Longest and Most Longest and Most Unpopular WarUnpopular War

• During the war:During the war:– 58,000 Americans lost their 58,000 Americans lost their

lives.lives.•61% of the men killed 61% of the men killed

were 21 or younger.were 21 or younger.– 304,000 were wounded.304,000 were wounded.– 75,000 were severely 75,000 were severely

disabled.disabled.– 800,000 diagnosed as 800,000 diagnosed as

having “significant” to having “significant” to “severe” problems of “severe” problems of readjustment.readjustment.

– The United States spent The United States spent over $200 billion dollars on over $200 billion dollars on the war. the war.

And in Vietnam…And in Vietnam…

• In Vietnam – over In Vietnam – over 2 million dead2 million dead

• In Vietnam – 4 In Vietnam – 4 million wounded million wounded

• In Vietnam – 10 In Vietnam – 10 million displaced million displaced from their homesfrom their homes

A Different WarA Different War• First “First “living-living-

room war – room war – people watched people watched footage of footage of combat on the combat on the nightly news –nightly news – first was in first was in which television which television played a major played a major role.role.

•76% of the men sent to Vietnam were from lower to middle class families.

•The average age of a soldier was 19.

•Most soldiers were drafted – few enlisted.

•Soldiers served a “tour of duty” – about 1 year.

A Different WarA Different War

•Soldiers did not return home at the •same time – usually by themselves.

•7 Presidents made decisions concerning Vietnam.

•Music clearly proved how divided the people were in the United States.

•Soldiers invented their own vocabulary for the war.

A Different WarA Different War

Vietnam TerminologyVietnam Terminology• BC – body countBC – body count• Boonies – the jungleBoonies – the jungle• Bought the farm – killed in actionBought the farm – killed in action• Bouncing Betty – a type of mine that Bouncing Betty – a type of mine that

when triggered, is propelled into the when triggered, is propelled into the air and explodes at groin to head level.air and explodes at groin to head level.

• Charlie – the VC (Vietcong)Charlie – the VC (Vietcong)• Cobra – heavily armed Army helicopterCobra – heavily armed Army helicopter• Dead Man’s Zone – slang for the DMZ Dead Man’s Zone – slang for the DMZ

– 17– 17thth parallel parallel

Why Did the United Why Did the United StatesStates

Fight a War in Vietnam? Fight a War in Vietnam?• Basically to hold the line Basically to hold the line

against the spread of against the spread of world Communism. world Communism.

• Followed the Truman Followed the Truman Doctrine (1947) “to help Doctrine (1947) “to help free peoples to maintain free peoples to maintain their free institutions their free institutions and their national and their national integrity against … integrity against … totalitarian regimes.”totalitarian regimes.”

The Geneva Peace The Geneva Peace AccordsAccords

• Signed by France and Signed by France and Vietnam Vietnam

• Divided Vietnam at the Divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel17th parallel

• National elections to National elections to reunify the country reunify the country planned for 1956.planned for 1956.

• In the North a communist In the North a communist regimeregime set up set up headquarters in Hanoi headquarters in Hanoi under leadership of Ho under leadership of Ho Chi Minh.Chi Minh.

The Two Leaders of The Two Leaders of VietnamVietnam

• Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh – leader of the North – – leader of the North – but also many in South Vietnam look but also many in South Vietnam look to him for leadershipto him for leadership– Supports NLF (Vietcong) in the Supports NLF (Vietcong) in the

South via South via Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

• Hero because he broke up large Hero because he broke up large estates and redistributed land to the estates and redistributed land to the peasants and he had beaten the peasants and he had beaten the FrenchFrench

The Two LeadersThe Two Leaders• Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem – “placed” into office by – “placed” into office by

the United States.the United States.

• Corrupt govt. that suppressed opposition Corrupt govt. that suppressed opposition of any kind & used aid money for itselfof any kind & used aid money for itself

• Offered little or no land distribution to Offered little or no land distribution to peasants.peasants.

• Told to hold free elections – don’t Told to hold free elections – don’t happen.happen.

Opposition to Geneva Opposition to Geneva AccordsAccords

• America prevented the America prevented the elections that were elections that were promised under the promised under the Geneva conference Geneva conference because it knew that the because it knew that the Communists would win. Communists would win. – American policymakers American policymakers

developed the “Domino developed the “Domino Theory” as a Theory” as a justification for the justification for the involvement. involvement.

December 1961 White December 1961 White PaperPaper

• Report argued for:Report argued for:

– An increase in military, An increase in military, technical, and economic technical, and economic aidaid

– The introduction of large-The introduction of large-scale American scale American "advisers" to help "advisers" to help stabilize the Diem regime stabilize the Diem regime and crush the NLF. and crush the NLF.

The Kennedy ResponseThe Kennedy Response• some of his other advisers some of his other advisers

urged the president to urged the president to withdraw from Vietnam withdraw from Vietnam altogether.altogether.

