aim: how did the united states become involved in the vietnam conflict?

Aim: How did the United States become

involved in the Vietnam conflict?

Aim: How did the United States become

involved in the Vietnam conflict?

Background of the War Background of the War Vietnam was a

French colony that was invaded by Japan during WWII

Ho Chi Minh fought against the Japanese and against France when they returned after the war

Ho was communist and a nationalist

His army was called the Vietminh

Vietnam was a French colony that was invaded by Japan during WWII

Ho Chi Minh fought against the Japanese and against France when they returned after the war

Ho was communist and a nationalist

His army was called the Vietminh

Domino TheoryDomino Theory

Introduced by Eisenhower in 1954

Based on the belief that if one country accepted communism, all those around would as well

Goal: Protect Japan

Introduced by Eisenhower in 1954

Based on the belief that if one country accepted communism, all those around would as well

Goal: Protect Japan

Dienbienphu: Exit FranceDienbienphu: Exit France The French spent

billions to fight the Vietminh and keep Vietnam as a colony

The French welcomed a conflict with the Vietminh at Dienbienphu and lost

This loss triggered French surrender

The French spent billions to fight the Vietminh and keep Vietnam as a colony

The French welcomed a conflict with the Vietminh at Dienbienphu and lost

This loss triggered French surrender

A Divided VietnamA Divided Vietnam Negotiated

Settlement: The Geneva Accords divided Vietnam into a Communist North and a Non-communist South

Ho Chi Minh controlled the North, Ngo Dihn Diem controlled the South

The U.S. supported Diem

Negotiated Settlement: The Geneva Accords divided Vietnam into a Communist North and a Non-communist South

Ho Chi Minh controlled the North, Ngo Dihn Diem controlled the South

The U.S. supported Diem

A Fateful CommitmentA Fateful Commitment The Geneva Accords

called for elections in 1956 to unify the country under Ho or Diem

Diem knew he would lose and cancelled the election

Ike chose to continue funding Diem’s government.

The Geneva Accords called for elections in 1956 to unify the country under Ho or Diem

Diem knew he would lose and cancelled the election

Ike chose to continue funding Diem’s government.

Ike supports DiemIke supports Diem

An Unpopular Diem An Unpopular Diem Most Vietnamese

were Buddhist; Diem was Catholic.

Diem oppressed the Buddhists and was never popular in the South.

His government was corrupt.

South Vietnam was never stable.

Most Vietnamese were Buddhist; Diem was Catholic.

Diem oppressed the Buddhists and was never popular in the South.

His government was corrupt.

South Vietnam was never stable.

JFK’S Decision: Diem is Out

JFK’S Decision: Diem is Out

JFK supports a military take-over of South Vietnam

Diem is assassinated

The U.S. becomes materially involved in the South Vietnam’s government

U.S. military assistance to South Vietnam increases

JFK supports a military take-over of South Vietnam

Diem is assassinated

The U.S. becomes materially involved in the South Vietnam’s government

U.S. military assistance to South Vietnam increases

LBJ & Escalation LBJ & Escalation President Johnson

honored JFK’s commitment to South Vietnam

He did not want to lose any territory to Communism

8/2/64: The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: The USS Maddox reported that North Vietnamese forces fired on it

President Johnson honored JFK’s commitment to South Vietnam

He did not want to lose any territory to Communism

8/2/64: The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: The USS Maddox reported that North Vietnamese forces fired on it

The Tonkin Gulf ResolutionThe Tonkin Gulf Resolution Congress granted

LBJ the right to use force in Vietnam without any further Congressional supervision or approval.

Passed the House of Reps: 416-0

Passed the Senate: 88-2

Congress granted LBJ the right to use force in Vietnam without any further Congressional supervision or approval.

Passed the House of Reps: 416-0

Passed the Senate: 88-2

New War LeadersNew War LeadersHo Chi Minh Lyndon B. Johnson

New GeneralsNew GeneralsWestmoreland GiapWestmoreland Giap

Johnson’s Escalatio

n and Beyond:US Trooplevels in Vietnam

1960-1972

Johnson’s Escalatio

n and Beyond:US Trooplevels in Vietnam

1960-1972

The Enemy Within: The National Liberation Front The Enemy Within: The

National Liberation Front The NLF comprised

South Vietnamese who supported a communist government

Their efforts were coordinated with the North Vietnamese Army (NVA)

Americans called them “Vietcong” or “Charlie”

The NLF comprised South Vietnamese who supported a communist government

Their efforts were coordinated with the North Vietnamese Army (NVA)

Americans called them “Vietcong” or “Charlie”

A Working-class WarA Working-class War70% of the men sent to Vietnam were

lower-class or middle-class families.The average soldier was 19 years old

Most soldiers were drafted--few enlisted

Soldiers served a tour of duty: approximately one year

70% of the men sent to Vietnam were lower-class or middle-class families.

The average soldier was 19 years old

Most soldiers were drafted--few enlisted

Soldiers served a tour of duty: approximately one year

Difficult ConditionsDifficult Conditions

Opposing strategies and weapons

Opposing strategies and weapons

Versus

Bikes

B-52s

Opposing strategies and weapons

Opposing strategies and weapons

How do these images symbolize how each side fought the Vietnam War?

What were the strengths and weaknesses of each strategy?

How do these images symbolize how each side fought the Vietnam War?

What were the strengths and weaknesses of each strategy?

