Vietnam WarVietnam War

Ch. 29Ch. 29

Path to WarPath to War Domino TheoryDomino Theory

– Eisenhower believed that if one Eisenhower believed that if one southeastern nation fell to southeastern nation fell to communism than all would fall.communism than all would fall.

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh– Fought for independence with Fought for independence with

group Vietnminh before, during group Vietnminh before, during and after WWII.and after WWII.

– Was Communist sympathizer Was Communist sympathizer fighting French rule through the fighting French rule through the Republic of Vietnam.Republic of Vietnam.

– Won independence in 1954 at Won independence in 1954 at the fortress of Dien Bien Phuthe fortress of Dien Bien Phu

Geneva AccordsGeneva Accords– Divided nation into two Divided nation into two

separate Nations at the 17separate Nations at the 17thth parallel.parallel.

– Ho Chi Minh ruled North Ho Chi Minh ruled North Vietnam in Hanoi and Ngo Vietnam in Hanoi and Ngo Dinh Diem led South Dinh Diem led South Vietnam in Saigon.Vietnam in Saigon.

– 1956 elections to reunify 1956 elections to reunify Vietnam never happened Vietnam never happened due to Diem insistence that due to Diem insistence that fair elections could not take fair elections could not take place.place.

American PolicyAmerican Policy John F. KennedyJohn F. Kennedy

– Increased military advisors to 16K by 1963.Increased military advisors to 16K by 1963.– Helped a coup to overthrow and assassinate South Vietnam Helped a coup to overthrow and assassinate South Vietnam

leader Diem in 1963 establishing the Viet Cong and National leader Diem in 1963 establishing the Viet Cong and National Liberation Front.Liberation Front.

– Diem removed due to lack of funds being used correctly, and Diem removed due to lack of funds being used correctly, and religious background.religious background.

– Robert McNamara Secretary of DefenseRobert McNamara Secretary of Defense Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. Johnson

– Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution» Response to perceived attack by North Vietnamese on US battle ships Response to perceived attack by North Vietnamese on US battle ships

in the Gulf of Tonkin.in the Gulf of Tonkin.» Maintained that President suppress all attacks against US, Southeast Maintained that President suppress all attacks against US, Southeast

Asia is vital to US security, and resolution expires when peace is Asia is vital to US security, and resolution expires when peace is achievedachieved

Protests to the WarProtests to the War

Students for a Democratic Students for a Democratic SocietySociety– Port Huron Statement of 1962 Port Huron Statement of 1962

stated that US should be a stated that US should be a social system with individual social system with individual participation.participation.

– Led to the creation of the New Led to the creation of the New Left which believed that Left which believed that poverty and racism required poverty and racism required drastic changes.drastic changes.

The Free Speech MovementThe Free Speech Movement– Sept. 1964 students were not Sept. 1964 students were not

allowed to distribute leaflets allowed to distribute leaflets about civil rights.about civil rights.

Teach-in MovementTeach-in Movement– March 1965 at University March 1965 at University

of Michigan.of Michigan.

– Professors taught special Professors taught special night class attended by night class attended by several thousand students several thousand students and community members.and community members.

Draft ResistanceDraft Resistance– Conscientious objectorsConscientious objectors

– DefermentDeferment

– Leaving the countryLeaving the country

– Burning of draft cardsBurning of draft cards

Election of 1968Election of 1968

Johnson chooses not to run.Johnson chooses not to run. Robert Kennedy assassinated in June 1968.Robert Kennedy assassinated in June 1968. Nixon chosen as Republican choice won Nixon chosen as Republican choice won

with 43% of popular vote and 301 electoral with 43% of popular vote and 301 electoral votes over Hubert Humphrey and George votes over Hubert Humphrey and George Wallace.Wallace.

The Ground WarThe Ground War

Guerrilla WarfareGuerrilla Warfare– SabotageSabotage– Sneak attacksSneak attacks– Elaborate underground tunnelsElaborate underground tunnels– Booby trapsBooby traps– Enemy within civiliansEnemy within civilians

Air WarfareAir Warfare Use of B-52 Bomber, Huey Use of B-52 Bomber, Huey

Helicopters and saturation bombing.Helicopters and saturation bombing. Fragmentation bombsFragmentation bombs

– Bombs that exploded and threw Bombs that exploded and threw fragments of shells miles into the air.fragments of shells miles into the air.

