The Vietnam War began as a conflict between North Vietnam and South Vietnam following the end of French colonial rule. The United States initially provided support to France in its war against Ho Chi Minh and later directly intervened in the war under the Eisenhower and Johnson administrations due to fears that communism would spread across Southeast Asia if North Vietnam prevailed. Despite massive U.S. military escalation and bombing campaigns, the Vietnam War became increasingly unpopular at home due to rising casualties and anti-war protests. The Tet Offensive of 1968 marked a major turning point that turned U.S. public opinion against the war, and the Nixon administration pursued a policy of Vietnamization to gradually withdraw U.S. troops while turning over more responsibility
1. The Vietnam War Cold War Policies Pushes the United States to the Far East
2. Origins of the Conflict Ho Chi Mihn & The Vietminh World War II forces Japan to Leave Vietnam -1940 Mihn Declares Vietnam an Independent Country September 2nd, 1945 Vietnam used to be a French Colony
3. Opportunity: France France Makes a Move 1945 - French troops move back to Vietnam Regain Control of S. Vietnam Ho Chi Mihn Vows to fight from the North and regain control in South Vietnam Goal to knock France out of South Vietnam
4. U.S. Involvement Warning Signs 1940s / 1950s – U.S. Military Advisors Warn Government to stay away from conflict President Truman sends $15 Million to France to aid their attempt to regain control Total financial aid = $1Billion Ironic???? U.S. supported Ho Chi Minh during WWII to keep Japan out of Vietnam Once WWII over, views him as a Communist aggressor
5. President Eisenhower and the “Domino Theory” Ike on Vietnam 1954 Eisenhower declares: “You have a row of dominoes set up…You knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over quickly” He believes Ho Chi Minh is too close to Communism * If Vietnam falls to Minh and Communism, Eisenhower believes more countries in the far east will also fall.
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8. Chance at Diplomacy Geneva Accords France, Great Britain, Soviet Union, U.S., China, Laos, Cambodia meet the Vietnihmn and South Vietnamese in Geneva, Switzerland Discuss diplomatic solution to problems Geneva Accords Divides Vietnam at 17th Parallel North Capitol – Hanoi / South Capitol – Saigon Unify with Democratic Style Election in 1956
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10. Early U.S. Involvement Economic Support to South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem Promises clean, stable, democratic government In exchange he gets funding from the U.S. Diem drops the ball Does not redistribute land to peasants Persecutes Buddhists Catholic Beliefs / No room for Buddhist thought
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12. Viet Cong and Ho Chi Minh Vietcong Southern Liberation group with Communist roots Ho Chi Minh Supports with aid / weapons Ho Chi Minh Trail / Guerilla Warfare – Supply line JKF and Vietnam 1963: 16,000 U.S. Army Personnel in Vietnam Diem’s popularity plummets Diem is Assassinated by U.S. Forces U.S. feels South Vietnam could not remain stable
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14. President Johnson’s Vietnam Before JFK’s Death: “In the final analysis, it’s their war.” Johnson’s Escalation Does not want to be “soft” on communism Believes a South Vietnam takeover = appeasement Johnson’s policies now lean towards long conflict
15. Gulf of Tonkin Situation 1964- North Vietnamese patrol boat fires a torpedo at a United States’ destroyer – USS Maddox Maddox returns fire and inflicts heavy damage Days later Maddox returns – Bad Visibility and Weather Crew Reports that Vietnamese ships fired another torpedo Later report that they neither saw nor heard any fire Johnson Orders Air Strikes on North Vietnam Congress approves “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution” Not a declaration of War but gives Johnson a lot of military power in Vietnam
16. Results of Tonkin Resolution Hidden from American Public Johnson did not tell the American Public he was secretly launching raids on the N. Vietnam The Maddox was in Tonkin to obtain information Johnson had prepared for the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution months beforehand Waiting for an opportunity to push through Congress February 1965 – Johnson Uses Powers “Operation Rolling Thunder” – First sustained bombing mission June, 1965 – 50,000 U.S. Soldiers in Vietnam – Now America’s War
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18. Johnson Fully Commits the United States 1964 Presidential Campaign Johnson wins election claiming he was: “not about to send American boys 9 or 10 thousand miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves” Early in term beings sending thousands of U.S. troops to fight along side S. Vietnamese troops Many Americans support Johnson because they believe that he is attempting to stop the spread of communism worldwide
19. War Tactics Vietcong Tactics: Guerilla Warfare Tunnel Systems / Easy “hit and run” opportunities Mines / Punji Sticks / Traps Hidden Enemy United States Tactics: Intimidation Destroy Moral – Outnumber Body Counts Win Hearts and minds Napalm / Agent Orange
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21. Troop Morale Troop Morale Decreases Frustrations Brutal Conditions Jungle / Heat Rice Patties Invisible Enemies Search and Destroy Drugs Lack of Support from Government / American Public
22. Problems At Home Great Society War grows costly as more troops are committed Johnson asks for tax increase Result is a cut in funding for social programs Johnson's early views of domestic reform now fading away
23. War Looses Popularity War Looses Ratings Combat footage shown on nightly news Body bags and battle scenes shown on T.V. 16,000 Americans Killed from 1961- 1967 Pictures begin to contradict administrations optimistic war views. Johnson looses credibility – Message not matching news reports American Public Opinion Beginning to Shift
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26. Nation Divided Vietnam War Draft: All men age 18 must register Pre-Draft Screening / Medical Conditions 18-26 eligible for military service Easily Manipulated Draft Medical exemptions / Enroll – Enlist Low Class War
27. Minorities in Vietnam African Americans Serve in disproportionate numbers of combat troops 20% of Deaths / 10% of U.S. Population Martin Luther King Jr. Racism within platoons
28. Females In Vietnam Women in War 1960s Women not allowed in Vietnam – combat 10,000 Women served as military nurses
29. The War Intensifies 1968 Tet Offensive Simultaneous attacks throughout S. Vietnam American Troops had dominated war to this point Funerals for victims served as supply lines 100 Cities Attacked Costly Push 32,000 Vietcong Soldiers Killed 3,000 American Troops
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31. Effects of the Tet Offensive Psychological / Social Problems William Westmoreland Calls Tet “well-laid” plans afoul”. Greatly Shook the American Public Close to Defeat Support for War Pre – Tet 56 % Support for War Post Tet 40% Walter Cronkite:“more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate.” Johnsons Support for War is Plummeting
32. 1968 Events of 1968 Tet Offensive Lyndon Johnson does not seek nomination Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Robert Kennedy Assassinated - L.A. Victory Speech - Sirhan Sirhan 5) Protests Begin 6) Richard Nixon Elected
37. Nixon’s Vietnam Policy How to end Vietnam? Pull Troops Out of Vietnam 1) 1969 Henry Kissinger Vietnamization 1969 25,000 Troops Return Home 1972 500,000 to 25,000 2) Peace with Honor Government – Bombing Campaign -
