ap vietnam war

VIETNAM WAR1954-1975

MOVING TOWARDS CONFLICT

Vietnam under foreign rule most of its history, by France, then Japan

1945 – After WWII, Vietnam declares independence, led by Ho Chi Minh

French Indochina

consisted of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

1945 (CONT.)

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese leader, leads revolution

U.S. opposed Ho Chi Minh because he was

ccommunist US will support??? France in

reclaiming

1954 - GENEVA ACCORDS ENDS FRENCH CONTROL

Divided Vietnam in half until an election in 1956 North- Communist South – Democratic

1956, South Vietnamese President Diem, refused to hold election

President Ho Chi Minh,

Democratic Republic of Viet Nam

President Ngo Dinh

DiemRepublic of Viet Nam

belief that if South Vietnam fell to communism, others will fall.

main goal to stop spread of communism

1954 US Aid - “Domino Theory”

ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH VIETNAM

U.S. develops, trains ARVN (South Vietnam)

VIET CONG CREATED TO HELP UNIFY VIETNAM

GUERRILLA WARFARE INCREASES

no front lines, Viet Cong blend in with population

VC = Viet Cong, Charlie, Victor Charles

eventually North Vietnamese Army joins the war effort

DIEM VERY UNPOPULAR WITH PEOPLE

Eventually overthrown, executed

1960-1963 President Kennedy sends military advisors

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U.S. troop strength in Vietnam: 1960-1972

The U.S. military set up schools and clinics in an attempt to win the “hearts

and minds” of the South Vietnamese people.

LBJ stated in the 1964 presidential campaign that he was “not going to send American boys nine or ten thousand miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves.”

HO CHI MINH TRAIL

major supply, reinforcement route from N. Vietnam to S. Vietnam

1000’s of jungle trails through Laos, Cambodia

GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION-1964

result of North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacking U.S. destroyers

Gave the President strong war powers (usually reserved for Congress)

1965 First U.S. combat troops arrive begin “search and destroy” missions

1966 - JOHNSON ESCALATES WAR

Dramatically increases number of boots on the ground

U.S. BEGINS USE OF AGENT ORANGE

chemical that kills vegetation Farmlands,

forests destroyed

Beginning in 1965 other nations sent troops to aid the U.S. military in Vietnam:

Australia

Canada

New Zealand

Philippines

South Korea

U.S. CONFIDENT OF QUICK VICTORY

had support of American people at first

as war dragged on support decreased

credibility gap begins in 1966 - can we believe what government tells us?

VIET CONG TUNNELS

The VC used underground tunnel

complexes to hide from U.S. firepower.

Using smoke grenades to find tunnels

“Tunnel rat” prepares to enter Viet

Cong tunnel

Viet Cong pulled from

tunnel

Tunnels Clip

BOOBY TRAPS

PUNJI PITS

GRENADE IN A CAN

PORCUPINE

MALAYAN WHIP

DEADFALL

Booby Traps Clip

also used napalm

jellied gasoline that explodes on contact (used in WW II, Korean War)

1968 - PIVOTAL YEAR

TET OFFENSIVE - JAN. 30, 1968

Vietnamese New Year holiday

communists forces launch massive attacks all over South Vietnam

militarily it was a disaster for communists

major political victory for communists shocked

American people began to doubt

the war, political leaders

convinced the War was not winnable

turning point in war

US Embassy

Tet Offensive, cont.

A NATION DIVIDED

Anti-War movement grows

anti-war protests increased

led to bombing halt of North Vietnam

Which led to increased supplies, reinforcements on Ho Chi Minh Trail

Which led to increase in American casualties

caused LBJ to withdraw from 1968 Presidential Election

unrest towards the war grew on college campuses

by 1967 Americans were divided into 2 groups Hawks - supported LBJ and the

war Doves - wanted the war to end

immediately Students for a Democratic

Society (SDS) charged that corporations, large government had taken over America and the war

Examples of anti-war posters from the 1960’s

1968

LBJ withdraws from 1968 Presidential Election

NOVEMBER 1968

Nixon Wins

http://photographyinterviews.blogspot.com/2012/09/bob-peterson-old-school-pro-there-is_7.html

ROY BENAVIDEZ

From Cuero, TX Stepped on land mine

in Vietnam, recovers, returns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oUtJxE4sjs

Armed w/ only a knife, saves at least 8 men

Injured; thought dead Medal of Honor

MY LAI MASSACRE-1968 Nov. 1969 news breaks about My Lai U.S. Army troops massacred 200 Vietnamese

followed orders of Lt. William Calley

25 others were charged but only Calley went to jail

1969 saw some of the bloodiest fighting of the war. This led to massive anti-war

demonstrations and the announcement of a new policy.

Nixon visited Vietnam, 1969

NIXON LAUNCHS “VIETNAMIZATION” PROGRAM

End Vietnam War“Peace with honor”

gradual withdrawal of American troops replaced by South Vietnamese troops

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troops

YOUNG MEN AVOIDED THE DRAFT BY ENROLLING IN COLLEGE

SOME BURNED DRAFT CARDS IN PROTEST, LEFT FOR CANADA

DRAFT NUMBERS - HTTP://WWW.SSS.GOV/LOTTER8.HTM

THOUSANDS MARCHED ACROSS THE NATION TO PROTEST

CAMBODIA, 1970

Nixon sends troops to destroy communist sanctuaries

sparks college protests Felt Nixon was

escalating the war

students are killed by National Guard at Kent State and Jackson State

violence breaks out in cities, college campuses which actually hurt Anti-War movement

26TH AMENDMENT

Lowers voting age to 18 “Why be drafted if I can’t even vote?”

PENTAGON PAPERS, 1971

7000 word document released by Daniel Ellsberg, Defense Dept. worker

showed the Johnson Admin. was not honest with America

1973, CEASE FIRE ANNOUNCED

U.S. troops are now out of Vietnam

POW’s are freed

The wives welcomed home POWs at Camp Pendleton in California.

The POW and MIA (missing in action)

flag is meant to acknowledge the

veterans who were taken prisoner

during the war or did not return.

WAR POWERS ACT, 1973

new law which limits Presidents power to send troops into combat

President must inform Congress within 48 hours

cannot stay more than 90 days without Congressional approval

Nixon vetoes the Bill but Congress overrides it

1975, SOUTH VIETNAM COLLAPSES North Vietnam invades, no American

help this time

In 1975 South Vietnam,

Cambodia and Laos became communist

states.

1975 SAIGON FALLS

http://www.history.com/videos/saigon-falls#saigon-falls

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The human cost of the Vietnam war. U.S. Battle deaths 1960-1972

VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL

dedicated Nov. 1982

work began in March, 1982 after 3 years of fund raising

275,000 individuals, groups donated $8.4 million

No Federal funds were used

NATION WIDE CONTEST TO DESIGN THE MEMORIAL

Criteria - should be reflective and contemplative in character

make no political statement about the war

committee of 8 recognized artists, designers unanimously picked entry #1026 out of 1421 entries

58,235 NAMES151 MEDAL OF HONOR WINNERS’,16 CLERGY, 8 WOMEN (NURSES)

THREE PARTS TO THE MEMORIAL the Wall statue of 3 soldiers flag pole, where the flag flies 24 hrs a

day