THE VIETNAM WAR. EARLY STAGES Vietnam-French colony Vietnam-French colony 1945-Ho Chi Minh declares...
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Transcript of THE VIETNAM WAR. EARLY STAGES Vietnam-French colony Vietnam-French colony 1945-Ho Chi Minh declares...
THE VIETNAM WARTHE VIETNAM WAR
EARLY STAGESEARLY STAGES
Vietnam-French colonyVietnam-French colony1945-Ho Chi Minh declares the 1945-Ho Chi Minh declares the
Independence of VietnamIndependence of Vietnam1949-French install “puppet” government1949-French install “puppet” government1950-Rebels (Viet Minh) begin attacking 1950-Rebels (Viet Minh) begin attacking
French outposts in North VietnamFrench outposts in North Vietnam1950-US sends $15 million in military aid 1950-US sends $15 million in military aid
to the Frenchto the French1954-French soldiers surrender 1954-French soldiers surrender
EARLY STAGESEARLY STAGES
19551955 Ho Chi Minh organizes Communist Government in Ho Chi Minh organizes Communist Government in
North VietnamNorth Vietnam The Republic of South Vietnam is established with The Republic of South Vietnam is established with
Ngo Dinh Diem as presidentNgo Dinh Diem as president US recognizes the government of South VietnamUS recognizes the government of South Vietnam
1959-Minh begins armed revolution to unite 1959-Minh begins armed revolution to unite VietnamVietnam
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT 19611961
Soviets pledge support for Ho Chi MinhSoviets pledge support for Ho Chi Minh Pres. Kennedy sends 400 Green Berets as special Pres. Kennedy sends 400 Green Berets as special
advisors to South Vietnamadvisors to South Vietnam 19631963
Buddhists riot in South Vietnam (American sympathy)Buddhists riot in South Vietnam (American sympathy) Pres. Johnson announces he will not lose VietnamPres. Johnson announces he will not lose Vietnam By the end of the yearBy the end of the year
16,300 Military advisors in South Vietnam16,300 Military advisors in South Vietnam $500 million sent to South Vietnam$500 million sent to South Vietnam
DRAFTDRAFT
Selective ServiceSelective Service – drafted 18-26 year old men. – drafted 18-26 year old men. College students got College students got deferments deferments - wouldn’t have to serve - wouldn’t have to serve
till they finished college.till they finished college.76% men sent to Vietnam were from lower or middle 76% men sent to Vietnam were from lower or middle
class families.class families. Minorities drafted in greater numbers.Minorities drafted in greater numbers. Many saw this as unfair.Many saw this as unfair.
DRAFTDRAFT
Draft protests began. Draft protests began. Protest marches (250,000 in Washington, D.C.)Protest marches (250,000 in Washington, D.C.) Burned draft cards.Burned draft cards. Vandalized draft offices.Vandalized draft offices. Some ran away to Canada.Some ran away to Canada. Conscientious objectors are against wars because of Conscientious objectors are against wars because of
religious, philosophical, or political beliefsreligious, philosophical, or political beliefs
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19641964March-Secret bombings of the Ho Chi Minh March-Secret bombings of the Ho Chi Minh
TrailTrailAugust 2-North Vietnamese ships attack an August 2-North Vietnamese ships attack an
American destroyer in the Gulf of TonkinAmerican destroyer in the Gulf of TonkinAugust 7-Tonkin Gulf ResolutionAugust 7-Tonkin Gulf Resolution
Congress allows president to “take all steps Congress allows president to “take all steps necessary”necessary”
““Blank Check” Resolution Blank Check” Resolution
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19651965 March-“Operation Rolling Thunder”-100 American March-“Operation Rolling Thunder”-100 American
bombers attack North Vietnambombers attack North Vietnam First US combat troops arrive in Vietnam (3500 First US combat troops arrive in Vietnam (3500
Marines & 3500 Army )Marines & 3500 Army ) Viet Cong bomb US embassy in SaigonViet Cong bomb US embassy in Saigon April-15,000 students protest US bombings in April-15,000 students protest US bombings in
Washington DCWashington DC July-Pres. Johnson announces he will sent 44 combat July-Pres. Johnson announces he will sent 44 combat
battalions to Vietnam (125,000 men) & draft calls battalions to Vietnam (125,000 men) & draft calls would be doubled to 35,000would be doubled to 35,000
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19651965August-Johnson asks Congress for $1.7 August-Johnson asks Congress for $1.7
billion for Vietnambillion for VietnamOperation Starlite-First US ground operationOperation Starlite-First US ground operationJohnson makes it a crime to burn draft cardsJohnson makes it a crime to burn draft cardsOctober-25,000 march in support of the October-25,000 march in support of the
Vietnam WarVietnam WarNovember-35,000 anti-war protestors November-35,000 anti-war protestors
surround White Housesurround White House
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19661966April-B52 bombers used for the first time April-B52 bombers used for the first time
