THE VIETNAM WAR Appleby, Joyce, Ph.D, et al. The American Vision: Modern Times. Columbus, OH: McGraw Hill, Print. r 15:1 Bell Work NEXT STOP IS VIETNAM FOCUS QUESTION WHAT CREATED THE VIETNAM CONFLICT AND HOW DID AMERICA BECOME INVOLVED? SEEKING INDEPENDENCE Indochina was under French Colonial Rule since the 1800s. In 1940, the Japanese invaded Vietnam to expand their empire. HO CHI MINH: Leader of Vietnamese Nationalist movement (Vietminh) who worked to overthrow Japanese rule initially, and then the French. AMERICAN INVOLVMENT When Japan surrenders in WWII, France retakes control of their territories in Southeast Asia. The Vietminh begin resisting French rule. As fighting escalated, the French turned to the U.S. for help AMERICAN INVOLVMENT Despite opposing colonialism, President Truman decides to help for two reasons: 1.Fall of China to Communism 2.Outbreak of Korean War Truman wanted to contain the spread of Communism throughout Asia DOMINO THEORY DOMINO THEORY: President Eisenhowers belief that if Vietnam fell to Communists, the rest of Southeast Asia would follow. You have one row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one Dwight D. Eisenhower FRANCE BAILS OUT In a last ditch attempt to retake control, French troops engage the Vietminh at DIEN BIEN PHU to cut off supplies. Resulting in devastating losses for France, they decide to make peace and withdraw. FRANCE BAILS OUT GENEVA ACCORDS: Negotiations in 1954 to end the fighting between France and the Vietminh that resulted in a division of Vietnam at the 17 th parallel. Vietminh Communists in North Pro-Western regime in South led by NGO DINH DIEM U.S. ESCALATION IN VIETNAM With a failed attempt at a unifying election, Ho Chi Minh creates a guerilla army of South Vietnamese Communists known as the VIETCONG to terrorize the South. The Vietcong grew powerful because many opposed Diehm Thousands of government officials in the south were assassinated Diehm began looking more and more to the United States for help Kennedy, wanting to appear tough on communism increased American presence from 2,000 in 1961 to 15,000 by 1963 VIETCONG TACTICS OVERTHROW OF DIEM Growing unpopular due to his discrimination of Buddhists, Diem (a Catholic) is overthrown in a military coup on November 1, Government of South Vietnam grew weak and unstable In protest of Diems discrimination, many Buddhist monks set themselves on fire in protest REVIEW QUESTION #1 The Vietminh formed initially in Vietnam to: A. create a Communist government B. create a pro-Western government C. win independence from France D. win independence from Japan REVIEW QUESTION #2 Peace agreement that divided Vietnam along the 17 th parallel A. Geneva Accords B. Treaty of Paris C. Treaty of Versailles D. Geneva Treaty REVIEW QUESTION #3 Guerrilla group in South Vietnam with loyalties to Ho Chi Minh A. Vietminh B. Vietcong C. French Foreign Legion D. Green Berets FOCUS QUESTION WHAT CREATED THE VIETNAM CONFLICT AND HOW DID AMERICA BECOME INVOLVED? FORTUNATE SON FOCUS QUESTION HOW DID THE VIETNAM WAR LEAD TO A STALEMATE & WHY DOES THE U.S. CONTINUE INVOLVMENT DESPITE A GROWING ANTI- WAR SENTIMENT? JOHNSON TAKES CHARGE Shortly after the overthrow of South Vietnamese President Diem, JFK is assassinated and Lyndon Johnson inherits a conflict spiraling out of control. Upon taking office, Johnson vowed: the battle against communism, must be joined with strength and determination Should the President have the authority to send troops wherever/whenever he feels it necessary? JOHNSON TAKES CHARGE Article 1 Section II of the Constitution grants Congress the ability to declare war but Article 2 Section II makes the President the Commander in Chief of all military forces. Should the President have the authority to send troops wherever or whenever he feels it necessary? JOHNSON TAKES CHARGE In a nearly unanimous vote (only two opposed), Congress passes the: GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION: Congressional authority given to President Johnson to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the U.S. Congress had in essence, handed over power to levy war to the President. Vietnam is not a region of significant military-industrial importance -GEORGE KENNAN A STALEMATE ENSUES Search & Destroy missions were carried out to locate, destroy, and/or cutoff supply lines. NAPALM: a jellied gasoline that explodes on contact AGENT ORANGE: a chemical that strips leaves from trees The Vietcong used guerilla tactics, hid in the dense jungles, or simply blended in with the local population. The Vietcong hoped to defeat the Americans by fighting a war of attrition. Troops grew increasingly frustrated at the inability to locate and destroy the enemy. A STALEMATE ENSUES HO CHI MINH TRAIL: Military supply line from North Vietnam to South Vietnam that passed through Laos and Cambodia Johnson refused to attack the supply line because it passed