3.  France controlled “Indochina”France controlled “Indochina”
since the late 19since the late 19thth
centurycentury
 Japan took control during WorldJapan took control during World
War IIWar II
 With U.S. aid, France attemptedWith U.S. aid, France attempted
re-colonization in the postwarre-colonization in the postwar
periodperiod
 The French lost control to Ho ChiThe French lost control to Ho Chi
Minh’sMinh’s Viet MinhViet Minh forces in 1954 atforces in 1954 at
Dien Bien PhuDien Bien Phu

5. Began by “Ike” and JFK but was
intensified under Lyndon
Baines Johnson (LBJ), who
assumed the presidency after
JFK’s assassination
The U.S. never formally issued a
declaration of war, but after the
Gulf of Tonkin Incident, where 2
American destroyers were
apparently fired upon by the North
Vietnamese, Congress passed the
Gulf of Tonkin Resolutions (August
1964)
- here Congress gave LBJ their
support in sending American
personnel and materiel

6. 0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
U.S. Troops

7. Fighting on home turf. They
knew the land.
Had protection in Laos and
Cambodia (Americans could not
fight there).
S. Vietnamese were indifferent
to the Americans’ efforts. Not
helpful.
Guerrilla warfare frustrating to
ground troops. Sabotage worked
well. Land Mines.
Who was a friend, and who was

41. THE ONLY WAY WE KNEW
HOW!
Saturation Bombing –
dropping lots of explosives
over large areas.
Defoliants (Agent Orange) –
kill all vegetation in jungle;
also kill people breathing it
in.

42. President Johnson
authorized Operation Rolling
Thunder – 3-year, nonstop
bombing campaign on North
Vietnam. Didn’t work.

49. Ho Chi Minh
Trail:
Route
Communists
took to stage
attacks in the
South.
The trail is
in Laos and
Cambodia (the
U.S. couldn’t
bomb there)!
The
Communists also
built an
extensive tunnel
system from the
North to the
South.
Fighting in the
tunnels became

50.  N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attackN. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack
South simultaneously (67,000 attackSouth simultaneously (67,000 attack
100 cities, bases, and the US embassy100 cities, bases, and the US embassy
in Saigon)in Saigon)
 Take every major southern cityTake every major southern city
 U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensiveU.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive
 Viet Cong destroyedViet Cong destroyed
 N. Vietnamese army debilitatedN. Vietnamese army debilitated
 BUT…it’s seen as an American defeat byBUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by
the mediathe media

52. Those persons captured by the VC and
who were found to have helped the
Americans were tortured and executed.
3,000-5,000 were killed during the Tet
Offensive.

53.  Domestic U.S. Reaction:Domestic U.S. Reaction:
Disbelief, Anger, Distrust ofDisbelief, Anger, Distrust of
Johnson AdministrationJohnson Administration
 WAR PROTEST MOVEMENTWAR PROTEST MOVEMENT
BEGINSBEGINS

55.  DisproportionateDisproportionate
representation of poorrepresentation of poor
people and minorities.people and minorities.
 Severe racial problems.Severe racial problems.
 Major drug problems.Major drug problems.
 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.

64. Rounded everybody up. Killed 400
members of the village.
Some soldiers received prison sentences
for their role in the massacre.

65. Peace talks began in Paris in 1968
but no agreement was being
reached.
Nixon comes up with
Vietnamization, trading out
American soldiers for newly trained
S. Vietnamese soldiers. Sound
familiar???
Nixon spreads the war to
Cambodia. This caused a civil war in
Cambodia and a lot more protests at
home.
Nixon, however, could no longer

66.  After last minute rounds of bombing
by both sides, peace was reached in
January of 1973:
 U.S. full withdrawal from Vietnam.
 POW’s released.
 No more fighting in Laos and
Cambodia.
 17th
parallel to divide N. and S.
Vietnam.

67.  Conditions:Conditions:
1)1) U.S. to remove allU.S. to remove all
troopstroops
2)2) North Vietnam couldNorth Vietnam could
leave troops already inleave troops already in
S.V.S.V.
3)3) North Vietnam wouldNorth Vietnam would
resume warresume war
4)4) No provision for POWsNo provision for POWs
or MIAsor MIAs

68.  Last American troops left SouthLast American troops left South
 fighting continued for two more
years.
N. Vietnamese launched offensives
to take over Saigon
Vietnam on March 29, 1973Vietnam on March 29, 1973
 1975: North Vietnam defeats1975: North Vietnam defeats
South VietnamSouth Vietnam
 Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CitySaigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City

73. .