Chemical warfareChemical warfare– Agent OrangeAgent Orange

» Killed large amounts of vegetation to revel Killed large amounts of vegetation to revel enemy locations.enemy locations.

– NapalmNapalm» Gel that burned uncontrollablyGel that burned uncontrollably

Major BattlesMajor Battles Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

– Supply route that ran from Supply route that ran from North to South Vietnam to arm North to South Vietnam to arm North sympathizers in the North sympathizers in the South.South.

Battle of PleikuBattle of Pleiku– Feb. 1965, first major attack Feb. 1965, first major attack

on American forces in South on American forces in South Vietnam killing 8 and Vietnam killing 8 and wounding 126.wounding 126.

– America responded by America responded by bombing North Vietnam and bombing North Vietnam and escalating troop presence to escalating troop presence to over 184K by the end of the over 184K by the end of the year.year.

Tet OffensiveTet Offensive– Tet is the Vietnamese New Tet is the Vietnamese New

Year.Year.– American forces had escalated American forces had escalated

to 536K by the end of 1968.to 536K by the end of 1968.– Major offensive launched on Major offensive launched on

the first day of the New Year the first day of the New Year by the North.by the North.

– Brutally massacred any one all Brutally massacred any one all over South Vietnam. 3 to 5K over South Vietnam. 3 to 5K killed.killed.

Massacre at My LaiMassacre at My Lai– American forces fearing American forces fearing

enemy insurgents massacred enemy insurgents massacred women, children and women, children and grandparents of Vietnamese grandparents of Vietnamese village.village.

End of the WarEnd of the War Hawks and dovesHawks and doves VietnamizationVietnamization

– Removing of American Removing of American soldiers and replacing with soldiers and replacing with South Vietnamese soldiers.South Vietnamese soldiers.

– Continued secret bombing Continued secret bombing raids to not lose warraids to not lose war

Silent MajoritySilent Majority– A large group of Americans A large group of Americans

that supported country’s policy that supported country’s policy but remained silent.but remained silent.

– Kent State ShootingKent State Shooting American WithdrawalAmerican Withdrawal

– Jan. 1973, signed agreement Jan. 1973, signed agreement with North and South Vietnam.with North and South Vietnam.

– Us withdraw within 60 days.Us withdraw within 60 days.– Prisoners of War released.Prisoners of War released.– All parties end military All parties end military

activities in Laos and activities in Laos and Cambodia.Cambodia.

– 1717thth parallel remains until parallel remains until country reunited.country reunited.

End of the WarEnd of the War South Vietnam falls in 1975.South Vietnam falls in 1975. 58K Americans died in 58K Americans died in

Vietnam.Vietnam. 2,500 listed as POW’s and/or 2,500 listed as POW’s and/or

MIA’s.MIA’s. Longest War costing 150 Longest War costing 150

billion dollars.billion dollars. Creation of the Vietnam War Creation of the Vietnam War

memorial.memorial.

Move to your Satellite GroupsMove to your Satellite Groups Blue- What was the biggest reason America went to Blue- What was the biggest reason America went to

War in Vietnam.War in Vietnam. Red- How did Americans show their displeasure Red- How did Americans show their displeasure

with American involvement in Vietnam. with American involvement in Vietnam. White- Discuss the similarities and differences White- Discuss the similarities and differences

between Vietnam and America’s war on terror in between Vietnam and America’s war on terror in Afganistan and Iraq?Afganistan and Iraq?

Answer each in 3-5 complete sentences explaining Answer each in 3-5 complete sentences explaining your groups decisions.your groups decisions.

Exit TicketExit Ticket

Relate one item in today’s lecture back to one Relate one item in today’s lecture back to one of today’s essential questions.of today’s essential questions.

Pick one item from today’s lecture that you Pick one item from today’s lecture that you can personally relate to.can personally relate to.

Is there something from today’s lecture that Is there something from today’s lecture that was unclear or you would like more was unclear or you would like more information about?information about?

Answers should be written in complete Answers should be written in complete sentencessentences