through neutral countries. ANTIWAR MOVEMENT CREDIBILITY GAP: contrasting reports from the media and General WILLIAM WESTMORELAND led the American public to lose confidence in the President. As the war drag on and casualties increased, many Americans began to protest against the war. Rising violence and conflict over the war forces Johnson to decide not to run for a second term. ANTIWAR MOVEMENT People who opposed the war did so for a variety of reasons 1. Some saw it as a Civil War that the U.S. had no business interfering in. 2. Others viewed South Vietnam as a corrupt dictatorship and believed that defending it was immoral and unjust. ANTIWAR MOVEMENT TEACH-IN: form of protest begun at the University of Michigan and grew to a national event that included over 100,000 demonstrators in May, In May 1965, 122 colleges held a National Teach-In by radio for more than 100,000 antiwar demonstrators!! ANTIWAR MOVEMENT Over 1.7 million were drafted in Vietnam and draftees made up 62% of battle deaths. A disproportionate number of draftees were minorities and those from low-income backgrounds While only comprising 13% of troops, African Americans accounted for 20% of deaths. ANTIWAR MOVEMENT Facing criticism over economic inequality, the draft board introduced a lottery system and college deferments were no longer allowed. Anger about the draft also fueled discussions about the voting age. In 1971, the voting age was lowered to 18 with the passing of the 26 th amendment. ANTIWAR MOVEMENT HAWKS: those who believed the U.S. should stay and fight in Vietnam DOVES: those who wanted to withdraw from Vietnam A poll taken in early 1965 showed that 66% of Americans favored the war. By 1968, approval of the war had dropped to 26%. REVIEW QUESTION #1 After the TET OFFENSIVE, the mainstream media began to: A. appeal to Americans to support the war effort B. give less air time to antiwar protestors C. give more air time to antiwar protestors D. openly criticize the war effort REVIEW QUESTION #2 Why does Johnson not run for president in 1968? A. loss of credibility and growing divisiveness B. he thinks he will lose to Robert Kennedy C. health problems D. term limits prohibit him REVIEW QUESTION #3 Why was 1968 a year of turmoil? A. high casualties in Vietnam B. assassination of MLK C. assassination of RFK D. Johnson drops out of the election E. All of the above FOCUS QUESTION HOW DID THE VIETNAM WAR LEAD TO A STALEMATE & WHY DOES THE U.S. CONTINUE INVOLVMENT DESPITE A GROWING ANTI- WAR SENTIMENT? HEY HEY LBJ! LETTER FROM LBJ FOCUS QUESTION HOW DID THE WAR END AND HOW DID IT AFFECT AMERICANS? TET OFFENSIVE TET OFFENSIVE: massive surprise attack by NVA and Vietcong during a Tet Holiday cease-fire in 1968 A month of fighting led to heavy losses by the enemy Johnson called it a complete failure The NVA, however, had scored a major political victory American media now openly criticized the war effort. 1968 ELECTION With the war growing increasingly unpopular and his credibility all but gone, the Democratic Party begins to look for another candidate to nominate for president in 1968 to run against Republican candidate Richard Nixon. Senator Robert Kennedy enters the race Lyndon Johnson decides not to run JOHNSONS OUT 1968: A YEAR OF TURMOIL In addition to the stalemate in Vietnam and continued protests over the war, 1968 was a turbulent year. April: Dr. MLK Jr. Killed June: Robert Kennedy killed 1968 ELECTION RESULTS NIXON TAKES ON VIETNAM HENRY KISSINGER: Special Assistant to President for national security affairs, assigned to negotiate an end of the war with North Vietnam. LINKAGE: Idea proposed by Kissinger that we needed to improve relations with China and Soviet Union to end the war in Vietnam. Shortly after taking office, Nixon works to end the war in Vietnam through any means necessary. NIXON TAKES ON VIETNAM VIETNAMIZATION: Nixon's strategy to reduce & withdraw U.S. troops while the South Vietnamese assumed more control. In addition to secretly negotiating an end to the war, Nixon begins to withdraw American troops. TURMOIL AT HOME CONTINUES MY LAI MASSACRE: In late 1969, Americans learned that an American platoon under the command of William Calley systematically massacred unarmed civilians in the hamlet of My Lai. Despite the gradual removal of troops, Americans were growing more impatient as news of continued violence plays out on the airwaves that would profoundly shock the American people. Lt. Calley was sentenced to life for the murder of 109 civilians. He would serve less than 4 years. TURMOIL AT HOME CONTINUES INVASION OF CAMBODIA: In April of 1970, Nixon ordered the destruction of Vietcong military bases in neutral Cambodia Many saw this as an escalation of the war and set off many protests. Despite the gradual removal of troops, the American people were growing more impatient as new of continued violence plays out on the airwaves. TURMOIL AT HOME