VIETNAM WAR

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Ho Chi Minh
French Occupation and Defeat
VIETNAM WAR Background
Vietminh
Dien Bien Phu
Geneva Conference 1954 cease fire / division of
Vietnam at 17th parallel / elections set for 1956
/ elections never occurred
The U.S. did not support Vietnamese independence
because gt 1. Ho Chi Minh had ties to the
Communist Party 2. Domino Theory 3. Close
ally with France
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Affiliated with the Communist Party
Affiliated with the Communist Party
Ho Chi Minh
Led the fight for Vietnams independence
Organized the League for the Independence of
Vietnam VIETMINH
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Ho Chi Minh had close ties to the Communist Party.
Ho Chi Minh led the movement for Vietnams
independence.
Vietminh League for the Independence of Vietnam
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Ho Chi Minh organized the Vietminh.
VIETMINH League for the Independence of Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh close ties to Communist Party
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French Occupation and Defeat
Truman and Eisenhower supported France when they
attempted to reestablish control over Vietnam
following WWII.
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The Vietminh defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu
in 1954.
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After the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu,
the Geneva Conference divided Vietnam into North
and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel. Elections
were set for 1956. The elections never occurred.
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North Vietnam South Vietnam
17th Parallel
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The North Vietnamese forces, the Vietminh,
supplied and supported the Viet Cong in South
Vietnam. They built an elaborate tunnel system.
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The U.S. did not support Vietnam independence
because Ho had ties to the Communist Party.
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Communist Party
Ho Chi Minh
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The U.S. did not support Vietnam independence
because of the Domino Theory.
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The U. S. did not support Vietnam independence
because of close ties to the French.
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We will always have Paris.
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Support for the French under Truman and
Eisenhower Kennedy supported South Vietnam with
military advisors. CIA backed the overthrow of
the Diem government Diem and brother killed U.S.
involvement deepens
U.S. Involvement in Vietnam
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U.S. involvement began when Truman and Eisenhower
supportedFrench efforts to reestablish rule
over Vietnam after WWII.
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President Kennedy sent military advisors to
South Vietnam.
President Kennedy sent military advisors to
South Vietnam.
The Green Berets
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At first, the U.S. supported the Diem government.
Diem took harsh measures against Buddhists in
South Vietnam. His government was very corrupt
and unpopular in South Vietnam.
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Immolation of ThicQuang Duc
The Diem government was very unpopular. This
Buddhist monk was protesting Diems treatment of
Buddhists in South Vietnam.
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The CIA backed theoverthrow of the unpopular
Diem government.
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Diem and his brother were killed during the CIA
backed coup.
The situation in Vietnam worsened.
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Diem was killed during the coup. The CIA did not
expect him to be killed.
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Tonkin Gulf Resolution President Johnson asked
and received authorization for the use of
force. Unprovoked? The U.S. destroyer Maddox
U.S. Involvement in Vietnam
U.S. Involvement in Vietnam
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War Powers Act of 1973
Tonkin Gulf Resolution1963
Congress limited presidential power.
President receives war-making power.
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The torpedo missed.
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How was the war fought? How did the media play a
role? Describe the anti-war movement.
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Operation Rolling Thunder Ho Chi Minh Trail
- Agent Orange -
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OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER 800 tons of bombs per
day were dropped on North Vietnam.
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Operation Rolling Thunder massive bombing of
North Vietnam.
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North Vietnam targeted with about 800 tons of
bombs a day.
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OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER
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Ho Chi Minh Trail supplies from North Vietnam
were transported along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The
trail had hundreds of miles of tunnels. The North
Vietnamese placed factories and hospitals
underground. The thick jungle hid entrances and
booby traps were placed in the tunnels to keep
the enemy out.
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Ho Chi Minh Trail Used to transport supplies
to the Viet Cong in South Vietnam.
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Ho Chi Minh Trail
Jungle covered the tunnelsand trails used to
supply the Viet Cong with weapons.
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Some military personnel were designated tunnel
rats. Their mission was to enter the tunnels and
find the enemy or destroy the tunnel.
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AGENT ORANGE
Defoliant used to kill plants and food sources.
