The Vietnam War

1
The Vietnam War
2
Setting the Stage

• ?Vietnam had been under French control from
  1883-1940
• Japan invaded and occupied the land name
  INDOCHINA (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos) in 1940
• After WWII Japan withdrew and HO CHI MINH led the
  struggle to break Vietnam free of the French
• In 1954 the French withdrew from Indochina after
  defeat.

3
The Agreement
?A international peace treaty at Geneva divided
Vietnam into two regions - Communist NORTH
Vietnam ruled by Ho Chi Minh -South Vietnam,
lead Boa Dai ?The ideas was the two nations
would reunite in 1956 and hold free elections
4
Corruption

• The United States supported Ngo Dinh Diem-
  President of South Vietnam
• His election was slightly funny because there
  were more votes than there were voters.
• The US began questioning their choice in Diem
• Began to refuse to hold free elections for his
  people because he knew hed be voted out.
• Favored the wealthy over the poor. Ruthless to
  anyone who did not agree.

5
Domino Theory
?Eisenhower believed if Vietnam became
Communistthe rest of the region would follow.
Vietcong
?Vietnamese groups in the south who disagreed
with the policy/government were call DISSIDENTS
they joined the northern Vietminh and formed
VIETCONG (Vi?t C?ng). ?Used guerrilla warfare
tactics- ambushes and raids ?They formed the
National Liberation Front (NLF)
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A deadly year

• In 1963 the US supported a Southern Vietnamese
  group that plotted to overthrown Diem
• They assassinated Diem and his brother in early
  November
• 3 weeks laterPresident Kennedy was assassinated.

Moments before his assassination
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Its all yours now Lyndon Johnson

• After Kennedys assassination Lyndon Johnson
  became president and was given the Vietnam
  gift.
• What happens when you lie?
• ?1964 South Vietnamese boats patrol Northern
  Vietnamese islands on the Gulf of Tonkin
• In response the Northern Vietnamese fired on a US
  destroyer Maddox stationed nearby
• The Maddox and Ticonderoga fired back sinking one
  ship and damaging another.
• August 4th Johnson was TOLD that the US Navy
  BELIEVED that the North Vietnamese attacked
  again.
• This information was leaked to the press..when
  in actuality it never occurred
• Johnson was forced to make a decision
• He went before the country to tell them about the
  unprovoked attacks

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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
After Johnson told the Country and Congress about
the attacks Congress gave him the power to use
military force on the situation without a formal
declaration of war.
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It is hard to fight in someone ELSES backyard!

• ? The Guerilla war practice the Vietnamese used
  posed a serious problem for the Americans
• Jungle presented a problem
• Ambushing was easier
• Only the Vietnamese knew the trails to take
• This lead to MASS CASUALTIES
• The U.S would have to develop better tactics
• Operation Rolling Thunder
• Air offensive tactic that didnt work as planed.

10
U.S Weapons

• Firebombs
• Guns that shot fire
• Filled with napalm- A gasoline mixture that
  sticks to the target
• Cluster Bombs
• Covered people with shards of metal
• Agent Orange
• -Chemical spray that killed vegetation in
• the area
• - Used to wipe out the jungle cover
• - Contained Dioxin(1 of the most dangerous
  chemicals known to man)
• - People in that area suffer from horrendous
  birth defects still TODAY!

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With all of the weapons America was still at a
disadvantage

• American could not find their way in the jungles
• The Climate and environment was foreign
• The enemy was not playing by any rules
• Getting frustrated we became desperate and
  attacking and firing EVERYONE
• Anti-American feelings grew and so did the
  Vietcong

12
The Affect at Home

• America was NOT impressed with what was going on!
• The press acted as eyes and showed the people
  what was REALLY going on and exposing the
  administration
• A huge anti-war movement surged through the
  country
• Some people believed that Vietnamese should
  settle their own affairs without US involvement.
• People could not understand why we were messing
  with a nation so far away
• Some people objected to war period
• Some preferred that their tax dollars be spent on
  something more important
• Some were afraid the war would turn into a
  nuclear one
• Many people with loved ones in the army just
  wanted them back home
• SOUND FAMILIAR?
• Many young people burned their draft cards in
  protest and fled to Canada

13
Fighting on a New Level
?January 30, 1968 The North Vietnamese and
Vietcong launched the Tet Offensive FIGHTING
ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE. ? We knew then that
this war could never be won peace talks have to
happen
14
And now its YOUR problem

• President Johnson opted to not run for
  re-election
• Richard Nixon was elected president.
• The plan was to Gradually withdraw
  troops...hoping this would result in a stable,
  non-communist South Vietnam.
• ?However, Nixon has another secret plan BOMBING
  CAMBODIA, without telling the public, Congress,
  even military generals until a year later.
• Upon being informed of Nixons abuse of power
  Congress repealed (canceled) the Gulf of Tonkin
  Resolution.
• Passed War Powers Act president can only send
  troops for a max of 60 days before seeking
  Congressional approval

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Protest
? In response to the bombings of Cambodia and
Laos Americans began a wave of anti-demonstrations
? National Guard troops reported to Kent State
University to stop a anti-war protest ? The
National Guard fired at random at the American
students. Killing/Wounding 13 bystanders. Kent
State Massacre ?A similar incident happened in
Mississippi. The Military is abusing their power.
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Paris Peace Accords
? Both sides would lay down their arms ? U.S
would withdraw all troops, military personal and
advisors ? The U.S would contribute to
reconstruction ? Prisoners of war would be
released and sent home
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The End Of the War?
1975 The fall of Saigon to North Vietnamese
troops Military evacuated 100,000 refugees fled
to the United States April 30, 1975 South
Vietnamese surrendered - The North and the
South were reunited a year later
The Lost of Lives 3 to 4 million Vietnamese from
both sides 1.5 to 2 million Laotians and
Cambodians 58,159 U.S. soldiers.