The Ho Chi Minh TrailThe Ho Chi Minh Trail

Vietcong Underground

tunnels

Vietcong Underground

tunnels

Fighting the Enemy

Fighting the Enemy

Finding the

Enemy: Search & Destroy

Finding the

Enemy: Search & Destroy

The Air WarThe Air War More tonnage of

bombs was dropped on Vietnam than had been dropped during WWI, WWII, and in Korea

It had little effect: The Vietnamese did not have large and vulnerable urban centers

More tonnage of bombs was dropped on Vietnam than had been dropped during WWI, WWII, and in Korea

It had little effect: The Vietnamese did not have large and vulnerable urban centers

Napalm and Agent OrangeNapalm and Agent Orange Napalm: jelly-like

gasoline that clung to flesh and burned

Agent Orange: a defoliant designed to kill plant life and uncover the enemy

Agent Orange later caused cancer and birth defects.

Napalm: jelly-like gasoline that clung to flesh and burned

Agent Orange: a defoliant designed to kill plant life and uncover the enemy

Agent Orange later caused cancer and birth defects.

Iconic Victim of Napalm bombing

9 year old Kim Phuc Phan

Iconic Victim of Napalm bombing

9 year old Kim Phuc Phan

Iconic Napalm victim todayKim Phuc Phan in adulthood

Iconic Napalm victim todayKim Phuc Phan in adulthood

Tet Offensive: Jan. ‘68

Tet Offensive: Jan. ‘68

Tet OffensiveTet Offensive

South Vietnamese Colonel executes a Vietcong suspectSouth Vietnamese Colonel

executes a Vietcong suspect

The Effects of TetThe Effects of Tet The NLF initially overtook hundreds

of towns and threatened non-communist governments across the South

The NLF suffered terrible losses when it directly confronted the U.S. military

A “Credibility Gap” developed: Americans stopped believing that the U.S. could win the war in Vietnam.

People distrusted government reports about the war.

The NLF initially overtook hundreds of towns and threatened non-communist governments across the South

The NLF suffered terrible losses when it directly confronted the U.S. military

A “Credibility Gap” developed: Americans stopped believing that the U.S. could win the war in Vietnam.

People distrusted government reports about the war.

1968: Exit LBJ1968: Exit LBJ Due to the war’s

unpopularity, Johnson decided not to run for re-election and to purse peace talks with the North Vietnamese.

Due to the war’s unpopularity, Johnson decided not to run for re-election and to purse peace talks with the North Vietnamese.

The Election of Richard Nixon

The Election of Richard Nixon

Nixon’s PromisesNixon’s Promises Nixon claimed to

have a “secret plan” to end the war in Vietnam

He promised to represent America’s “Silent Majority”: patriotic Americans who did not protest the war and valued Law and Order

Nixon claimed to have a “secret plan” to end the war in Vietnam

He promised to represent America’s “Silent Majority”: patriotic Americans who did not protest the war and valued Law and Order

Nixon’s War PoliciesNixon’s War Policies Nixon began

“Vietnamization”: pulling U.S. troops from Vietnam and relying on South Vietnamese soldiers

He increased U.S. bombing of North Vietnam

He secretly invaded Cambodia to attack part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail

Nixon began “Vietnamization”: pulling U.S. troops from Vietnam and relying on South Vietnamese soldiers

He increased U.S. bombing of North Vietnam

He secretly invaded Cambodia to attack part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail

From Cambodia to Kent State

From Cambodia to Kent State

More than 1 million student’s protested Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia

May 4, 1970: Protestors at Kent State burned the ROTC building.

The Ohio National Guard later shot & killed 4 protestors

More than 1 million student’s protested Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia

May 4, 1970: Protestors at Kent State burned the ROTC building.

The Ohio National Guard later shot & killed 4 protestors

Nixon ends the War in 1973

Nixon ends the War in 1973

America ended combat operations in support of South Vietnam

Nixon believed America had preserved its image as a super-power

The US could have had this type of peace years before 1973

America ended combat operations in support of South Vietnam

Nixon believed America had preserved its image as a super-power

The US could have had this type of peace years before 1973

Panic in South VietnamPanic in South Vietnam Many South

Vietnamese wanted to leave with the Americans. They did not expect their country to survive.

April 1975: Saigon falls to communist forces. The nation unites under communist rule.

Many South Vietnamese wanted to leave with the Americans. They did not expect their country to survive.

April 1975: Saigon falls to communist forces. The nation unites under communist rule.

Congress learns a LessonCongress learns a Lesson The War Powers Act of

1973: a limit on presidential power.

An example of checks and balances

The president must inform Congress within 48 hours if US troops are sent abroad

Troops can only stay abroad 90 days without Congressional approval.

The War Powers Act of 1973: a limit on presidential power.

An example of checks and balances

The president must inform Congress within 48 hours if US troops are sent abroad

Troops can only stay abroad 90 days without Congressional approval.

A Terrible PriceA Terrible PriceMore than 58,000 American

dead 365,000 Americans wounded1.5 million Vietnamese killedSoutheast Asia was

destabilized: Radical Communists in Cambodia (The Khmer Rouge) came to power and killed 2 million Cambodians

More than 58,000 American dead

365,000 Americans wounded1.5 million Vietnamese killedSoutheast Asia was

destabilized: Radical Communists in Cambodia (The Khmer Rouge) came to power and killed 2 million Cambodians

The Vietnam War Memorial

Maya Lin, 1981 The Vietnam War Memorial

Maya Lin, 1981

Vietnam is a country, not a war!

Vietnam is a country, not a war!