Korea and Vietnam Wars


Communism spreads to China in 1949 and the U.S. grows concerned for SE Asia

Domino Theory

Speculated that if one state in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect.

Used to justify the need for American intervention around the world.


1950 the North Korea invades South Korea in an attempt to unify country under Communism

UN decides to take action


US Troops push N. Korean forces back to China – Chinese forces attack

By 1951 there is a stalemate and by 1953 there is a truce

Korea remains divided today at the 38th parallel

Vietnam War


1964 U.S. warships attacked by the North Vietnamese

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: The President is allowed to protect troops in Vietnam by any means necessary

Who we faught

Viet Cong

North Vietnamese Army heavily supplied from USSR via China


Guerilla Warfare: Soldier’s fighting in unconvential tactics (not wearing uniforms, ambush, booby traps…)

http://www.learn360.com/ShowVideo.aspx?SearchText=vietnam+war&lid=18035743&GradeLevel=3360056&MediaFormat=3360062&ID=236066

Korea and Vietnam

Tet Offensive

1968 Viet Cong Attack every

major US base in South Vietnam

US Embassy compound in Saigon is attacked

Americans defeat attack, but media begins to see this as an unwinnable war

Turning point in public support

Walter Cronkite wavers with his public support

LBJ states “if I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lose middle America…”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn4w-ud-TyE

American’s have had enough

By 1965 support for the war is low

Protests start and college campuses are at the center of the demonstrations

Vietnamization

Nixon’s plan to "expand, equip, and train South Vietnam's forces and assign to them an ever-increasing combat role, at the same time steadily reducing the number of U.S. combat troops."

Korea and Vietnam WarsFinally in 1973 Pres. Nixon signs a

cease fire and starts to pull troops out of Vietnam

1975 South Vietnam falls to Communism

Cost of War

Of the 2.7 million Americans that served in the Vietnam war… 300,000 were wounded in action 75,000 were disabled Of the casualties listed on The Wall, approximately

1,300 remain missing in action 58,129 were killed The average age was 19

Korea and Vietnam Wars

Documents

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