Vietnam War, Vietnam War, 1940s - 19751940s - 1975

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

To the French in To the French in 1946, Ho said, 1946, Ho said, ““You You can kill 10 of my men can kill 10 of my men for every one I kill of for every one I kill of yours, yet even at yours, yet even at those odds, you will those odds, you will lose and I will win.lose and I will win.””

First attempted to get First attempted to get Vietnam released Vietnam released from French rule at from French rule at the 1919 League of the 1919 League of Nations conferenceNations conference

Background to the conflictBackground to the conflict

Vietnam was a French colonyVietnam was a French colony The The Viet MinhViet Minh started an independence started an independence

movement in the early 1940s & turned to movement in the early 1940s & turned to communism in the early 1950scommunism in the early 1950s

Viet MinhViet Minh fought a guerrilla war, 1945-54 fought a guerrilla war, 1945-54 Viet MinhViet Minh won decisively at Dien Bien Phu won decisively at Dien Bien Phu

Terms of the peace treaty split Vietnam at Terms of the peace treaty split Vietnam at the 17th parallelthe 17th parallel Free elections were to have occurred in 1956Free elections were to have occurred in 1956

Ho Chi Minh, a pro-Communist leader in Vietnam, led a group called the Vietminh against French control of his nation before, during, and after World War II.

North v. South VietnamNorth v. South Vietnam

North = communistNorth = communist

Received support from Received support from China and the USSRChina and the USSR

Government led by Ho Government led by Ho Chi Minh (Uncle Ho)Chi Minh (Uncle Ho)

South = semi-democratic South = semi-democratic

Supported by USASupported by USA

Government led by Diem Government led by Diem (through 1963)(through 1963)

Early American involvementEarly American involvement

US involvement was based on the US involvement was based on the domino theorydomino theory

According to President Eisenhower’s According to President Eisenhower’s domino domino theorytheory, if one Southeast Asian nation fell to , if one Southeast Asian nation fell to communism, others would soon follow.communism, others would soon follow.

JFK said: JFK said: ““If we withdrew from Vietnam, the If we withdrew from Vietnam, the communists would control Vietnam. Pretty communists would control Vietnam. Pretty soon, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos would soon, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos would fall to communism.fall to communism.””

Sec of Defense McNamaraSec of Defense McNamara

Suggested a more Suggested a more proactive position proactive position regarding Vietnamregarding Vietnam

Gulf of Tonkin incident, 1964Gulf of Tonkin incident, 1964

The August 2nd & 4th The August 2nd & 4th incidentsincidents

USS Turner JoyUSS Turner Joy and and the the USS MaddoxUSS Maddox are are allegedly fired upon allegedly fired upon by a North by a North Vietnamese torpedo Vietnamese torpedo boatboat

LBJ makes the LBJ makes the announcement of Tonkin announcement of Tonkin

incidentincident

Congressional VoteCongressional Vote

House of House of Representatives Representatives voted unanimously for voted unanimously for the resolutionthe resolution

Senate vote was 98 Senate vote was 98 for and 2 againstfor and 2 against

Expanding Presidential PowerExpanding Presidential Power

The Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionThe Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

In August 1964, Johnson announced that North Vietnamese torpedo boats had attacked American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. However, some people doubted that this incident had happened and believed it was only an excuse for further U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

What Inspired the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, passed by Congress in 1964, regarded peace and security in Southeast Asia as vital to American national interest, and it gave the President additional powers to assist any Southeast Asian country “requesting assistance in defense of its freedoms.”

What Was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

Under the resolution, the President had authority to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.” The resolution, therefore, changed the balance of power between Congress and the President.

What Additional Powers Did It Give the President?