CONTINUES KENT STATE SHOOTING: Ohio National Guardsmen fired (without orders) on unarmed demonstrators killing 4 and wounding 9 students. The shooting of innocent protestors further escalated the anti-war movement One of the many protests of the Invasion of Cambodia took place at Kent State University in Ohio. NEIL YOUNG OHIO TURMOIL AT HOME CONTINUES PENTAGON PAPERS: leaked government documents that officials within Johnsons administration privately questioned the war while publicly defending it. Also contained secret details of decisions to escalate the war without the consent of Congress. A Credibility Gap existed during the Johnson administration, but a leak in 1971 would prove the government had not been honest with the American people. DISCUSSION: Does the government have the right to suppress information from the press as a matter of national security? THE U.S. WITHDRAWS Within a few weeks of being re-elected peace talks break down after South Vietnams President Nguyen Van Thieu refuses to agree to any plan that left North Vietnamese troops in the South. In April 1972 (just months before the next election), Secretary of State Henry Kissinger emerged from peace talks stating peace is at hand. THE U.S. WITHDRAWS CHRISTMAS BOMBINGS: American B-52s dropped thousands of tons of bombs on North Vietnam for 11 straight days. Thieu finally agreed to allowing North Vietnamese troops in the South and ending the war The last U.S. combat troops leave Vietnam on March To force the North to resume negotiations, Nixon orders the most destructive bombing campaign of the entire war. After 8 years (the longest war in American History) the nation ended its direct involvement with Vietnam. SOUTH VIETNAM FALLS In March 1975 the North Vietnamese army launched a full-scale invasion of the South. President Ford asked Congress for funds to aid the South Vietnamese but Congress refused. On April 30, the North Vietnamese captured Saigon (the capital) and renamed it Ho Chi Minh City. Two years after the United States pulled its troops out of Vietnam, the peace agreement collapsed. The U.S. Embassy is evacuated after Saigon falls to North Vietnam. VIETNAM TODAY Vietnam is still controlled by a Communist Government Relations with the U.S. have normalized and we are strong economic partners. Vietnam works closely with the U.S. to identify soldiers MIA so they may be returned to U.S. soil. BELL WORK HOW DOES MUSIC REFLECT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR CULTURE? IS MUSIC A PRIMARY SOURCE? Eve of Destruction THE LEGACY OF VIETNAM 58,000 American Deaths ( 1 million Vietnamese) 300,000 Injured Still 1,655 soldiers considered MIA (Missing in Action). U.S. Government still works to locate, identify, and return the remains of U.S. servicemen to the states. THE LEGACY OF VIETNAM One out of every 10 soldiers who served in Vietnam was a casualty. Amputations or crippling wounds were 300% higher than in WWII. 75,000 Vietnam Veterans re severely disabled. The mobility of the helicopter allowed injured soldiers to be quickly evacuated from combat zones. THE LEGACY OF VIETNAM Many veterans returned feeling defeated and faced a wide range of problems including homelessness, PTSD, and medical conditions from exposure to Agent Orange THE LEGACY OF VIETNAM HOMELESSNESS It is estimated that nearly 50,000 Vietnam Veterans are homeless. DISCUSSION: Why do you think many soldiers arent able or maybe willing to participate in mainstream society? THE LEGACY OF VIETNAM PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) PTSD is a mental health problem that can occur after a traumatic event like war, assault, or disaster. (Va.gov) DISCUSSION: Did WWII Veterans face PTSD?? THE LEGACY OF VIETNAM AGENT ORANGE has been linked to thousands of cases of birth defects and cancer among veterans. Nearly 1 million Vietnamese were killed from exposure or famine as a result of AGENT ORANGE and thousands more would be born with defects. THE LEGACY OF VIETNAM WAR POWERS ACT: To reestablish limits on executive power, Congress requires the President to inform within 48 hours of any commitment of troops and to withdraw them in days unless Congress explicitly approves. REVIEW QUESTION #1 What countries did Nixon feel we needed to improve relations with in order to end the war in Vietnam? A. Soviet Union and North Korea B. China and North Vietnam C. China and the Soviet Union D. Japan and Soviet Union REVIEW QUESTION #2 What happened at My Lai? A. 4 students were shot by National Guardsmen B. peace talks unify North and South Vietnam C. Nixons Christmas bombings D. U.S. soldiers massacred innocent civilians REVIEW QUESTION #3 How does Congress attempt to scale back the power of the President in periods of war? A. War Powers Act B. 26 th Amendment C. impeached President Nixon D. released the Pentagon Papers to the NY Times FOCUS QUESTION HOW DID THE WAR END AND HOW DID IT AFFECT AMERICANS?