the vietnam war dr. kevin b. witherspoon lander university
TRANSCRIPT
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The Vietnam War
Dr. Kevin B. Witherspoon
Lander University
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Vietnam* Chinese involvement French colony
ConditionsHo Chi Minh
World War II Japan
May 1941, VietminhThe August Revolution
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Vietnam* The Elephant and the Tiger
Vietminh strategy:1. Defensive2. Equilibrium3. Offensive
French failureU.S. involvementDomino theoryDien Bien Phu
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Vietnam* Geneva Accords
Cease-fireTemporary division1956 elections
N = Ho Chi Minh S = Ngo Dinh Diem 1960 National Liberation Front (Vietcong) Kennedy
“Flexible response”“Strategic Hamlet”Advisors from 900 to 16,000
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Vietnam* Johnson
BombingsHo Chi Minh TrailGulf of Tonkin“Operation Rolling Thunder”
Break supply linesCut off troopsDestroy morale
Ground troops1965: 184,0001966: 389,0001967: 463,0001968: 495,0001969: 541,000
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Vietnam* Search and destroy Problems
The enemyU.S. disciplineLocate the enemyTunnels ConditionsFrustrationMorale on the home frontHow aggressive?No political victoryFail to identify objectivePolitical objectivesMeasure success?
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Vietnam* Three stages:InfrastructureSearch and destroyVietnamization
Mistakes Bombing in the South Operation Ranch Hand Morale
HydrationFoot problemsPurpose
N. Vietnam objective
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Into the quagmireHome front, opposition“Credibility gap”Discouraging newsPOWsTechnowar:
Loud Helicopters Radio traffic Weapons for the enemy “free-fire” zones Pacification efforts
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Vietnam* Body counts
Risky missionsScoreboardsCounting bodiesRules of combatDesensitizedFalsified reports
Open Arms program
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Vietnam* Tet Offensive, 1968
Khe SanhLosing supportLBJ
NixonAfter Tet“Vietnamization”Phoenix programOperation Wandering SoulPropaganda
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The Home FrontAnti-war movement
Tet VVAW - Vietnam Veterans
Against the War 1969 March on Washington My Lai 1970 Kent State massacre 1971 Pentagon Papers
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Getting outPeace talks, and more war1972 Christmas bombings1973 Agreement1973 War Powers Resolution
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Vietnam WarCosts of the war:
2 million Vietnamese dead 58,000 U.S. dead U.S. reputation
Why did U.S. fail? On their “home turf” Guerilla warfare Land war in Asia Not enough support from S Vietnam Protest on the home front
Legacies of the War