War in VietnamWar in Vietnam

Chapter 30Chapter 30

Origins of WarOrigins of War

Ho Chi Minh and Communist army win Ho Chi Minh and Communist army win independence from Franceindependence from France

Geneva Accords - SplitGeneva Accords - Split North communist – South Free (United States)North communist – South Free (United States)

Ngo Dinh Diem took control of South in ’55Ngo Dinh Diem took control of South in ’55 Anti-CommunistAnti-Communist Anti-Buddhist – Pro-CatholicAnti-Buddhist – Pro-Catholic

Monks protesting the harsh treatment of Buddhists under Diem

Origins of War Origins of War continued…continued… Communists in the south organize and Communists in the south organize and

form the Vietcongform the Vietcong US had big fear of the US had big fear of the Domino TheoryDomino Theory – –

one country falls many will followone country falls many will follow Kennedy sends troops to help the southKennedy sends troops to help the south Nov. 1, 1963 the South Vietnamese army Nov. 1, 1963 the South Vietnamese army

staged a staged a coupcoup – overthrow the government – overthrow the government Assassinated DiemAssassinated Diem

Conflict ContinuesConflict Continues President Lyndon B. Johnson takes over President Lyndon B. Johnson takes over

after the death of JFKafter the death of JFK Sec. of Defense Robert McNamaraSec. of Defense Robert McNamara

““I don’t think it’s worth fighting for, but I don’t I don’t think it’s worth fighting for, but I don’t think we can get out.”think we can get out.”

US ships attacked in the Gulf of TonkinUS ships attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin LBJ now has a good reason to fightLBJ now has a good reason to fight

US involvement begins to US involvement begins to escalateescalate – – gradually increasegradually increase 180,000 in ’65 to 500,000 in ‘67180,000 in ’65 to 500,000 in ‘67

Combat in VietnamCombat in Vietnam Guerilla Warfare – jungles, tunnels, trailsGuerilla Warfare – jungles, tunnels, trails

Ho Chi Minh Trail – main supply routeHo Chi Minh Trail – main supply route The US began search – and – destroy The US began search – and – destroy

missions – find the enemy and wipe them missions – find the enemy and wipe them outout Backed by jets and helicoptersBacked by jets and helicopters Napalm – liquid fire Napalm – liquid fire Agent Orange – herbicide - chemical warfareAgent Orange – herbicide - chemical warfare

North Vietnamese/Vietcong frustrated the North Vietnamese/Vietcong frustrated the US by constantly out numbering themUS by constantly out numbering them

Pres. Johnson – “Can we win this war?”Pres. Johnson – “Can we win this war?”

Southeast Asia Map

Generation GapGeneration Gap

A fight between young and old over the A fight between young and old over the Vietnam WarVietnam War

CountercultureCounterculture – a movement that – a movement that rejected traditional valuesrejected traditional values Long hair, torn blue jeans, Rock N’ RollLong hair, torn blue jeans, Rock N’ Roll

The DraftThe Draft

All men must register at 18 years oldAll men must register at 18 years old Some believed if you stop the draft you can Some believed if you stop the draft you can

stop the warstop the war Protests of burning draft cardsProtests of burning draft cards

Congress made it illegalCongress made it illegal Draft DodgersDraft Dodgers QuestionQuestion: Do you think the draft is a good : Do you think the draft is a good

idea? What problems could come up with idea? What problems could come up with soldiers who are drafted?soldiers who are drafted?

Doves vs. HawksDoves vs. Hawks

Doves – anti-warDoves – anti-war Hawks – pro-warHawks – pro-war ““Is this war a mistake?”Is this war a mistake?” Anti-War movement quickly growsAnti-War movement quickly grows

Soldiers that did serveSoldiers that did serve Many were ethnic minoritiesMany were ethnic minorities Average age was 6 years younger than the Average age was 6 years younger than the

soldiers in WWIIsoldiers in WWII

Attack on American ShipsAttack on American Ships

Jan. 23, 1968 USS Pueblo, a US spy Jan. 23, 1968 USS Pueblo, a US spy ship and its crew are captured ship and its crew are captured

This attack shocked AmericaThis attack shocked America ““A US boat had been defeated”A US boat had been defeated”

The Tet OffensiveThe Tet Offensive Jan 31, 1968 (Vietnamese New Year - Tet)Jan 31, 1968 (Vietnamese New Year - Tet)

North Vietnamese/Vietcong targeted southern North Vietnamese/Vietcong targeted southern bases and major cities (Saigon)bases and major cities (Saigon)

Vietcong drove deep into southern territoryVietcong drove deep into southern territory America launched a strong counter attack and America launched a strong counter attack and

was able to push the Vietcong northwas able to push the Vietcong north Major turning point in the warMajor turning point in the war

Why?Why? 11stst war shown on live television war shown on live television

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre

Death of Death of 350-500 350-500 unarmed unarmed civilians in civilians in 1968 by US 1968 by US soldierssoldiers

Huge cover Huge cover up by up by militarymilitary

Response in AmericaResponse in America

Americans began to lose faithAmericans began to lose faith The Gov’t developed a The Gov’t developed a credibility gapcredibility gap – –

fewer people trusted their statementsfewer people trusted their statements Johnson ordered reevaluation of the warJohnson ordered reevaluation of the war

““new step towards peace,” Bombings stoppednew step towards peace,” Bombings stopped

Nixon’s New PlanNixon’s New Plan

Nixon wins election of 1968Nixon wins election of 1968 ““Peace with Honor”Peace with Honor”

1.1. Draft ReformDraft Reform

2.2. VietnamizationVietnamization – South Vietnamese army – South Vietnamese army would take over more of the fightingwould take over more of the fighting

3.3. More bombing in Cambodia and LaosMore bombing in Cambodia and Laos Kept a secret to the American PeopleKept a secret to the American People Civil WarCivil War

ProtestsProtests Kent StateKent State

Student burned down a military buildingStudent burned down a military building 17 students shot – 4 killed, “Reasons that are 17 students shot – 4 killed, “Reasons that are

unclear”unclear”

Jackson state – police shot and killed 2Jackson state – police shot and killed 2

““Peace is at Hand”Peace is at Hand”

Removal of over 450,000 US troopsRemoval of over 450,000 US troops 11stst peace talks failed peace talks failed

South Vietnamese president did not want South Vietnamese president did not want Northern troops in his countryNorthern troops in his country

Nixon reelectedNixon reelected One final round of bombingsOne final round of bombings

Jan. 27, 1973 – Peace Treaty signedJan. 27, 1973 – Peace Treaty signed

North Vietnam ContinuesNorth Vietnam Continues

North Vietnamese army does not stopNorth Vietnamese army does not stop Saigon fell on April 20, 1975Saigon fell on April 20, 1975 Communism takes over VietnamCommunism takes over Vietnam

Legacy of the WarLegacy of the War 1.4 million Vietnamese died1.4 million Vietnamese died 58,000 Americans died – 300,000 wounded58,000 Americans died – 300,000 wounded

2.7 million served2.7 million served No hero’s welcomeNo hero’s welcome

Many Many MIAMIA’s (Missing in Action) – never ’s (Missing in Action) – never foundfound

Vietnam War MemorialVietnam War Memorial

OpinionOpinion

Do you think that this war was worth Do you think that this war was worth fighting? Why or Why Not?fighting? Why or Why Not?

If you were president what would you If you were president what would you have done differently?have done differently?

In your opinion, what makes a war worth In your opinion, what makes a war worth fighting?fighting?