THE VIETNAM WAR1961-1975

Why did we enter Vietnam?

Domino Theory: The thought that if South Vietnam fell to communism, this would create a chain reaction in Asia and that other nations would also fall to communism

For or Against???? FOR: Hawks

Stop Communism Help South Vietnam

Economically Equipment/Military

Weapons Continue Cold War

Policy of Containment Usually Republicans

or Conservatives, although many Democrats like LBJ as well

AGAINST: Doves Usually Democrats or

Liberals, although many Republicans as well THE DRAFT The Media Time of Protest Civil Disobedience Free Speech Hippie Movement “Needless” Deaths

KEY TERMS North Vietnam and

South Vietnam Communist Forces (THE ENEMY) Viet-Cong or VC “CHARLIE”

ARVN "Army of the

Republic of Vietnam“ (South Vietnam's

army)

Friendly Fire An accidental attack,

whether by shooting or by dropping bombs, upon one's own troops, such as U.S soldiers shooting at other U.S. soldiers.

Boondock or Boonies General term for the

jungle or swampy areas in Vietnam

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Authorized

President to “take all necessary measures to repel ANY armed attack against forces of the U.S. & prevent further aggression”

TRANSLATION: President has war power, NOT Congress

Guerrilla Warfare Soldiers hide and

“blend in” with civilians

Booby Traps “Hit and Run” fighti

ng Ambushes U.S. Solution:

SEARCH AND DESTROY

Hippies

Burning Draft Cards Civil Disobedience

Penalties ranged from 6 months in prison to 2 and a

half years in prison if arrested

Public Protests, Symbols and Slogans

Media Coverage

Opposition to the War Started around 1964 Average Age of a U.S.

soldier was 19 American opposition to the

Vietnam War fell into the following main categories: Opposition to the draft; Moral, legal, and

pragmatic arguments against U.S. intervention;

Reaction to the media portrayal of the devastation in Southeast Asia

Opposition Continued… The prevailing sentiment

that the draft was unfairly administered

Blue collar Americans and Black Americans opposed the draft itself

WHY????? College Exemptions Blacks fought for a

country that refused to give them equal rights (during the Civil Rights Era)

Devastation

Napalm (Right)

Agent Orange (Left)

LBJ loses support “Hey, hey, LBJ, how

many kids have you killed today?”

Tet Offensive Govt. had lost

credibilityPENTAGON PAPERS*Pro-war politicians had SERIOUS doubts about the war privately while showing public support*

Bobby Kennedy Assassinated

RFK planned on running for President in 1968

Kennedy shot as he walked through the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel

Died in the Good Samaritan Hospital twenty-six hours later.

Killed by Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian/Jordanian immigrant Killed RFK because he was

“Pro Israel” and Sirhan Sirhan was Palestinian and anti-semetic

Democratic Party Unravels LBJ Decides NOT to run for 2nd term as President Bobby Kennedy Killed 3rd choice Hubert Humphrey runs for office NIXON WINS IN A LANDSLIDE…starts withdrawing

troops: VIETNAMIZATION

Just for the United States in Vietnam

Longest war in U.S. History

Compared to: War on Terror,

2001 to Present: 6870

58,000+ Total Deaths

Vietnam Memorial Completed in 1982 58,249 names of

KIA or MIA

3+ million people visit annually

“You can kill ten of our men for every one we kill of yours. But even at those odds, you will lose and we will win.”― Hồ Chí Minh

3 to 4 million VC or North Vietnamese

soldiers DIED in the Vietnam War