The Vietnam War began in 1954 after France lost control of Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh's Viet Minh forces. The country was divided along the 17th parallel, with a communist government in North Vietnam led by Ho Chi Minh and a capitalist government in South Vietnam led by Ngo Dinh Diem. The U.S. initially provided aid to South Vietnam but became increasingly involved in the conflict throughout the 1960s. Heavy U.S. bombing and ground troop deployment failed to defeat North Vietnam and its allies in the South. The Tet Offensive in 1968 marked a turning point that turned U.S. public opinion against the war. The last U.S. troops withdrew in 1973 as North Vietnam defeated South Vietnam in
1. The Vietnam
War
1954 - 1975
Mr. Coach Jeff Wiatt
The Woodlands High School
Mr. Coach Jeff Wiatt
The Woodlands High School
2. Background
to the War
ïș France controlled âIndochinaâ sinceFrance controlled âIndochinaâ since
the late 19the late 19thth
centurycentury
ïș Japan took control during WorldJapan took control during World
War IIWar II
ïș With U.S. aid, France attemptedWith U.S. aid, France attempted
re-colonization in the postwarre-colonization in the postwar
periodperiod
3. Background
to the War
ïș The French lost control toThe French lost control to
Ho Chi MinhâsHo Chi Minhâs Viet MinhViet Minh
forces in 1954 atforces in 1954 at Dien BienDien Bien
PhuPhu
ïș President Eisenhower declined toPresident Eisenhower declined to
intervene on behalf of France.intervene on behalf of France.
4. Background to
the War
ïș International Conference atInternational Conference at
GenevaGeneva
ïș Vietnam was divided at 17Vietnam was divided at 17thth
parallelparallel
O Ho Chi MinhâsHo Chi Minhâs nationalistnationalist
forces controlled the Northforces controlled the North
O Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem, a French-, a French-
educated, Roman Catholiceducated, Roman Catholic
claimed control of theclaimed control of the
SouthSouth
5. Background to
the War
ïș A date was set for democraticA date was set for democratic
elections to reunify Vietnamelections to reunify Vietnam
ïș Diem backed out of theDiem backed out of the
elections, leading to militaryelections, leading to military
conflict between North andconflict between North and
SouthSouth
6. U.S. Military
Involvement
Beginsïș Repressive dictatorial rule by DiemRepressive dictatorial rule by Diem
ïș Diemâs family holds all powerDiemâs family holds all power
ïș Wealth is hoarded by the eliteWealth is hoarded by the elite
ïș Buddhist majority persecutedBuddhist majority persecuted
ïș Torture, lack of political freedom prevailTorture, lack of political freedom prevail
ïș The U.S. aided Diemâs governmentThe U.S. aided Diemâs government
ïș Eisenhower sent financial and militaryEisenhower sent financial and military
aidaid
ïș 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.
8. U.S. Military
Involvement
Beginsïș Kennedy elected 1960Kennedy elected 1960
ïș Increases military âadvisorsâ toIncreases military âadvisorsâ to
16,00016,000
ïș 1963: JFK supports a1963: JFK supports a
Vietnamese militaryVietnamese military coup dâetatcoup dâetat ââ
Diem and his brother areDiem and his brother are
murderedmurdered (Nov. 2)(Nov. 2)
ïș Kennedy was assassinated justKennedy was assassinated just
weeks laterweeks later (Nov. 22)(Nov. 22)
9. Johnson Sends
Ground Forces
ïș Remembers Trumanâs âlossâRemembers Trumanâs âlossâ
of Chinaof China ï ï Domino TheoryDomino Theory
revivedrevived
Iâm not going to beIâm not going to be
the president whothe president who
saw Southeast Asiasaw Southeast Asia
go the way Chinago the way China
went.went.
10. Johnson Sends
Ground Forces
ïș Advised to rout the communistsAdvised to rout the communists
by Secretary of Defense,by Secretary of Defense,
Robert S. McNamaraRobert S. McNamara
ïș Tonkin Gulf IncidentTonkin Gulf Incident ï ï 19641964
(acc. to Johnson, the attacks were(acc. to Johnson, the attacks were
unprovoked)unprovoked)
ïș Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution
ïș ââThe Blank CheckâThe Blank Checkâ **
12. The Ground
War
1965-1968ïș No territorial goalsNo territorial goals
ïș Body counts on TV every nightBody counts on TV every night
(first(first âliving roomâ warâliving roomâ war))
ïș Viet Cong supplies over theViet Cong supplies over the
Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail
13.