Vietnam War is escalatedVietnam War is escalated Feb 1965: Operation Feb 1965: Operation

Rolling Thunder was Rolling Thunder was commencedcommenced Round the clock Round the clock

bombing of North bombing of North VietnamVietnam

Battlefield ConditionsBattlefield ConditionsAmerican TroopsAmerican Troops Had superior weaponsHad superior weapons Were unprepared for Were unprepared for

heat, terrain, or guerrilla heat, terrain, or guerrilla tacticstactics

Lacked support of most Lacked support of most South VietnameseSouth Vietnamese

Most never saw the Most never saw the enemy but constantly enemy but constantly faced the possibility of faced the possibility of sudden danger.sudden danger.

Viet Cong TroopsViet Cong Troops Fought as guerrillas; Fought as guerrillas;

avoided head-on clashesavoided head-on clashes Were familiar with Were familiar with

terrain; had support of terrain; had support of many South Vietnamesemany South Vietnamese

Built and hid in elaborate Built and hid in elaborate underground tunnelsunderground tunnels

B-52 Bomber carries 80,000 B-52 Bomber carries 80,000 pounds of weaponspounds of weapons

Rolling ThunderRolling Thunder

Defoliation and Agent OrangeDefoliation and Agent Orange

Some Weapons Used in the Vietnam WarSome Weapons Used in the Vietnam War Land Mines — Land Mines — Land minesLand mines,,which can be set off by the pressure of a which can be set off by the pressure of a

footstep, are explosive devices planted in the ground. Viet Cong footstep, are explosive devices planted in the ground. Viet Cong landmines killed and wounded both American GIs and Vietnamese landmines killed and wounded both American GIs and Vietnamese civilians.civilians.

Saturation Bombing — American B-52 bomber planes dropped Saturation Bombing — American B-52 bomber planes dropped thousands of tons of explosives, resulting in thousands of tons of explosives, resulting in saturation bombing saturation bombing of of North Vietnam.North Vietnam.

Fragmentation Bombs — Fragmentation Bombs — Fragmentation bombsFragmentation bombs,, dropped by dropped by Americans over both North and South Vietnam, threw pieces of their Americans over both North and South Vietnam, threw pieces of their thick metal casings in all directions when they exploded. In South thick metal casings in all directions when they exploded. In South Vietnam, fragmentation bombs killed and maimed countless civilians.Vietnam, fragmentation bombs killed and maimed countless civilians.

Agent Orange — Agent Orange — American pilots dropped an herbicide called American pilots dropped an herbicide called Agent Agent Orange Orange over Vietnamese jungles, killing vegetation and exposing Viet over Vietnamese jungles, killing vegetation and exposing Viet Cong hiding places. Agent Orange was later discovered to cause Cong hiding places. Agent Orange was later discovered to cause health problems in livestock and humans.health problems in livestock and humans.

Napalm — Another chemical weapon used in Vietnam, Napalm — Another chemical weapon used in Vietnam, napalmnapalm,,was a was a jellylike substance which, when dropped from planes splattered, and jellylike substance which, when dropped from planes splattered, and burned uncontrollably.burned uncontrollably.

Helicopters deliver troopsHelicopters deliver troops

William WestmorelandWilliam Westmoreland

WestmorelandWestmoreland’’s s strategy: end the war strategy: end the war quickly through quickly through ““search and destroysearch and destroy”” missionsmissions

Reasons for escalationReasons for escalation

Domino theoryDomino theory

Stop North Vietnam Stop North Vietnam aggressionaggression

National National ““reputationreputation””

Implication of Implication of ““avoiding humiliationavoiding humiliation””

The Ho Chi Minh TrailThe Ho Chi Minh Trail

North Vietnamese North Vietnamese troops and troops and supplies entered supplies entered South Vietnam via South Vietnam via the Ho Chi Minh the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a route that Trail, a route that passed through passed through Laos and Laos and Cambodia.Cambodia.

LBJ intimately involved in LBJ intimately involved in war planningwar planning

The DraftThe Draft

Selective Service Selective Service created a lottery created a lottery program based on program based on birth datebirth date

Draft classifications:Draft classifications: 1-A = available1-A = available 1-O = conscientious 1-O = conscientious

objectorobjector 2-S = student 2-S = student

defermentdeferment 1-H = not available 1-H = not available

(usually an age issue)(usually an age issue)

The Generation GapThe Generation Gap

EstablishmentEstablishment Anti-establishmentAnti-establishment

End of a(n) ______?