against North Vietnamagainst North VietnamJuly-US bombs the Demilitarized ZoneJuly-US bombs the Demilitarized ZoneAugust-China announces support for North August-China announces support for North
VietnamVietnam
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19671967January-Operation Cedar FallsJanuary-Operation Cedar Falls
Americans uncover a network of tunnelsAmericans uncover a network of tunnels““Tunnel Rats”-specially trained volunteers who Tunnel Rats”-specially trained volunteers who
explored the tunnelsexplored the tunnels
May-US & South Vietnamese troops enter the May-US & South Vietnamese troops enter the Demilitarized ZoneDemilitarized Zone
Johnson publicly urges North Vietnam to Johnson publicly urges North Vietnam to accept a peace compromiseaccept a peace compromise
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19681968January-Tet OffensiveJanuary-Tet Offensive
Turning point of WarTurning point of WarSurprise attack during ceasefireSurprise attack during ceasefire84,000 Viet Cong guerillas attacked 100 cities & 84,000 Viet Cong guerillas attacked 100 cities &
town in South Vietnamtown in South VietnamCaught on tape by US news crewsCaught on tape by US news crewsPublic Opinion polls show only 26% of Americans Public Opinion polls show only 26% of Americans
support the Vietnam conflictsupport the Vietnam conflict
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19681968March-My Lai MassacreMarch-My Lai Massacre
300 Vietnamese civilians slaughtered by American 300 Vietnamese civilians slaughtered by American soldiers looking for the Viet Congsoldiers looking for the Viet Cong
Pres. Johnson announces he will not seek re-Pres. Johnson announces he will not seek re-electionelection
May-Peace talks begin in ParisMay-Peace talks begin in ParisBegins 5 years of “talks”Begins 5 years of “talks”
October-”Operation Rolling Thunder” endsOctober-”Operation Rolling Thunder” ends
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19691969February-Viet Cong attacks 110 targets in February-Viet Cong attacks 110 targets in
South VietnamSouth VietnamMarch-Nixon threatens to resume bombingsMarch-Nixon threatens to resume bombings
Authorizes secret bombing of CambodiaAuthorizes secret bombing of CambodiaApril-Troop numbers peak at 543,400April-Troop numbers peak at 543,400May-New York Times leaks the news of the May-New York Times leaks the news of the
secret bombingssecret bombingsJune-Nixon announces “Vietnamization” June-Nixon announces “Vietnamization”
Gradual withdrawal of combat troopsGradual withdrawal of combat troops
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19691969July-”Nixon Doctrine” July-”Nixon Doctrine”
Advocates US military & economic assistance to Advocates US military & economic assistance to nations around the world struggling against nations around the world struggling against CommunismCommunism
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19701970April-Nixon announces a US & South April-Nixon announces a US & South
Vietnamese invasion of CambodiaVietnamese invasion of CambodiaProtest at Kent State UniversityProtest at Kent State UniversityJune-Senate repeals the Tonkin Gulf June-Senate repeals the Tonkin Gulf
ResolutionResolutionUS troops at defeated in CambodiaUS troops at defeated in Cambodia
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19711971June-The New York Times & The Washington June-The New York Times & The Washington
Post publish the “Pentagon Papers”Post publish the “Pentagon Papers”Secret Defense Department paperwork about Secret Defense Department paperwork about
VietnamVietnamNixon takes legal action against the newspapersNixon takes legal action against the newspapersSupreme Court rules in favor of the newspapersSupreme Court rules in favor of the newspapers
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19721972The last US combat troops leave VietnamThe last US combat troops leave Vietnam
19731973Paris Peace AccordsParis Peace Accords
US-halt all military activities & withdraw all US-halt all military activities & withdraw all remaining military personnelremaining military personnel
North Vietnam-immediate cease fire & release all North Vietnam-immediate cease fire & release all American POWsAmerican POWs
Vietnam would remain a divided countryVietnam would remain a divided country
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
19731973 Congress passes the War Powers ResolutionCongress passes the War Powers Resolution
President must obtain support of Congress within 60 days of President must obtain support of Congress within 60 days of sending troops overseassending troops overseas
19741974 North Vietnam violates the Paris peace treaty by North Vietnam violates the Paris peace treaty by
attacking South Vietnamattacking South Vietnam
19751975 Viet Cong controls Saigon Viet Cong controls Saigon Vietnam unified under Communist ruleVietnam unified under Communist rule
AFTERMATHAFTERMATH
America’s longest warAmerica’s longest warFirst defeatFirst defeatOver 2 million Americans involvedOver 2 million Americans involved47,244 killed47,244 killed153,324 seriously wounded153,324 seriously wounded2400 POWs/MIAs2400 POWs/MIAs