14. The Air War
1965-1968
ïș 1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam
ïș Operation Rolling ThunderOperation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965)(March 2, 1965)
ïș 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi
nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets thenonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the
Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail..
ïș Downed Pilots: P.O.W.sDowned Pilots: P.O.W.s
ïș Carpet Bombing âCarpet Bombing â napalmnapalm
16. Who Is the
Enemy?
ïș VietcongVietcong:
ïș Farmers by day; guerrillas atFarmers by day; guerrillas at
night.night.
ïș Very patient people willing toVery patient people willing to
accept many casualties.accept many casualties.
ïș The US grossly underestimatedThe US grossly underestimated
their resolve and theirtheir resolve and their
resourcefulness.resourcefulness.
The guerrilla wins if he does not lose,The guerrilla wins if he does not lose,
the conventional army loses if it doesthe conventional army loses if it does
not win.not win. -- Mao ZedongMao Zedong
18. The Ground
War
1965-1968ïș General WestmorelandGeneral Westmoreland, late
1967:
We can see theWe can see the
âlight at the end of the tunnel.ââlight at the end of the tunnel.â
19. The Tet
Offensive,
January 1968ïș N. Vietnamese Army + Viet CongN. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong
attack South simultaneously (67,000attack South simultaneously (67,000
attack 100 cities, bases, and the USattack 100 cities, bases, and the US
embassy in Saigon)embassy in Saigon)
ïș Take every major southern cityTake every major southern city
ïș U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensiveU.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive
ïș Viet Cong destroyedViet Cong destroyed
ïș N. Vietnamese army debilitatedN. Vietnamese army debilitated
ïș BUTâŠitâs seen as an American defeatBUTâŠitâs seen as an American defeat
by the mediaby the media
21. Impact of the
Tet Offensiveïș Domestic U.S. Reaction:Domestic U.S. Reaction:
Disbelief, Anger, Distrust ofDisbelief, Anger, Distrust of
Johnson AdministrationJohnson Administration
ïș Hey, Hey LBJ! HowHey, Hey LBJ! How
many kids did youmany kids did you
kill today?kill today?
24. Impact of the
Vietnam War
âŠâŠI shall notI shall not
seek, and I willseek, and I will
not accept, thenot accept, the
nomination of mynomination of my
party for anotherparty for another
term as yourterm as your
President.President.
Johnson announces (March, 1968):Johnson announces (March, 1968):
25. American
Morale Begins
to Dipïș Disproportionate representation ofDisproportionate representation of
poor people and minorities.poor people and minorities.
ïș Severe racial problems.Severe racial problems.
ïș Major drugMajor drug
problems.problems.
ïș Officers in combatOfficers in combat
6 mo.; in rear6 mo.; in rear
6 mo. Enlisted6 mo. Enlisted
men in combat for 12 mo.men in combat for 12 mo.
26. Are We
Becoming the
Enemy?
ïș Lt. William CalleyLt. William Calley,,
Platoon LeaderPlatoon Leader
ïș Mylai MassacreMylai Massacre, 1968, 1968
ïș 200-500 unarmed villagers200-500 unarmed villagers
Charlie Company, 1Charlie Company, 1stst
Battalion, 20Battalion, 20thth
InfantryInfantry
30. Democratic ConventionDemocratic Convention
in Chicago, 1968in Chicago, 1968
Student ProtestorsStudent Protestors
at Univ. of CAat Univ. of CA
in Berkeley, 1968in Berkeley, 1968
Anti-War
Demonstration
s
32. Anti-War
Demonstrations
ïș May 4, 1970May 4, 1970
ïș 4 students4 students
shot dead.shot dead.
ïș 11 students11 students
woundedwounded
Kent State UniversityKent State University
ïș Jackson StateJackson State
UniversityUniversity
ïș May 10, 1970May 10, 1970
ïș 2 dead; 122 dead; 12
woundedwounded
33.
34. Nixon on
Vietnamïș Nixonâs 1968 Campaign promised anNixonâs 1968 Campaign promised an
end to the war:end to the war: Peace with HonorPeace with Honor
ïș Appealed to the greatAppealed to the great
âSilent MajorityââSilent Majorityâ
ïș VietnamizationVietnamization
ïș Expansion of theExpansion of the
conflictconflict ï ï The âSecret WarâThe âSecret Warâ
ïș CambodiaCambodia
ïș LaosLaos
ïș Agent OrangeAgent Orange
(chemical defoliant)(chemical defoliant)
35. âPentagon Papers,â
1971
ïș Former defense analystFormer defense analyst Daniel EllsbergDaniel Ellsberg
leaked govt. docs. regarding war effortsleaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts
during Johnsonâs administration to theduring Johnsonâs administration to the
New York TimesNew York Times..
