The Vietnam War1955 - 1975

Chapter 31

Indochina - Background French Colony WWII leads to nationalist

movements Ho Chi Minh organizes

Vietminh French reassert control w/ US

support (1946-1954) Dien Bien Phu – May 7, 1954

Indochina - Background Geneva Accords

Divides Vietnam at 17th parallel Provides for elections in 2 years

French pull out Ho Chi Minh controls the

North Ngo Dinh Diem controls the

South

Ho Chi MinhMay 19, 1890 – Sept 2, 1969

Leader of the Vietnamese nationalist movement

Ngo Dinh Diem Noble Family Roman Catholic Dictatorial Powers Supported by US until 1963 Out of touch with the

Vietnamese People Assassinated in ’63

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Self-immolation by a Buddhist MonkSelf-immolation by a Buddhist Monk

US Involvement - Background Anti-communist atmosphere

Events of late 1940s and 1950s

China, Korean War, Soviet atom bomb, McCarthyism, Alger Hiss, etc.

Made alternative vision/solutions difficult

US Involvement - Background

Kennedy YearsTest of US resolve/credibility

Test of “flexible response”

Test of Kennedy’s youth/inexperience

JFK – Increased US Involvement Abandon Ngo or deepen US

involvement? Increased US military advisors from 652 to 16,000

strengthen S. Vietnam army with US technology

pressure Ngo into making necessary reforms.

   

JFK – Increased US Involvement

Fall of Ngo Dinh Diem Nov.1, 1963, a coup overthrows and kills Ngo

Three weeks later JFK is assassinated.

The Vietnam War

Part II: US Involvement and

Escalation

Johnson’s War

"I’m not going to be the president who saw SE Asia go the way China

went."

Tonkin Gulf – Aug. 4, 1964

N. Vietnamese fire on US ships

Tonkin Gulf Resolution 414/0 – House 88/2 – Senate “all necessary measures”

Tokin Gulf Resolution

Not a declaration of war Granted broad military

powers 1965 first US combat troops

arrive 1967 – 500,000 US troops

Challenges US Goal – Get the North to stop

fighting -- War of attrition Highly motivated enemy Guerrilla tactics Unclear enemy Sinking morale

The Ground War 1965-1968The Ground War 1965-1968

No territorial goalsNo territorial goals Body counts on TV every night Body counts on TV every night

(first (first “living room” war“living room” war))

Viet Cong supplies over the Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

Who Is the Enemy?Who Is the Enemy?

VietcongVietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at night.Farmers by day; guerillas at night. Very patient people willing to Very patient people willing to

accept many casualties.accept many casualties.

The US grosslyThe US grossly underestimated underestimated their resolve and their their resolve and their resourcefulness.resourcefulness.

The guerilla wins if he does not The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win.if it does not win. -- Mao Mao ZedongZedong

If we have to fight, weIf we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be end it will be youyou who tires of who tires of it. it.

Ho Chi Ho Chi Minh:Minh:

Who Is the Enemy?Who Is the Enemy?

The Soldiers

A working-class war Minorities Lower income “Manipulatable” draft

U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968

U.S. Troops

Opposition – Protest to Resistance

Pre-existing protest atmosphere

Student led movement Draft resistance Hawks and Doves Silent Majority Kent State – May 4, 1970

Anti-WarDemonstrations

Columbia UniversityColumbia University19671967

Hell no, we won’t Hell no, we won’t go!go!

Democratic Democratic Convention in Convention in Chicago, 1968Chicago, 1968

Student Student Protestors Protestors

at Univ. of CA at Univ. of CA in Berkeley, 1968in Berkeley, 1968

Anti-War Demonstrations

Anti-War Demonstrations

Anti-War Demonstrations

Anti-War Demonstrations

May 4, May 4, 19701970

4 students 4 students shot dead.shot dead.

11 11 students students woundedwounded

Kent State UniversityKent State University

Jackson StateJackson StateUniversityUniversity

May 10, 1970May 10, 1970

2 dead; 12 2 dead; 12 woundedwounded

Tet Offensive – January 30, 1968

Surprise attack Lasted a month “Lost” Walter Cronkite Greatly shook American

resolve

My Lai Massacre 1968

Search and destroy mission None found/no enemy fire

received 500 Killed

The Ceasefire, 1973The Ceasefire, 1973

Conditions:Conditions:1.1.U.S. to remove all troopsU.S. to remove all troops2.2.North Vietnam could leave North Vietnam could leave

troops already in S.V.troops already in S.V.3.3.North Vietnam would resume North Vietnam would resume

warwar4.4.No provision for POWs or No provision for POWs or

MIAsMIAs Last American troops left South Last American troops left South

Vietnam on March 29, 1973Vietnam on March 29, 1973 1975: North Vietnam defeats South 1975: North Vietnam defeats South

VietnamVietnam Saigon renamed Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City

The CostsThe Costs

1.1. 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed3,000,000 Vietnamese killed2.2. 58,000 Americans killed; 58,000 Americans killed;

300,000 wounded300,000 wounded3.3. Under-funding of Great Society Under-funding of Great Society

programsprograms4.4. $150 Billion in U.S. spending$150 Billion in U.S. spending5.5. U.S. morale, self-confidence, U.S. morale, self-confidence,

trust of government, decimatedtrust of government, decimated

2,583 American 2,583 American POWs / MIAsPOWs / MIAs

still unaccounted for still unaccounted for today.today.

The Vietnam Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Memorial to US Servicemen in

Vietnam

Memorial to US Servicemen in

Vietnam

58,00058,00058,00058,000

Wars Legacy

“Credibility Gap” War Powers Act

48 hours notice 90 Days

26th Amendment – 18 year olds vote

Lessons for FutureAmerican Presidents

Lessons for FutureAmerican Presidents

1.1. Wars must be of short duration.Wars must be of short duration.2.2. Wars must yield few American Wars must yield few American

casualties.casualties.3.3. Restrict media access to Restrict media access to

battlefields.battlefields.4.4. Develop and maintain Congressional Develop and maintain Congressional

and public support.and public support.5.5. Set clear, winnable goals.Set clear, winnable goals.6.6. Set deadline for troop withdrawals.Set deadline for troop withdrawals.