Post on 24-Feb-2016
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Vietnam War1965-1975
America’s Involvement in Vietnam
30 years of involvement Five Presidents (Truman, Eisenhower,
Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon) 164 billion dollars 58,132 Americans died / 2 million
Vietnamese 21,000 permanently disabled 3 million Americans served (avg. age
19) 100,000 fled U.S. to avoid serving 830,000 PTSD reports
Our Only Lost War………… U.S. had the latest military
technology Could not defeat a poorly trained
peasant army Why Not? Vietnamese fighting for their
independence Very difficult conditions to fight
under (enemy, weather, terrain, limited war)
Causes of the Vietnam War
Depends on who you ask…………….. Americans say:▪ Stop the spread of communism▪ Fear of domino theory▪ Political reasons
Vietnamese say:▪ Imperialism (western greed)▪ Desire for independence▪ Internal civil war (America had no business
being there)
History of Vietnam
Nearly 2000 years old
Controlled by outsiders for nearly all its existence (China, France, Japan, France, U.S.)
Wanted their independence from foreign rule
IndoChina
Ho Chi Minh (he who enlightens)
France Defeated
Guerilla Warfare breaks out
Civil War breaks out in Vietnam: Northern Vietnam (Vietminh) Communist Southern Vietnam (Vietcong) Communist Southern Vietnam (ARVN) non-
communist
U.S. joins forces with ARVN in 1965 Send 50,000 US soldiers to S.V. 61% of Americans support the war
War Escalates
1967: 500,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam
Death toll at 9,000 Americans
Pres. Johnson promises “victory is near”
Difficult War to Fight
No front lines Jungle terrain Landmines, booby traps,
underground tunnels, heat, rain, leeches, secret supply routes
Hit-n-run tactics Difficult to identify the enemy
American support declines 1967: morale low
among soldiers Public support
waivers Credibility gap
growing Active protests on
college campuses Thousands searching
for ways to avoid the draft (ages 18-26)
College Campuses EruptKENT STATE MASSACRE “FOUR DEAD IN OHIO”
Jeffrey Glenn Miller; 20, shot through the mouth - killed instantly
Allison B. Krause; 19, fatal left chest wound - died later that day
William Knox Schroeder; 19, fatal chest wound - died almost an hour later in hospital while waiting for surgery
Sandra Lee Scheuer; 20, fatal neck wound - died a few minutes later from loss of blood
Anti-War Protests
College campus demonstrations increasing
Musicians singing anti-war songs
Burning draft cards
First Draft Lottery for Vietnam December 1, 1969 Those eligible: born between Jan. 1,
1944-Dec. 31, 1950 First notices sent out to report for
physical exams: Jan, 1970
Facts about the Draft
All males living in the U.S. ages 18-26 are required to register with the Selective Service Act
Average age of those drafted was 18
Once called for service, you are required to be examined for mental, physical, and moral fitness (see handout)
How does the Lottery work?
366 balls representing every possible birthday from January 1 to December 30 are put into a capsule
The balls are drawn, one at a time, and an order for calling men to the induction process is established. (Ex. If September 14 is drawn first, those men born on 9-14 would have draft number 1.
Conscientious Objectors
One who is opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles
Still must register and if drafted, can file a claim for exemption from military service
Must appear before a local draft board and explain his beliefs (in both written and oral form)
Reasons for Deferments
College enrollment (full time student, making satisfactory progress. Could continue to enroll until too old to be drafted
Enlisting in National GuardConscientious objectorMedical condition(1971: changed college student
deferment to end of semester)
Draft Dodgers Cassius Clay Converted to Islam
1964 Refused to serve in
draft Arrested/found guilty /
sentenced to 5 years prison
Conviction overturned Stripped of his boxing
title Didn’t fight again for 4
years
Who got drafted? Vast majority of draftees were poor, undereducated,
urban, blue-collar workers or unemployed
African Americans made up about 13% of the U.S. population but accounted for 20% of the combat related deaths
“We have been repeatedly faced with a cruel irony of watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same school room.” –Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam (MLK, Jr.)
Vietnam Troop Levels Vietnam Troop LevelsSource: Congressional Quarterlies 1960 900 1961 3,200 1962 11,300 1963 16,300 1964 23,300 1965 184,300 1966 385,300 1967 485,600 1968 536,100 1969 475,200 1970 334,600 1971 156,800 1972 24,200 By 1972, an estimated 70,000 draft evadersand deserters were
living in Canada
1968: Peak Year of U.S. Involvement
Jan. 30, 1968: The Tet Offensive begins. Vietcong launch an attack on key cities in S.V., 12 Am. Bases, & U.S. Embassy
Results of Tet Offensive
Military victory for U.S.
Psychological defeat for U.S.
Majority of Ams. Oppose the war and want out
Vietnam War Protest Songs http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-protes
t-songs-from-the-1960s.php Country Joe McDonald “Feel Like I’m
Fixin’ to Die Rag”
B-52 Planes
Huey Helicoper
Weapons of the Vietnam War http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietn
am/trenches/weapons.html
Do you know how the Vietnam War ended?
Do you know who won the Vietnam War?
Did the Domino Theory prove to be true?
Legacies of the Vietnam War
First lost war for U.S. 58,000 Ams. Killed Cynical towards Am. Government Draft abolished War Powers Act (Congress can call
back troops after 90 days) 1.5 million flee Vietnam (Boat
People)