War in Vietnam

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War in Vietnam

• Chapter 30

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Origins of War

• Ho Chi Minh and Communist army win independence
  from France
• Geneva Accords - Split
• North communist South Free (United States)
• Ngo Dinh Diem took control of South in 55
• Anti-Communist
• Anti-Buddhist Pro-Catholic

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Monks protesting the harsh treatment of Buddhists
under Diem
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Origins of War continued

• Communists in the south organize and form the
  Vietcong
• US had big fear of the Domino Theory one
  country falls many will follow
• Kennedy sends troops to help the south
• Nov. 1, 1963 the South Vietnamese army staged a
  coup overthrow the government
• Assassinated Diem

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Conflict Continues

• President Lyndon B. Johnson takes over after the
  death of JFK
• Sec. of Defense Robert McNamara
• I dont think its worth fighting for, but I
  dont think we can get out.
• US ships attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin
• LBJ now has a good reason to fight
• US involvement begins to escalate gradually
  increase
• 180,000 in 65 to 500,000 in 67

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Combat in Vietnam

• Guerilla Warfare jungles, tunnels, trails
• Ho Chi Minh Trail main supply route
• The US began search and destroy missions
  find the enemy and wipe them out
• Backed by jets and helicopters
• Napalm liquid fire
• Agent Orange herbicide - chemical warfare
• North Vietnamese/Vietcong frustrated the US by
  constantly out numbering them
• Pres. Johnson Can we win this war?

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Ho Chi Minh Trail
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Napalm
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Napalm Victims
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Agent Orange
Victims
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Generation Gap

• A fight between young and old over the Vietnam
  War
• Counterculture a movement that rejected
  traditional values
• Long hair, torn blue jeans, Rock N Roll

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The Draft

• All men must register at 18 years old
• Some believed if you stop the draft you can stop
  the war
• Protests of burning draft cards
• Congress made it illegal
• Draft Dodgers
• Question Do you think the draft is a good idea?
  What problems could come up with soldiers who are
  drafted?

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Doves vs. Hawks

• Doves anti-war
• Hawks pro-war
• Is this war a mistake?
• Anti-War movement quickly grows

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Attack on American Ships

• Jan. 23, 1968 USS Pueblo, a US spy ship and its
  crew are captured
• This attack shocked America
• A US boat had been defeated

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The Tet Offensive

• Jan 31, 1968 (Vietnamese New Year - Tet)
• North Vietnamese/Vietcong targeted southern bases
  and major cities (Saigon)
• Vietcong drove deep into southern territory
• America launched a strong counter attack and was
  able to push the Vietcong north
• Major turning point in the war

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Response in America

• Americans began to lose faith
• The Govt developed a credibility gap fewer
  people trusted their statements
• Johnson ordered reevaluation of the war
• new step towards peace, Bombings stopped

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Nixons New Plan

• Nixon wins election of 1968
• Peace with Honor
• Draft Reform
• Vietnamization South Vietnamese army would take
  over more of the fighting
• More bombing in Cambodia and Laos
• Kept a secret to the American People
• Civil War

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Protests

• Kent State
• Student burned down a military building
• 17 students shot 4 killed, Reasons that are
  unclear
• Jackson state police shot and killed 2

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Peace is at Hand

• Removal of over 450,000 US troops
• 1st peace talks failed
• South Vietnamese president did not want Northern
  troops in his country
• Nixon reelected
• One final round of bombings
• Jan. 27, 1973 Peace Treaty signed

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North Vietnam Continues

• North Vietnamese army does not stop
• Saigon fell on April 20, 1975
• Communism takes over Vietnam

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Legacy of the War

• 1.4 million Vietnamese died
• 58,000 Americans died 300,000 wounded
• 2.7 million served
• No heros welcome
• Many MIAs (Missing in Action) never found
• Vietnam War Memorial

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Opinion

• Do you think that this war was worth fighting?
  Why or Why Not?
• If you were president what would you have done
  differently?
• In your opinion, what makes a war worth fighting?