The Vietnam War Years
Moving Toward Conflict
Roots of American Involvement
Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia were originally French
colonies in the late 19 century. Ho Chi Minh had been
fighting for Vietnamese independence since World War I.
The U.S. gave France aid to discourage the spread of communism to Vietnam.
The United States Steps In
France was defeated at Dien Bien Phu 1954, so the US sent military
advisors to South Vietnam and Ngo Dinh Diem. Diem presided over a
corrupt and repressive regime.
He failed to follow through on promised reforms. Brutal persecution of
Buddhist monks in 1963 damaged Diem’s shaky international reputation.
The US supported a successful military coup against Diem.
LBJ Expands The Conflict
Claiming that North Vietnamese fired on American
Gulf of Tonkin
destroyers in Gulf of Tonkin. LBJ pushed the Gulf of
Resolution
Tonkin Resolution through Congress authorizing him
to use military force in Vietnam. LBJ ordered operation “Rolling Thunder,”
the first sustained bombing of N. Vietnam.
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The Vietnam War Years
US Involvement Grows
The Decision to Escalate
Under the leadership of General William C. Westmoreland, combat
troops conducted search and destroy missions. He kept calling for
more soldiers in order to ensure victory:
1965 – 184,000 1966 – 385,000 1967 – 485,000 1968 – 538,000
Who is the
Enemy?
The Vietcong were founded in South Vietnam who were Vietcong that
supported by North Vietnam.
1. Farmers by day and guerrillas by night.
2. Very patient people willing to accept many casualties.
3. The US grossly underestimated their resolve and resourcefulness.
4. “Charlies” by American troops that will later fight them.
AMERICAN TROOPS
VIETCONG TROOPS
Had superior weapons.
Fought as guerrillas;
avoided head-on clashes
Were unprepared for heat,
terrain, or guerrilla tactics.
Were familiar with terrain; had support of
many South Vietnamese.
Lacked support of most South
Vietnamese.
Built and hid in elaborate
underground tunnels.
Most never saw the enemy but constantly
faced the possibility of sudden danger.
War In The Jungle
The Vietcong were an elusive enemy because they used
guerilla warfare tactics and had a network of elaborate tunnels
that were used to launch surprise attacks.
Helicopters were often used to deploy troops in
open areas in the jungle. Napalm was a jellylike
substance which, when dropped from planes
splattered, and burned uncontrollably.
American pilots dropped an herbicide called Agent Orange
over Vietnamese jungles, killing vegetation and exposing Viet Cong
hiding places. 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to
Agent Orange, resulting in 400,000 deaths and disabilities, and
500,000 children born with birth defects.
The Living Room War
The Vietnam War became known as the Living-room war.
Each night, Americans watched the images – which often were
graphic and brutal – of the Vietnam war. Body counts were reported
on the nightly news, night after night.
A credibility gap emerged between the Johnson
administration and what was really happening.
Credibility Gap – A public distrust of statements made by
the government.
Do you believe everything that the
government tells the public?
The Vietnam War Years
The War Divides America
A Working-Class War
The US invoked the Selective Service Act of 1951, drafting young men between the
ages of 18 and 26 into the armed forces. Most of those who refused to be drafted in
the early 1960s were conscientious objectors.
Conscientious Objectors – People who opposed fighting
on moral or religious grounds.
At first, college students could receive a deferment, or postponement
of their call to serve. Deferments were eliminated in 1971 in response
to complaints that they were unfair to those who could not afford college.
During the Vietnam War there was a disproportionate representation of
poor people and minorities. Many African Americans experienced the
same racism in Vietnam that they endured at home.
Protest Movement Begins
Hollywood opposed the war.
Jane Fonda went to Hanoi to
visit with U.S. POWs.
She was used as propaganda
by North Vietnam. Recently,
a Vietnam vet “spit” on her
and called her a traitor.
Doves
People who
strongly opposed
the war and believed the
US should withdraw.
Hawks
People who strongly
favored the war and
believed the US
should provide a
greater military presence.
The Decision to Escalate
Ho Chi Minh Trail North Vietnamese troops and supplies entered South Vietnam
via the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a route that passed through
Laos and Cambodia.
On Jan. 31, 1968, the first day of the Vietnamese new year
(Tet), the Vietcong attacked numerous cities and towns, and
American bases. The Vietcong won a psychological victory, as
American opinion began turning against the war.
Americans were caught completely by surprise because
they believed that the Vietcong were near defeat. The Tet
Offensive proved to be a turning point in the war.
A Nation Turns on LBJ
Government
Because of the Tet Offensive, the US media
Loses the
announced that the US was losing the war. Walter
Media
Cronkite opposed the war after the Tet Offensive.
LBJ’s rarely left the White House for fear of angry protestors. Eugene McCarthy &
Robert Kennedy campaigned against Johnson for the party’s nomination. Johnson
announced nationally in a televised speech that he would NOT seek another term as
President.
Days of Loss and Rage
April 4th – Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Violence
erupted in 100 U.S. cities as King’s followers burned and
destroyed neighborhoods.
June 4th – Robert Kennedy was assassinated. Kennedy had
become the strong candidate in the Democratic primary, but
was gunned down after winning a crucial California primary.
Election of 1968
Wallace was a champion of school segregation and states’ rights. Humphrey
supported many of LBJ’s domestic and foreign policies. Nixon promised to restore
“law and order” to Middle America.
When it was announced at the Democratic National Convention
(held in Chicago) that Humphrey would be the democratic nominee,
riots ensued. Nixon would eventually end America’s involvement in
Vietnam, but not before his war policies created even
more protest and uproar within the country.
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The Vietnam War Years
The War’s End & Impact
Nixon & Vietnamization
Nixon wanted to achieve “peace with honor” – with his
war strategy called Vietnamization.
Nixon wanted to keep American strength visible in
Vietnamization –
Vietnam and to do so, he ordered secret air attacks
A gradual withdrawal of
against the Vietcong in North Vietnam,
American troops as the
Laos, and Cambodia.
South Vietnamese army
took over more of the
fighting.
Trouble Continues on Homefront
A platoon in entered the small village of My Lai in search of
MY LAI MASSACRE
Vietcong. Finding no signs of the enemy, the troops rounded
up the villagers and shot them.
The troops insisted that they were following
Lt. Calley’s orders. Reportedly, Calley’s directive
to the platoon was “Kill anything that breathed.”
KENT STATE SHOOTINGS
A massive student protest at Kent State University drew the
attention of the National Guard. The guards fired into a
crowd of campus protester who were hurling rocks at them.
Facts:
 67 Rounds fired in 13 sec.
 4 Students dead. (2 had not participated in the rally.
 9 Students wounded.
America’s Longest War Ends
In Oct. 1972, Henry Kissinger announced, “Peace is at hand.”
Conditions of the peace were:
1. US to remove all troops.
2. N. Vietnam could leave troops already in S. Vietnam.
3. N. Vietnam would resume the war.
4. No provisions for POWs or MIAs.
The last American troops left South Vietnam on March 29, 1973. By 1975, the North
Vietnamese defeated the South and renamed Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City.
The War’s Painful Legacy
There was a disregard for Veterans – seen as “baby killers,” while the
POW/MIA issued lingered on. The government passed the 26
Amendment, enabling 18 year olds to vote. Nixon abolished the draft,
creating an all-volunteer army.
War Powers Act - 1973 President must notify
Congress within 48 hours of deploying military
force. President must withdraw forces unless he
gains Congressional approval within 90 days.