Essential QuestionEssential Question

What events led to U.S. What events led to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam involvement in the Vietnam

War?War?

The United States and VietnamThe United States and Vietnam

VietnamVietnam

Controlled by Controlled by France until WWIIFrance until WWII

Seized by JapanSeized by Japan

Pushed for Pushed for independence after independence after the warthe war

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

Leader of a Leader of a nationalist nationalist movement in movement in VietnamVietnam

Founded the Founded the VietminhVietminh

Domino TheoryDomino Theory

The belief that if The belief that if Vietnam fell to Vietnam fell to communism, all of communism, all of southeast Asia southeast Asia would followwould follow

Division of VietnamDivision of Vietnam

According to the According to the Geneva AccordsGeneva Accords

Divided at the 17Divided at the 17thth parallelparallel

Elections to be held Elections to be held in 1956 to unite the in 1956 to unite the countrycountry

North VietnamNorth Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh and Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh the Vietminh controlled the northcontrolled the north

Communist Communist supporterssupporters

South VietnamSouth Vietnam

Pro-western regimePro-western regime

Led by Ngo Dinh Led by Ngo Dinh DiemDiem

Supported by the Supported by the U.S.U.S.

DiemDiem’’s Governments Government

Diem regime Diem regime became corrupt became corrupt and repressiveand repressive

Refused to hold Refused to hold promised electionspromised elections

VietnamVietnam

Ho Chi Minh formed Ho Chi Minh formed the National the National Liberation Front Liberation Front (NLF) to reunite the (NLF) to reunite the countrycountry

Guerrilla terrorist Guerrilla terrorist forces known as the forces known as the VietcongVietcong

VietnamVietnam

November 1, November 1, 19631963

Diem Diem overthrown and overthrown and assassinatedassassinated

VietnamVietnam

Johnson followed Johnson followed idea of global idea of global containmentcontainment

““I am not going to I am not going to lose Vietnamlose Vietnam””

Intended to Intended to increase troopsincrease troops

Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution

August 2, 1964August 2, 1964

North Vietnamese North Vietnamese fired on U.S. destroyer fired on U.S. destroyer MaddoxMaddox

Congress gave Congress gave Johnson a mandate to Johnson a mandate to conduct operations in conduct operations in VietnamVietnam

War EscalatesWar Escalates

March 8, 1965March 8, 1965

Marines landed at Marines landed at Da NangDa Nang

By 1968, over By 1968, over 500,000 troops 500,000 troops were stationed in were stationed in VietnamVietnam

Vietnam WarfareVietnam Warfare

Vietcong used Vietcong used ambushes, booby ambushes, booby traps and guerilla traps and guerilla warfare in the thick warfare in the thick Asian junglesAsian jungles

Realities of WarRealities of War

““Three quarters of the way through the Three quarters of the way through the tangle, a trooper brushed against a two-tangle, a trooper brushed against a two-inch vine, and a grenade slung chest high inch vine, and a grenade slung chest high went off, shattering the right side of his went off, shattering the right side of his head and body . . . Nearby troopers took head and body . . . Nearby troopers took hold of the unconscious soldier and, half hold of the unconscious soldier and, half carrying, half dragging him, pulled him the carrying, half dragging him, pulled him the rest of the way through the tangle.rest of the way through the tangle.””

Vietnam WarfareVietnam Warfare

U.S. carried out U.S. carried out search and destroy search and destroy missionsmissions

Get rid of thick jungle Get rid of thick jungle hiding places by hiding places by using napalm and using napalm and Agent Orange (kills Agent Orange (kills foliage)foliage)

Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

Main supply line for Main supply line for the North Vietnamesethe North Vietnamese

Passed through Passed through Cambodia and LaosCambodia and Laos

Received military Received military support from China support from China and Vietnamand Vietnam

Tet OffensiveTet Offensive

January 1968January 1968

Vietcong launched Vietcong launched assaults on South assaults on South Vietnam, nearly Vietnam, nearly overran Saigonoverran Saigon

