s VP • Elected President in 1968• Henry Kissinger - Nixon’s foreign policy

advisor for the War• Nixon Doctrine - Nixon’s policy, looked to

reduce American obligations in the war• Mao ZeDung - China’s communist leader

U.S. foreign relationsU.S. foreign relations

• Détente - relaxation of tension between the 2 super powers (U.S. and U.S.S.R.)

• SALT - strategic arms limitation treaty restricted the types and numbers of nuclear warheads and missiles each country could produce

• Vietnamization - 1969 training the S. V. to take more responsibility for fighting the war

• April 1970 - Nixon announces the U.S. would attack Laos and Cambodia (Ho Chi Minh trail)

• Détente - relaxation of tension between the 2 super powers (U.S. and U.S.S.R.)

• SALT - strategic arms limitation treaty restricted the types and numbers of nuclear warheads and missiles each country could produce

• Vietnamization - 1969 training the S. V. to take more responsibility for fighting the war

• April 1970 - Nixon announces the U.S. would attack Laos and Cambodia (Ho Chi Minh trail)

End of occupationEnd of occupation

• January 1973 - cease fire signed• March 1973 - troops leave• Troop occupation (1965 - 1973)• 58,000 - Americans dead• 300,000 - wounded• Millions of Vietnamese killed• Nov. 1973 War Powers Act passed - President

couldn’t send troops into a war situation more than 60 days without approval

• January 1973 - cease fire signed• March 1973 - troops leave• Troop occupation (1965 - 1973)• 58,000 - Americans dead• 300,000 - wounded• Millions of Vietnamese killed• Nov. 1973 War Powers Act passed - President

couldn’t send troops into a war situation more than 60 days without approval

View of resisters View of resisters

• Reasons people gave for not agreeing with the war:• 1. Morally wrong• 2. U.S. imperialism - idea that we control others• 3. Violent extension of U.S. domination in the world• 4. Waste of men, money and energy• 5. Violates the rights of Vietnamese• 6. Capitalistic war - people looking to make money• 7. Economic exploitation

• Reasons people gave for not agreeing with the war:• 1. Morally wrong• 2. U.S. imperialism - idea that we control others• 3. Violent extension of U.S. domination in the world• 4. Waste of men, money and energy• 5. Violates the rights of Vietnamese• 6. Capitalistic war - people looking to make money• 7. Economic exploitation