Vietnam Conflict

APUSH 10.2Vietnam ConflictBackgroundFormer French Colony as part of IndochinaVietnam, Laos, CambodiaAfter World War II, they pushed for IndependenceFrench resist. (lose battle at Dien Bien Phu)Communist leader Ho Chi Minh leads independence movementGeneva Convention in 1954 divides country.North led by Ho Chi Minh and CommunistSouth led by Ngo Dihn Diem and Anti-CommunistWho do you think the U.S. supported?

Early Aid1955-1961 U.S. gives over $1 Billion aid to South VietnamEisenhower makes analogy which becomes the Domino TheorySEATO 1954 Mutual defense treaty (SouthEast Asia Treaty Organization)Buildup of U.S. military in South Vietnam continues with IKE, JFK, LBJThere as military advisersDiems govt corrupt and unpopularBuddhists monks protest with fire (Diem supported upper-class Catholics)JKF (secretly) approves Diems assassination and overthrow

The big one to remember1964 naval incident in Gulf of TonkinLBJ uses it to ask Congress for combat forcesVote House 416 to 0, Senate 88 to 2 give him powerTonkin Gulf ResolutionGave President all necessary measures to protect U.S. interests in VietnamMost Americans supported this resolution at the time.

Escalation of WarIn 1965, U.S. expanded operations to save Saigon governmentOperation Rolling Thunder sustained bombing of North VietnamIn April, ground troops used for first timeGen. William Westmoreland commander, but limited war Why?War of Attrition plan U.S. had to wear down enemySearch and destroy missionsUse of Napalm and Agent OrangeHamlet ProgramMeant to help against VietcongThese led to more alienation of peasants

1968Tet Offensive (Jan/Feb)Surprise attack by the Vietcong (NLF)Officially a U.S. victory, but battle changes view of many AmericansMyLai massacre over 300 villagers killed.Lt. William Calley later convictedQuagmireBody Count

Hawks and DovesHawks supporters of the war (against communism)Doves viewed the war as a civil warSome opposed due to cost of money and livesGreatest opposition on college campuses.What areas were more likely to support war?North/South, East/West, Rural/UrbanAfter Tet, more opposed the war.TV anchor Walter Cronkites editorialLBJ declines running in 1968 election

Nixon takes over1968 Tet, LBJ declines, MLK and RFK assassinationsNixons Peace with Honor and Law and Order campaign wins1969 Pullout of ground troops plan Vietnamization1970 Invasion/air bombing of Cambodia1971 US Air Force assists in unsuccessful invasion of Laos1972 increase in air bombings in Cambodia and Vietnam North Vietnam launches Easter Invasion Christmas bombing of N.V. (U.S. loses 15 B-52s)

End of the (former) Longest War1973 Paris AccordsU.S. agrees to withdraw last of troopsCeasefire in Vietnam with promise of free electionsBut civil war actually continues in South VietnamU.S. leaves after losing $118 billion and over 58,000 soldiers1975 (April) Fall of Saigon North Vietnam takes overThen-president Ford asks Congress to allow military aid to S.V., but deniedU.S. helps evacuate over 150,000 but not allLow point of American prestige overseas and confidence at home

Credibility Gap?1971 Daniel Ellsberg releases the Pentagon PapersU.S. vs. NY Times ruled paper had right to publish themPentagon Papers showed that the war was to protect American prestige and that the public had been mislead.War Powers Act passed in 1973 would restrict future engagements.President must inform Congress within 48 hoursIs it Constitutional?

Other misc. Vietnam to knowRobert McNamara Secretary of DefenseHenry Kissinger Nixons Foreign Advisor / Sec. of State1st televised war Showed credibility gap of government1968 Democrat Primaries and Convention

SoldiersAverage age much lower than WWIIMinorities and poor over represented20% of combat soldiers African American (10% of population)Late in war, problems with desertion, drugs, insubordination, and crimes becomes a problemSoldiers faced bitter homecomingOver 55,000 killed, over 300,000 wounded, PTSDMIAs / POWs

Protests in CollegesSDS Student for Democrat SocietyTom Hayden LeaderPort Huron statement declaration of beliefsTeach-ins 1970 CIA intensifies surveillance of antiwar groupsKent State 1970, National Guard fire upon student protesters4 killed, 9 woundedTen days later 2 students killed at Jackson State

Draft DodgersRich mans warpoor mans fightWays to legal get out:MedicalCollegeNational GuardMove to another precinctOther ways:Sympathic DoctorsCanada/Sweden

Reasons for oppositionCivil WarSouth Vietnam government oppressiveU.S. is not the worlds policeWar is immoralProblems at home

Reflection QuestionsIn what ways is the Vietnam Conflict much like the American Revolutionary War?How do the following represent the attitudes about Vietnam: Tonkin Gulf Resolution, Tet, and War Powers Act?Why did the United States involved in Indochina and was it successful?What affected the attitudes of people in the United States about the military conflict?

Linkshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L7oMsUs2rg review videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnnLrmboOYE music and Vietnamhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuUBCF3KKxc Country Joe