VietnamVietnam

AP US HistoryAP US History

Mrs. MarshallMrs. Marshall

Vietnam is located on the continent of Vietnam is located on the continent of Southeast Asia.Southeast Asia.

From late 1800’s until WWII it was ruled From late 1800’s until WWII it was ruled by France.by France.

Vietnamese often rebelled. Many of the Vietnamese often rebelled. Many of the rebellions were led by rebellions were led by Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh of of the Communist Party.the Communist Party.

1941- Japan conquered Vietnam1941- Japan conquered Vietnam

1941- Vietnamese Communist joined 1941- Vietnamese Communist joined with other groups to form an with other groups to form an organization called the organization called the VietminhVietminh whose whose goal was to achieve independence for goal was to achieve independence for Vietnam.Vietnam.

1945- Japan defeated in WWII. Japan 1945- Japan defeated in WWII. Japan left Vietnam. The Vietminh claimed left Vietnam. The Vietminh claimed independence for Vietnam.independence for Vietnam.

1946- French troops moved back into 1946- French troops moved back into the country. They conquered southern the country. They conquered southern half of Vietnam. The Vietminh took half of Vietnam. The Vietminh took control of the north. For the next 8 control of the north. For the next 8 years the two sides fought for control years the two sides fought for control of the entire countryof the entire country

U.S. supported France-considered the U.S. supported France-considered the Vietminh to be communistsVietminh to be communists

President Eisenhower’s President Eisenhower’s domino theory. domino theory. Compared many of the world’s smaller Compared many of the world’s smaller nations to dominos-if one nation fell, nations to dominos-if one nation fell, the rest would also fall.the rest would also fall.

1954- Vietminh defeated the French. 1954- Vietminh defeated the French. Vietminh conquered large French Vietminh conquered large French outpost at outpost at DienbienphuDienbienphu

Peace agreement was called the Peace agreement was called the Geneva Accords. Geneva Accords.

It temporarily split Vietnam in half. The It temporarily split Vietnam in half. The Vietminh controlled North Vietnam and Vietminh controlled North Vietnam and the anti-communist nationalists the anti-communist nationalists controlled South Vietnam.controlled South Vietnam.

Geneva Accords called for election in Geneva Accords called for election in 1956 to unify the country1956 to unify the country

North Vietnam was ruled by North Vietnam was ruled by Ho Chi Ho Chi MinhMinh

South Vietnam was ruled by South Vietnam was ruled by Ngo Dinh Ngo Dinh DiemDiem

1956 election:1956 election:

Diem refused to take part because he Diem refused to take part because he feared Ho Chi Minh would win and the feared Ho Chi Minh would win and the whole nation would become whole nation would become communists.communists.

U.S. supported Diem’s decision and U.S. supported Diem’s decision and provided aid.provided aid.

1957- a rebel group formed in the 1957- a rebel group formed in the south. The south. The VietcongVietcong fought Diem’s rule. fought Diem’s rule. Ho Chi Minh supported the VietcongHo Chi Minh supported the Vietcong

Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

a network of paths that ran between a network of paths that ran between North and South Vietnam. Was used to North and South Vietnam. Was used to move weapons/suppliesmove weapons/supplies

U.S. continued to support South U.S. continued to support South Vietnam. Diem’s government grew Vietnam. Diem’s government grew more unstable. Vietcong rebels were more unstable. Vietcong rebels were gaining greater support from peasants.gaining greater support from peasants.

Kennedy’s administration decided Kennedy’s administration decided Diem should step down.Diem should step down.

1963- military leaders overthrew Diem. 1963- military leaders overthrew Diem. They executed himThey executed him

LBJ takes over- he continued to LBJ takes over- he continued to support South Vietnam-determined not support South Vietnam-determined not to lose it to communismto lose it to communism

Gulf of TonkinGulf of Tonkin

August 1964August 1964

off coast of North Vietnamoff coast of North Vietnam

A North Vietnamese patrol boat had A North Vietnamese patrol boat had allegedly fired torpedoes at a US allegedly fired torpedoes at a US destroyer.destroyer.

U.S. responded by bombing North U.S. responded by bombing North Vietnam.Vietnam.

LBJ asked Congress for special LBJ asked Congress for special military powers to stop any future military powers to stop any future North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. forces.forces.

Congress passed the Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Tonkin Gulf Resolution Resolution which gave the president which gave the president broad military powers in Vietnambroad military powers in Vietnam

LBJ used the power in February 1965 LBJ used the power in February 1965 when he launched a major bombing when he launched a major bombing attack on North Vietnam’s cities.attack on North Vietnam’s cities.

1965 the U.S. began sending troops to 1965 the U.S. began sending troops to Vietnam to fight the VietcongVietnam to fight the Vietcong

Robert McNamaraRobert McNamara- LBJ’s Secretary of - LBJ’s Secretary of DefenseDefense

Dean RuskDean Rusk- LBJ’s Secretary of State- LBJ’s Secretary of State

They backed LBJ-said U.S. must helpThey backed LBJ-said U.S. must help

defeat communism.defeat communism.

General William WestmorelandGeneral William Westmoreland- -

American commander in South VietnamAmerican commander in South Vietnam

Factors which turned the war Factors which turned the war into a bloody stalemateinto a bloody stalemate

The Vietcong’s fighting styleThe Vietcong’s fighting style

The Vietcong’s refusal to surrenderThe Vietcong’s refusal to surrender

American troops’ inability to win American troops’ inability to win support of Vietnamese peasantssupport of Vietnamese peasants

How U.S. troops hurt the How U.S. troops hurt the peasants:peasants:

US planes dropped US planes dropped napalmnapalm a gasoline- a gasoline-based bomb that set fire to the junglebased bomb that set fire to the jungleUS sprayed US sprayed Agent OrangeAgent Orange which was a which was a leaf-killing chemical that destroyed the leaf-killing chemical that destroyed the landscapelandscape

Both of these wounded villagers and Both of these wounded villagers and ruined their villages.ruined their villages.U.S. soldiers destroyed villages they U.S. soldiers destroyed villages they believed supported the Vietcong.believed supported the Vietcong.