ïș Docs.Docs.ï ï Govt. misled Congress & Amer.Govt. misled Congress & Amer.
People regarding its intentions in VietnamPeople regarding its intentions in Vietnam
during mid-1960s.during mid-1960s.
ïș Primary reason for fighting not toPrimary reason for fighting not to
eliminate communism, buteliminate communism, but to avoidto avoid
humiliating defeathumiliating defeat..
ïș New York Times v. United StatesNew York Times v. United States (1971)(1971) **
36. The Ceasefire,
1973
ïș Peace is at handPeace is at hand ï ï Kissinger, 1972Kissinger, 1972
ïș North Vietnam attacks SouthNorth Vietnam attacks South
ïș Most Massive U.S. bombing commencesMost Massive U.S. bombing commences
ïș 1973: Ceasefire signed between1973: Ceasefire signed between
ïș U.S., South Vietnam, & North VietnamU.S., South Vietnam, & North Vietnam
ïș Peace with honorPeace with honor (President Nixon)(President Nixon)
37. Peace
Negotiations
ïș US &US &
VietnameseVietnamese
argue forargue for
5 months5 months
over theover the
size of thesize of the
conferenceconference
table!table!
Dr. Henry KissingerDr. Henry Kissinger & Le Duc ThoLe Duc Tho
38. The Ceasefire,
1973
ïș Conditions:Conditions:
1.1. U.S. to remove all troopsU.S. to remove all troops
2.2. North Vietnam could leave troopsNorth Vietnam could leave troops
already in S.V.already in S.V.
3.3. North Vietnam would resume warNorth Vietnam would resume war
4.4. No provision for POWs or MIAsNo provision for POWs or MIAs
ïș Last American troops left SouthLast American troops left South
Vietnam on March 29, 1973Vietnam on March 29, 1973
ïș 1975: North Vietnam defeats South1975: North Vietnam defeats South
VietnamVietnam
ïș Saigon renamedSaigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City
39. The Fall of
Saigon
South VietnameseSouth Vietnamese
Attempt to Flee the CountryAttempt to Flee the Country
40. The Fall of
Saigon
America Abandons Its EmbassyAmerica Abandons Its Embassy
April 30, 1975April 30, 1975
41. The Fall of
Saigon
North VietnameseNorth Vietnamese
at the Presidential Palaceat the Presidential Palace
43. The Costs
1.1. 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed3,000,000 Vietnamese killed
2.2. 58,000 Americans killed;58,000 Americans killed;
300,000 wounded300,000 wounded
3.3. Under-funding of Great SocietyUnder-funding of Great Society
programsprograms
4.4. $150,000,000,000 in U.S.$150,000,000,000 in U.S.
spendingspending
5.5. U.S. morale, self-confidence,U.S. morale, self-confidence,
trust of government, decimatedtrust of government, decimated
44. The Impact
ïș 2626thth
AmendmentAmendment: 18-year-olds vote: 18-year-olds vote
ïș Nixon abolished the draftNixon abolished the draftï ï
all-volunteer armyall-volunteer army
ïș
War Powers Act,War Powers Act, 19731973 â«ÙâŹâ«ÙâŹ
ïș President must notify Congress within 48President must notify Congress within 48
hours of deploying military forcehours of deploying military force
ïș President must withdraw forces unless hePresident must withdraw forces unless he
gains Congressional approval within 90gains Congressional approval within 90
daysdays
ïș Disregard for VeteransDisregard for Veterans ï ï seen asseen as
âbaby killersââbaby killersâ
ïș POW/MIA issue lingeredPOW/MIA issue lingered
47. If we have to fight, weIf we have to fight, we
will fight. You will killwill fight. You will kill
ten of our men and we willten of our men and we will
kill one of yours, and in the end itkill one of yours, and in the end it
will bewill be youyou who tires of it.who tires of it.
AndAnd
in the EndâŠ.in the EndâŠ.
Ho Chi Minh:Ho Chi Minh:
48. Lessons
for Future
American
Presidents1.1. Wars must be of short duration.Wars must be of short duration.