Vietnam

TET Offensive, February 1968• On January 30, 1960, the Viet Cong and North

Vietnam launched a major offensive. This series of attacks was called the Tet Offensive since it occurred during Tet, the Vietnamese New Year.

• During and after the Tet Offensive, both sides were guilty of brutal atrocities.

• 85,000 NVA and Viet Cong launch attacks against South Vietnam, as far south as Saigon

– Wanted to incite a rebellion in the South against the South Vietnamese government

My Lai Massacre, March 1968

• Frustrated soldiers led by Lt. Calley entered a village expecting to find NVA

• 300 civilians killed• My Lai was not

generally known until November 1969

Lt. Calley

• Placed on trial• Sentenced to life in

prison but released in 1974

• Dishonorable discharge from the army

Nixon on VietnamNixon on Vietnam NixonNixon’’s 1968 Campaign promised an end to s 1968 Campaign promised an end to

the war: the war: Peace with HonorPeace with Honor Appealed to the great Appealed to the great

““Silent MajoritySilent Majority””

In a 1969 speech, Nixon appealed In a 1969 speech, Nixon appealed to those who, he felt, quietly to those who, he felt, quietly supported his policies. He referred supported his policies. He referred to this group of Americans as “the to this group of Americans as “the silent majority.silent majority.

Expansion of the Expansion of the conflict conflict The The ““Secret WarSecret War”” CambodiaCambodia LaosLaos

Student ActivismStudent Activism

Student Activism in the 1960s• Generation Gap — Young Americans in the 1960s had many opportunities

unknown to previous generations; many also questioned the values of their parents. These factors contributed to a wider generation gap between college-aged youths and their parents.

• Students for a Democratic Society and the New Left — Organized in 1960, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) had a major impact on the New Left, a political movement that advocated radical changes to deal with problems such as poverty and racism.

• The Free Speech Movement — Student protests for free speech at the University of California at Berkeley inspired similar movements elsewhere, including challenges to social restrictions on campuses.

• The Teach-in Movement — Begun at the University of Michigan in March 1965, teach-ins, or special sessions at which issues concerning the war could be discussed, soon became a popular means of expressing antiwar sentiment.

• Continued Protests — Hundreds of demonstrations continued at colleges and universities around the country. One of the most dramatic, at Columbia University in New York City, linked the issues of civil rights and the war.

Kent StateKent State and Jackson State

• When student antiwar protesters at Kent State University in Ohio reacted angrily to Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia, Nixon ordered the National Guard to Kent State. After students threw rocks at the guardsmen, the troops opened fire, killing and wounding both protesters and bystanders.

• The violence at Kent State, and a similar incident at Jackson State in Mississippi, horrified Americans.

“Pentagon Papers” 1971“Pentagon Papers” 1971

• Daniel Ellsberg leaked govt. Daniel Ellsberg leaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts docs. regarding war efforts during LBJ presidency to the during LBJ presidency to the NewspaperNewspaper..

• RevealingRevealing Govt. misled Govt. misled Congress & Amer. People Congress & Amer. People regarding its intentions in regarding its intentions in Vietnam during mid-1960s.Vietnam during mid-1960s. Primary reason for Primary reason for

fighting not to eliminate fighting not to eliminate communism, but communism, but to avoid to avoid humiliating defeathumiliating defeat. .

Senate Hearings on Vietnam

• John Kerry

“We are asking Americans to think about that because how do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?”

“The country has created a monster”

The Ceasefire, 1973

The Ceasefire, 1973

Peace is at handPeace is at hand

1973:1973:

Kissinger, 1972Kissinger, 1972 North Vietnam North Vietnam

attacks Southattacks South Most Massive U.S. Most Massive U.S.

bombing bombing commencescommences

• CeasefireCeasefire• signed betweensigned between

U.S., South U.S., South Vietnam, & North Vietnam, & North VietnamVietnam

Provisions of Peace Settlement Between the United States, South Provisions of Peace Settlement Between the United States, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Viet Cong,Signed in Paris in Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Viet Cong,Signed in Paris in January 1973January 1973

The United States would withdraw all its forces from South Vietnam within 60 days.