By 1967 U.S. was divided into By 1967 U.S. was divided into two groups:two groups:

Hawks- Americans who supported the Hawks- Americans who supported the warwar

Doves-Americans who wanted the U.S. Doves-Americans who wanted the U.S. to withdraw from the warto withdraw from the war

January 30- the Vietnamese equivalent January 30- the Vietnamese equivalent of our New Yearsof our New Years

Beginning of festivities known as Beginning of festivities known as Tet.Tet.

During the Tet holiday in 1968 a week-During the Tet holiday in 1968 a week-long truce was called.long truce was called.

Peasants crowded into South Peasants crowded into South Vietnam’s cities to celebrate. Many Vietnam’s cities to celebrate. Many peasants turned out to be Vietcong peasants turned out to be Vietcong rebels, launching massive attacks. rebels, launching massive attacks. They attacked U.S. air bases.They attacked U.S. air bases.

Attacks were known as the Attacks were known as the Tet Tet Offensive. Offensive. It lasted for about a month It lasted for about a month before U.S. and South Vietnamese before U.S. and South Vietnamese forces gained control of the cities.forces gained control of the cities.

Tet Offensive hurt LBJ’s popularity. Tet Offensive hurt LBJ’s popularity. Many Americans thought we could not Many Americans thought we could not win the war.win the war.

LBJ announces he will not seek LBJ announces he will not seek reelection in 1968.reelection in 1968.

Richard Nixon is elected in 1968.Richard Nixon is elected in 1968.

Election 0f 1968Election 0f 1968

Republican- Republican- Richard M. Nixon-Richard M. Nixon- 301 301 electoral voteselectoral votes

Democrats- Democrats- Hubert H. Humphrey-Hubert H. Humphrey-191 191 electoral voteselectoral votes

American Independent Party- American Independent Party- GeorgeGeorge WallaceWallace- 46 electoral votes- 46 electoral votes

VietnamizationVietnamization

Nixon’s plan to end America’s Nixon’s plan to end America’s

involvement in Vietnam. Plan called for involvement in Vietnam. Plan called for

gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops. Also gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops. Also

called for South Vietnamese to do more called for South Vietnamese to do more

of the fighting.of the fighting.

As Nixon pulled troops out, he ordered As Nixon pulled troops out, he ordered a massive bombing attack against a massive bombing attack against North Vietnam. He also ordered bombs North Vietnam. He also ordered bombs to be dropped on the neighboring to be dropped on the neighboring countries of countries of LaosLaos and and CambodiaCambodia which which had a number of Vietcong bases.had a number of Vietcong bases.

November 1969- November 1969- My LaiMy Lai

U.S. troops had massacred more thanU.S. troops had massacred more than

100 unarmed Vietnamese100 unarmed Vietnamese

April 1970- Nixon announced that U.S.April 1970- Nixon announced that U.S.

troops had invaded Cambodiatroops had invaded Cambodia

Nixon’s invasion of Nixon’s invasion of CambodiaCambodia cost him cost him

public and political support. Congress, public and political support. Congress,

angry over the invasion, repealed the angry over the invasion, repealed the

Tonkin Gulf Resolution.Tonkin Gulf Resolution.

June 1971- June 1971- Pentagon PapersPentagon Papers

Documents which showed that plans had Documents which showed that plans had

never been drawn up to withdraw from never been drawn up to withdraw from

Vietnam.Vietnam.

Henry Kissinger- Nixon’s advisor for Henry Kissinger- Nixon’s advisor for national security affairs- negotiated a national security affairs- negotiated a peace settlement with the North peace settlement with the North Vietnamese.Vietnamese.

October 1972 -Kissinger announced October 1972 -Kissinger announced peace was close at hand.peace was close at hand.

Election of 1972Election of 1972

Republican Party- Richard NixonRepublican Party- Richard Nixon

Democrats- George S. McGovernDemocrats- George S. McGovern

Nixon received 520 electoral votes to Nixon received 520 electoral votes to

McGovern’s 17McGovern’s 17

Promise of peace in Vietnam did not Promise of peace in Vietnam did not come.come.South Vietnam objected to the South Vietnam objected to the proposed peace settlement.proposed peace settlement.Peace talks broke down. Nixon Peace talks broke down. Nixon responded by ordering more bombings responded by ordering more bombings against North Vietnam.against North Vietnam.Peace talks eventually resumed.Peace talks eventually resumed.January 1973 a peace agreement was January 1973 a peace agreement was signed and the Vietnam War was over.signed and the Vietnam War was over.

Shortly after the U.S. pulled out the Shortly after the U.S. pulled out the peace agreement collapsed and North peace agreement collapsed and North and South Vietnam resumed fighting.and South Vietnam resumed fighting.

April 1975 North Vietnamese troops April 1975 North Vietnamese troops captured south’s capital of captured south’s capital of SaigonSaigon. . Soon afterwards, South Vietnam Soon afterwards, South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam,surrendered to North Vietnam,

War Powers ActWar Powers Act- passed by Congress - passed by Congress in November 1973. Prevented the in November 1973. Prevented the president from committing troops in a president from committing troops in a foreign conflict without the approval of foreign conflict without the approval of Congress.Congress.

The war made Americans less willing to The war made Americans less willing to become involved in foreign wars. The become involved in foreign wars. The war also left many Americans with a war also left many Americans with a feeling of mistrust toward their feeling of mistrust toward their government.government.