2.2. Wars must yield few AmericanWars must yield few American
casualties.casualties.
3.3. Restrict media access toRestrict media access to
battlefields.battlefields.
4.4. Develop and maintain CongressionalDevelop and maintain Congressional
and public support.and public support.
5.5. Set clear, winnable goals.Set clear, winnable goals.
6.6. Set deadline for troop withdrawals.Set deadline for troop withdrawals.
55. AND TODAYâŠ..
The âLightâ at the
End of This Tunnel?
2003 to2003 to ??:: âOperation Iraqi FreedomââOperation Iraqi Freedomâ
2400+ American dead and countingâŠ2400+ American dead and countingâŠ??
57. Bibliograp
hyïș Nash, Gary, et al.Nash, Gary, et al. The AmericanThe American
People,People, Harper & Row, 1986Harper & Row, 1986
ïș Comptonâs Encyclopedia 2000Comptonâs Encyclopedia 2000
Deluxe, Broderbund, 1999.Deluxe, Broderbund, 1999.
ïș The Americans,The Americans, McDougal Littell,McDougal Littell,
19981998
ïș A myriad of web sites on theA myriad of web sites on the
internetinternet
Hinweis der Redaktion
Ho Chi Minh had been fighting for Vietnamese independence since World War I.
The U.S. gave France aid to win its support in American anticommunist efforts in Western Europe.
Ho Chi Minh had been fighting for Vietnamese independence since World War I.
The U.S. gave France aid to win its support in American anticommunist efforts in Western Europe.
Realizing he would Diem backs out of elections.
Realizing he would lose, Diem backed out of elections.
Realizing he would Diem backs out of elections.
Kennedyâs advisors were clearly fighting a covert war by 1963.
MacNamara has suggested that he believes Kennedy would have pulled the U.S. out, but evidence in inconclusive.
JFK realizes Diem is a liability; offers quiet support to a Vietnamese military coup dâetat.
The coup results in the brutal murders of Diem and his brother
The Vietnamese generals overthrow one another. A relatively stable, but tyrannical government emerges. It is little better than Diemâs.
What Johnson told Congress
What he didnât tell Congress:
He had already written the resolution before the âincident.â
The U.S. naval vessels were aiding ARVN in commando raids in North Vietnam at the time.
He learned that the attack probably hadnât occurred.
The U.S. navy was not on the âhigh seasâ but in N. Vietnamâs 12 mile territorial limit.
What Johnson told Congress
What he didnât tell Congress:
He had already written the resolution before the âincident.â
The U.S. naval vessels were aiding ARVN in commando raids in North Vietnam at the time.
He learned that the attack probably hadnât occurred.
The U.S. navy was not on the âhigh seasâ but in N. Vietnamâs 12 mile territorial limit.
Kennedyâs advisors were clearly fighting a covert war by 1963.
MacNamara has suggested that he believes Kennedy would have pulled the U.S. out, but evidence in inconclusive.
JFK realizes Diem is a liability; offers quiet support to a Vietnamese military coup dâetat.
The coup results in the brutal murders of Diem and his brother
The Vietnamese generals overthrow one another. A relatively stable, but tyrannical government emerges. It is little better than Diemâs.
Nixonâs âsecretâ plan never materializes.
He involved us more.
âPeace with Honorâ Weâll win befoe we withdraw.
Expansion:Cambodia invaded in 1970: Ho Chi Minh Trail
Laos invaded in 1971: Ho Chi Minh Trail
Nixon resigns over the Watergate Scandal in 1974.
Ford takes the helm.
Nixon resigns over the Watergate Scandal in 1974.
Ford takes the helm.
Many U.S.-loyal South Vietnamese attempt to flee for fear of execution by the North.
Diversion of capital to the war indirectly caused economic recession: 11% inflation and 12% unemployment!
War Powers Act., 1973, passed over Nixon's veto, requires the President to
notify Congress within 48 hours of his use of military force in a foreign country or enlarging an ongoing conflict.
The President must secure Congressional approval if he intends to keep these troops overseas for more than 60 days. If he doesn't, he must withdraw the forces.
Congress can pass a joint resolution to withdraw the troops before the 60 day deadline. (Each President since has denied its validity, though the issue has never been tested.)
No welcome home (shamed and ashamed), high unemployment, alcohol & drug abuse; poor care of disabled vets: underfunded vets hospitals, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Agent Orange health problems, birth defects in vetsâ children.