Destroy the ground cover
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SEARCH and DESTROY
The U.S. forces did not hold territory. They
would find the Viet Cong, kill them or capture
them, and then move to other areas. Most of the
time the Viet Cong returned to villages soon
after these missions were completed. Soldiers
became disillusioned with a war that seemed to
have no measurable signs of progress.
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Search and Destroy
Search and Destroy
Find the enemy. Kill / Capture / Clear the area
A failure the Viet Cong would return to the
area and frequently the Viet Cong received
support from the villagers.
U.S. forces could not tell friend from enemy. It
was hard to see any progress. The troops had low
morale.
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We had to destroy the village in order to save
it.
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Pacification villagers were removed from their
homes and their villages were burned.
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PACIFICATION
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THE BODY COUNT MEASURED SUCCESS. U.S. OFFICIALS
INFLATED THE BODY COUNT.U.S. OFFICIALS MISLED
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.A CREDIBILITY GAP WAS
CREATED. POPULAR OPINION TURNED AGAINST THE WAR.
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Troop morale was very low. Many soldiers and
marines could see no evidence of progress.
Support for the war in America was diminishing.
Drug use among soldiers and marines was rampant.
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The media reported news that did not fit with the
statements government officials were making.
CREDIBILITY GAP
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In 1966, General Westmoreland was Time Magazines
Man of the Year.
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WESTMORELAND
General Westmoreland was the commander in charge
of the Vietnam War. (Military Assistance Command)
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General Westmoreland said in a news conference
that the U.S. had reached a new phase and he
could see light at the end of the tunnel.
1968
1968
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Westmoreland saw light at the end of the tunnel.
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The Pentagon Papers
Daniel Ellsberg, a Pentagon official, leaked
secret government documents to the New York Times
that revealed how government officials had misled
the American public.
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DANIEL ELLSBERG
New York Times
The Pentagon Papers
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The Ohio National Guard opened fire on student
protesters. Four students were killed. Nine
students were wounded.
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Millions of students went on strike in protest of
the shootings. The country became more polarized.
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Kent State University is in Ohio.
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Two students were killed and 12 wounded at
Jackson Stateduring an antiwar protest. Some of
the students who were wounded were not part of
the protest.
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The following slides are some of the most
memorable photographs and imagery of the Vietnam
Era.
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My Lai Massacre March 1968
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Execution of Viet Cong on a street in Saigon. The
executioner was a member of the U.S. backed South
Vietnamese Army.
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Execution of Viet Cong on a street in Saigon
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Immolation of ThicQuang Duc
The Diem government was very unpopular. This
Buddhist monk was protesting Diems treatment of
Buddhists in South Vietnam.
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Children burned by napalm (June 1972).
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Jane Fonda went to North Vietnam and made a radio
broadcast that was very critical of the U.S.
governments actions in Vietnam.
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Jane Fonda in North Vietnam.
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Jane Fonda (Hanoi Jane) smiling with NVA gun crew.
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Last Helicopter Leaving The Roof of the U.S.
Embassy in Saigon (1975).
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U.S. Involvement in Vietnam
Escalation Draft
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U.S. Involvement in Vietnam
Impact of the Draft (713) Who served? Who
received deferments? Who served in the most
dangerous positions? The Draft and Public
Opinion
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Morale (715) Credibility Gap
(717) Pentagon Papers (Daniel Ellsberg) (725)
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U.S. Involvement in Vietnam
Impact of the Draft (713) Who served? Who
received deferments? Who served in the most
dangerous positions? The Draft and Public
Opinion
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The SDS drew inspiration from SNCC.
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The Students for a Democratic Society drew its
inspiration from another student activist group,
the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
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All men are created equal.
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All men are created equal.
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All men are created equal.
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All men are created equal.
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Students for a Democratic Society
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
First
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The Student NonviolentCoordinating Committee was
a student organization that worked to achieve
racial equality.
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The Students for a Democratic Society protested
the Vietnam War.
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The Port Huron Statement discussed the
contradiction between American ideals and the
reality of severe discrimination that was common
in the South. The Port Huron Statement
questioned American foreign policy during the
Cold War and was critical of the Cold War status
quo.