Americans viewed Americans viewed war as unwinnablewar as unwinnable

Antiwar MovementAntiwar Movement

By 1967 – U.S. By 1967 – U.S. public discontent public discontent with the warwith the war

Television Television coverage, body coverage, body counts, carnagecounts, carnage

Counterculture MovementsCounterculture Movements

Youth attack on Youth attack on mainstream mainstream AmericaAmerica

Student protestsStudent protests

Revolution against Revolution against middle class middle class respectabilityrespectability

MusicMusic

WoodstockWoodstock

Election of 1968Election of 1968

Democrat – Democrat – Hubert HumphreyHubert Humphrey

Republican – Republican – Richard NixonRichard Nixon

Independent – Independent – George WallaceGeorge Wallace

Troop WithdrawalTroop Withdrawal

June 1969June 1969

Nixon announced Nixon announced the withdrawal of the withdrawal of 25,000 troops25,000 troops

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre

Nov. 1969Nov. 1969

Slaughter of 350 Slaughter of 350 Vietnamese Vietnamese villagers by U.S. villagers by U.S. troopstroops

Sinking morale Sinking morale among troopsamong troops

Mobilization DayMobilization Day

November 16, 1969November 16, 1969

½ million protestors ½ million protestors of the war in of the war in WashingtonWashington

Anger over news of Anger over news of Cambodia invasionCambodia invasion

Kent StateKent State

May 4, 1970May 4, 1970

National Guard fired National Guard fired into an anti-war rallyinto an anti-war rally

4 students killed, 11 4 students killed, 11 woundedwounded

Kent StateKent State

Kent StateKent State

Paris Peace AccordsParis Peace AccordsOn January 23, On January 23,

1973 the final draft 1973 the final draft was initialed, was initialed, ending open ending open hostilities between hostilities between the United States the United States and North Vietnam. and North Vietnam.

Troop withdrawal Troop withdrawal beganbegan

Vietnam Unifies under Vietnam Unifies under CommunismCommunism

1973 until 1975 the 1973 until 1975 the countries remain at countries remain at odds. March 1975 – odds. March 1975 – final offensive of North final offensive of North Vietnamese against Vietnamese against the Souththe South

April 29, 1975 – April 29, 1975 – Saigon fallsSaigon falls

Saigon renamed Ho Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityChi Minh City

Fall of SaigonFall of Saigon

Fall of SaigonFall of Saigon

Fall of SaigonFall of Saigon

Why Did the United States Why Did the United States Lose the Vietnam War?Lose the Vietnam War?

They underestimated the tenacity and They underestimated the tenacity and organization of the North Vietnamese and organization of the North Vietnamese and the National Liberation Frontthe National Liberation Front

Despite dropping more tonnage of high Despite dropping more tonnage of high explosive on Vietnam than the whole of explosive on Vietnam than the whole of World War II, the Americans could not World War II, the Americans could not stop the movement of troops or supplies to stop the movement of troops or supplies to the south along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.   the south along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.  

Why Did the United States Why Did the United States Lose the Vietnam War?Lose the Vietnam War?

The North Vietnamese conducted a The North Vietnamese conducted a ““Peoples warPeoples war”” in which everyone played a in which everyone played a part. part.

At first, most Americans supported the At first, most Americans supported the war. But by 1970, the Peace Movement war. But by 1970, the Peace Movement had support from all parts of society and had support from all parts of society and no government could ignore it. Cannot no government could ignore it. Cannot sustain a war without support of the sustain a war without support of the people! people!

Why Did the United States Why Did the United States Lose the Vietnam War?Lose the Vietnam War?

America was not prepared to keep losing America was not prepared to keep losing high numbers of casualties for such limited high numbers of casualties for such limited progress in a difficult jungle war, for which progress in a difficult jungle war, for which they were not suited.   they were not suited.