All prisoners of war would be released.All parties to the agreement would end military activities in Laos

and Cambodia.

The 17th parallel would continue to divide North and South Vietnam until the country could be reunited.

American Withdrawal

The Ceasefire, 1973

The Ceasefire, 1973

Conditions:Conditions: 1.1. U.S. to remove all U.S. to remove all troopstroops

2.2. North Vietnam North Vietnam could leave troops could leave troops already in S.V.already in S.V.

3.3. North Vietnam North Vietnam would resume warwould resume war

4.4. No provision for No provision for POWs or MIAsPOWs or MIAs

Last American troops left South Last American troops left South Vietnam on March 29, 1973Vietnam on March 29, 1973

1975: North Vietnam 1975: North Vietnam defeats South Vietnamdefeats South Vietnam

Saigon renamed Ho Chi Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityMinh City

Peace Negotiations

Peace Negotiations

US & US & Vietnamese Vietnamese

argue for argue for 5 months 5 months over the over the size of thesize of theconferenceconferencetable!table!

Dr. Henry KissingerDr. Henry Kissinger & Le Duc Le Duc ThoTho

The Fall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon

South Vietnamese South Vietnamese Attempt to Flee the CountryAttempt to Flee the Country

The Fall of Saigon

The Fall of Saigon

America Abandons Its America Abandons Its EmbassyEmbassy

April 30, 1975April 30, 1975

The Fall of Saigon

The Fall of Saigon

North Vietnamese North Vietnamese at the Presidential Palaceat the Presidential Palace

Formerly Formerly SaigonSaigon

A United VietnamA United Vietnam

The CostsThe Costs1.1. 3,000,000 3,000,000

Vietnamese killedVietnamese killed2.2. 58,000 Americans 58,000 Americans

killed; 300,000 killed; 300,000 woundedwounded

3.3. Under-funding of Under-funding of Great Society Great Society programsprograms

4.4. $150,000,000,000 $150,000,000,000 in U.S. spendingin U.S. spending

5.5. U.S. morale, self-U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust confidence, trust of government, of government, decimateddecimated

The ImpactThe Impact1. 261. 26thth Amendment Amendment

2. Nixon abolished the 2. Nixon abolished the draftdraft

3. War Powers Act, 1973 3. War Powers Act, 1973

18-year-olds vote18-year-olds vote

all-volunteer armyall-volunteer army

President must notify President must notify Congress within 48 Congress within 48 hours of deploying hours of deploying military forcemilitary force

President must President must withdraw forces unless withdraw forces unless he gains Congressional he gains Congressional approval within 90 daysapproval within 90 days

Some American POWs Returned from the

“Hanoi Hilton”

Some American POWs Returned from the

“Hanoi Hilton”

Senator John Senator John McCainMcCain(R-AZ)(R-AZ)

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

still unaccounted for still unaccounted for today.today.

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 will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be one of yours, and in the end it will be youyou who tires of it. who tires of it.

AndAndin the End….in the End….

AndAndin the End….in the End….

Ho Chi Ho Chi Minh:Minh:

Lessons for Future

American Presidents

Lessons for Future

American Presidents1.1. 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 battlefields.Restrict media access to 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.

The Vietnam Memorial,

Washington, D.C.

The Vietnam Memorial,

Washington, D.C.

Memorial to US Servicemen in

Vietnam

Memorial to US Servicemen in

Vietnam

Memorial to US Memorial to US Nurses in Nurses in VietnamVietnam

58,00058,00058,00058,000

President Clinton formally

recognized Vietnam on July 11, 1995

President Clinton formally

recognized Vietnam on July 11, 1995