• In typical Kennedy fashion, In typical Kennedy fashion, the president chose a middle the president chose a middle route. route. – The U.S. would increase The U.S. would increase

the level of its military the level of its military involvement in South involvement in South Vietnam through more Vietnam through more machinery and advisers, machinery and advisers, but no military troops. but no military troops.

Escalation of the ConflictEscalation of the Conflict• At the time of the At the time of the

Kennedy and Diem Kennedy and Diem assassinations, there assassinations, there were 16,000 military were 16,000 military advisers in Vietnam. advisers in Vietnam. – LBJ convinced that LBJ convinced that

more aggressive action more aggressive action was needed. was needed.

– Didn’t want to be seen Didn’t want to be seen as an “appeaser” to as an “appeaser” to Communist aggression.Communist aggression.

The Gulf of Tonkin The Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionResolution

• August 1964August 1964

• The Johnson The Johnson administration administration used the August used the August ‘attacks’ on U.S. ‘attacks’ on U.S. ships to obtain a ships to obtain a Congressional Congressional resolution that resolution that gave the president gave the president broad war powers. broad war powers.

““Americanizing” the WarAmericanizing” the War

• More U.S. troops committedMore U.S. troops committed– 180,000 in 1965180,000 in 1965– 500,000 by 1967500,000 by 1967

•By this time, most soldiers are drafteesBy this time, most soldiers are draftees

• Moved beyond adviser roles and Moved beyond adviser roles and assumed greater responsibilitiesassumed greater responsibilities

• Hoped to push the Communists to the Hoped to push the Communists to the peace tablepeace table

Operation Rolling Operation Rolling ThunderThunder

• Began sustained bombing Began sustained bombing missions over North Vietnam in missions over North Vietnam in Feb 1965 Feb 1965

• Main target – Ho Chi Minh TrailMain target – Ho Chi Minh TrailIn the In the SouthSouth

Goal is to Goal is to “win the “win the

hearts and hearts and minds of minds of

the the VietnamesVietnamese people.”e people.”

HelicoptersHelicopters

• Of all aircraft, Of all aircraft, thethe helicopter helicopter was the most was the most useful, dropping useful, dropping platoons in the platoons in the jungle clearings jungle clearings and out again. and out again. They were They were excellent air excellent air ambulances. ambulances.

How did the North VietnameseHow did the North VietnameseFight Back Against the U.S. Fight Back Against the U.S.

Invaders?Invaders?• Guerilla tacticsGuerilla tactics• ““Guerrillas must move through the Guerrillas must move through the

peasants like fish through sea,” peasants like fish through sea,” – i.e., peasants supported them with i.e., peasants supported them with

shelter, food, weapons, storage, shelter, food, weapons, storage, intelligence, recruits. intelligence, recruits.

North Vietnamese North Vietnamese TacticsTactics

• Some areas of South Vietnam held Some areas of South Vietnam held by NLF - distributed the by NLF - distributed the land to the peasants. land to the peasants.

• Cheap and reliable weaponsCheap and reliable weapons– AK47 assault rifleAK47 assault rifle– Portable rocket launcherPortable rocket launcher– Booby trapsBooby traps– Recycled American ‘dud’ bombsRecycled American ‘dud’ bombs

EscalationEscalation

• 1965 200,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam1965 200,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam

• Troops uncover massive tunnel Troops uncover massive tunnel complex – used as a base for complex – used as a base for guerrilla raids .guerrilla raids .

• Tunnel Rats Tunnel Rats – men responsible for – men responsible for going down tunnels to flush out the going down tunnels to flush out the VCVC

Search & Destroy TacticsSearch & Destroy Tactics• In areas where the NLF In areas where the NLF

were thought to be were thought to be operating, troops went in operating, troops went in and checked for weapons. If and checked for weapons. If they found them, they they found them, they rounded up the villagers and rounded up the villagers and burned the villages down.burned the villages down.

• This often alienated the peasants from This often alienated the peasants from the American-South Vietnamese cause. the American-South Vietnamese cause. – As one marine said – “If they weren’t As one marine said – “If they weren’t

Vietcong before we got there, they Vietcong before we got there, they sure as hell were by the time we left”. sure as hell were by the time we left”.

Clearing the JungleClearing the Jungle

• Reason - to expose the Reason - to expose the Vietcong tunnel and Vietcong tunnel and hideoutshideouts

• U.S. planes dropped U.S. planes dropped napalm napalm – a – a gasoline-based gasoline-based bomb that set fire bomb that set fire to the jungleto the jungle..

Agent OrangeAgent Orange

• leaf-killing toxic leaf-killing toxic chemical that chemical that devastated the devastated the landscape.landscape.

• U.S. dumped over U.S. dumped over 13 million 13 million gallons.gallons.

What Heart?What Heart?• U.S. did not win the “hearts and minds” of U.S. did not win the “hearts and minds” of

the Vietnamese people.the Vietnamese people.

• Why?Why?

