Mrs. Williams

US Involvement

US desired to have influence in Asian affairs Trades routes Raw materials Exports of rice and rubber Prevent spread of communism

Indochina

Indochina (Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos)

French colony since 1890s

Vietnamese questioned Japan control

Ho Chi Minh helped organize guerilla forces to defeat Japan

Indochina

Japan is defeated and independence is gained by Vietminh (communist party in 1945)

France still wanted colonialism (1946)

Marshall Plan funds allowed France to fight Vietminh

Finally France argued to peace terms (1954)

Ho Chi Minh

US incorrectly believed the Ho Chi Minh was associated with Soviets and China

Minh wanted to be independently communist and he was not a puppet

Geneva Accords

France finally agrees to peace Accords divide Vietnam on the 17th

parallel Communist were in the North French were in the south The Accord stated that the division was not a

political or territorial boundary (temporary) Thousands fled North Vietnam (supported

French) Images of the exodus and Western

propaganda had an effect on US public

South Vietnam French appointed Ngo Dinh Diem Diem had little support from the

peasants Blocked elections (Geneva Accords) Broke off connections with North Guerilla warfare began by Vietcong

(South Vietnam Communist) US provided South Vietnam more than

1 billion in economic and military assistance (no political)

Ho also sent assistance to Vietcong

Vietcong Increases Violence Minh’s support of the Vietcong

through arms and economic assistance caused an increase violence

In response to this communist threat, US military assistance more than doubled

Diem and Buddhist Diem was also anti-Buddhist Vietnamese forces carried out raids

on Buddhist temples Buddhist Monk (Self-Immolation) May 1963 What impact would this situation

have on US governmental support for Diem?

Ultimately it helped support and persuade the Kennedy Administration that a regime change was needed.

Downfall of Diem and Nhu

South Vietnamese army generals contacted the US embassy with discussions that Diem and his brother Nhu were negotiating deals with communist

This would mean an end to non-communism in South Vietnam

After the Embassy talked with the Kennedy Administration it stated it did not “wish to stimulate a coup” but would not oppose change (November 1, 1963 they were murdered)

Diem and Kennedy

Diem’s death brought chaos to Vietnam allowing the Vietcong to take advantage of the disorder

Kennedy was assassinated only three weeks after Diem

President Lyndon B Johnson takes over Johnson wanted to help South Vietnam

defeat the Vietcong with an increase in US military assistance

Gulf of Tonkin August 1 1964 an

American destroyer was giving electronic and logistical support to South Vietnamese

North Vietnamese torpedo boats moved close to the destroyer (preparing for attack)

Gulf of Tonkin continued Fortunately nothing happened and the

North was driven away Johnson ordered no military retaliation

but ordered to have another destroyer sent to support the other

August 2 North Vietnamese boats attacked the USS Mattox

August 4 two American destroyers reported they were under attack Whether an attack took place is unknown “Freak weather effects”

Gulf of Tonkin continued

On 5 August, aircraft from carriers Ticonderoga and USS Constellation destroyed an oil storage facility at Vinh and damaged or sank about 30 enemy naval vessels in port or along the coast.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

President Johnson uses these “attacks” to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Aug. 7)

It authorized Johnson to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attacks against the forces of the US and prevent further aggressions

Gulf of Tonkin and Johnson In the first months of 1965, the

President ordered the deployment to South Vietnam of major U.S. ground, air, and naval forces.

The Johnson Administration had come to the conclusion that the US would have to bomb the North

Expanded air war provided the pretext for the introduction of the first US combat troops in Vietnam

Vietnam War

By 1967 the bombings did not achieve its objectives

US had over 500,00 combat troops in Vietnam

The continued bombings gave the North Vietnamese a propaganda they used to their advantage

Tet Offensive

January 30 Buddhist Lunar New Year (Tet) the communists launched a massive assault in the major cities of South Vietnam

The Vietcong bore the burden and would never recover

Televised accounts widened the gap between American government and its citizens

Tet Offensive

1968 Tet Offensive was the single most important event in turning the American public opinion against the war

Even though the US won the Tet Offensive, many Americans stopped looking for a victory but a way out of Vietnam

Peace talks between North Vietnam and the US began in Paris (May 13, 1968) but became deadlocked so US stepped up air attacks and B-52 missions tripled

Vietnam and Richard Nixon In 1968 Richard

Nixon won the presidential election because he had a “secret plan” to deal with Vietnam

Vietnamization, a policy that gradually withdrew American combat troops while continuing naval support ( took four years)

Vietnam continued

US continued to build up the South’s military

US also began bombing North Vietnamese territories in neutral Cambodia

March 1970 Cambodia’s Prince Sihanouk was overthrown by a pro-American group led by Prime Minister Lon Nol

April 30 US and South Vietnam invaded Cambodia

US Protests

Demonstrations against Vietnam (specifically Cambodian invasion) on the college campuses at Kent State and Jackson State College erupted (May 1970)

National Guard troops caused further friction and caused schools to close

Nixon removed American troops from Cambodia in June

Vietnam

North Vietnam led a massive tank attack into South Vietnam (March 1972)

Nixon ordered massive air strikes to assist the South

October 1972 Nixon meets with Soviets and China to discuss peace

Peace Agreements Peace agreements stated that within 60

days after a cease-fire, US would withdraw its troops and North Vietnam would return P.O.W.

Nguyen Van Thieu (Pres. S.Vietnam) said that a US withdrawal would end American aid and allow Northern troops to take control

December 1972 US bombs North Vietnam to get Thieu’s support and further injure North

Negotiations continued until January 1973

Results of the War US continued

supporting South and Civil War continued within the country

War also divided the American people and also “put a wedge” between the government and its people

Changes to Selective Service in 1969

Indochina’s ecology and economy were devastated (Agent Orange)

Agriculturally devastated forests

1976 Vietnam became Socialist Republic of Vietnam