A. We burned their villagesA. We burned their villages

B. Killed livestockB. Killed livestock

C. Chemicals caused skin diseases, birth C. Chemicals caused skin diseases, birth defects, and cancerdefects, and cancer

Pictures of VictimsPictures of Victims

More VictimsMore Victims

Protracted War StrategyProtracted War Strategy

•The Communist The Communist Party’s new Party’s new strategy: get strategy: get the United the United States bogged States bogged down in a war down in a war that it could that it could not win not win militarilymilitarily

Tet OffensiveTet Offensive designed to force Johnson administration to designed to force Johnson administration to

bargaining tablebargaining table

• Jan. 31 1968 – Jan. 31 1968 – 70,000 North 70,000 North Vietnamese and Vietnamese and Vietcong attack Vietcong attack cities in South cities in South Vietnam.Vietnam.

• Boldest move – 19 Boldest move – 19 VC attacked the VC attacked the U.S. Embassy in U.S. Embassy in Saigon killed 5 Saigon killed 5 Am. soldiersAm. soldiers..

Tet- turning point in warTet- turning point in war

•Why?Why?

A. military A. military victory for victory for U.S. but U.S. but psychological psychological victory for victory for VC.VC.

Tet Offensive – cont.Tet Offensive – cont.B. American public thought U.S. was B. American public thought U.S. was

winning war – but watched as winning war – but watched as Americans were killed at the U.S. Americans were killed at the U.S. Embassy Embassy

C. Created C. Created credibility gap – fewer Americans credibility gap – fewer Americans trusted the govt. trusted the govt.

D. Pres. Johnson said he would halt bombing of N. D. Pres. Johnson said he would halt bombing of N. Vietnam – that will not be the total truthVietnam – that will not be the total truth

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre

• March 16, 1968March 16, 1968

• group of U.S. troops group of U.S. troops under the command of under the command of Lt. William CalleyLt. William Calley

• Doing search and Doing search and destroy mission – find destroy mission – find “charlie” (Vietcong) “charlie” (Vietcong) and destroy them.and destroy them.

• 300 -500 – civilians 300 -500 – civilians – mostly old men, – mostly old men, women and women and children -killed by children -killed by Calley and men.Calley and men.

• After My Lai – After My Lai – many Americans many Americans view all Vietnam view all Vietnam veterans as “baby veterans as “baby killerskillers.”.”

The War in AmericaThe War in America

•Since there were Since there were not enough not enough volunteers to volunteers to continue to fight a continue to fight a protracted war, the protracted war, the government government instituted a draft. instituted a draft.

Anti-War SentimentsAnti-War Sentiments

• As the deaths As the deaths mounted and mounted and Americans Americans continued to leave continued to leave for Southeast Asia, for Southeast Asia, the Johnson the Johnson administration was administration was met with the full met with the full weight of American weight of American anti-war anti-war sentiments. sentiments.

The CountercultureThe Counterculture

• Term used for those that went Term used for those that went against traditional American against traditional American norms.norms.– against the ‘establishment ‘– against the ‘establishment ‘–

the govt., large corporations, the govt., large corporations, etc.etc.

• Often this group included white, Often this group included white, middle-class college students.middle-class college students.

Anti-War ProtestsAnti-War Protests

• Protests erupted on college Protests erupted on college campuses and in major cities at campuses and in major cities at first, but by 1968 every corner of first, but by 1968 every corner of the country seemed to have felt the country seemed to have felt the war's impact.the war's impact.

1968 Democratic 1968 Democratic ConventionConvention

• Hundreds of Hundreds of thousands of people thousands of people came to Chicago in came to Chicago in August 1968 to protest August 1968 to protest American intervention American intervention in Vietnam and the in Vietnam and the leaders of the leaders of the Democratic Party who Democratic Party who continued to prosecute continued to prosecute the war. the war.

A Plan to End the WarA Plan to End the War• Late March 1968, a disgraced Late March 1968, a disgraced

LBJ announced that he would LBJ announced that he would notnot seek the Democratic seek the Democratic Party's re-nomination for Party's re-nomination for presidentpresident

• Negotiations with the Negotiations with the Communists to end the war Communists to end the war began in the spring of 1968 began in the spring of 1968 (doesn’t end until 1975)(doesn’t end until 1975)

• Democratic Party could not Democratic Party could not rescue the presidency from rescue the presidency from Republican challenger Richard Republican challenger Richard Nixon who claimed he had a Nixon who claimed he had a secret plan to end the war. secret plan to end the war.

Can you answer these Can you answer these questions?questions?

1.1.Why did the U.S. enter the war in Why did the U.S. enter the war in Vietnam?Vietnam?

2.2.Who was the enemy of the United Who was the enemy of the United States? Our enemy?States? Our enemy?

3.3.What tactics did U.S. forces use?What tactics did U.S. forces use?

4.4.What tactics did the enemy use?What tactics did the enemy use?

5.5.Why did the war become increasingly Why did the war become increasingly unpopular as time went on?unpopular as time went on?