The Vietnam EraThe Vietnam Era1954 – 19751954 – 1975

Background Background Vietnam a colony of France from 1884 – Vietnam a colony of France from 1884 –

19541954 Vietnamese unsuccessfully resisted French Vietnamese unsuccessfully resisted French

rule for 70 years rule for 70 years 1954 1954 Vietnamese defeated French at the Vietnamese defeated French at the

Battle Of Dien Bien PhuBattle Of Dien Bien Phu Vietnam partitioned at the 17Vietnam partitioned at the 17thth parallel parallel

between communist North and capitalist between communist North and capitalist SouthSouth

Vietnam PartitionedVietnam Partitioned

Diem vs. Ho Chi MinhDiem vs. Ho Chi Minh

Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam GovernmentVietnam Government Ho Chi Minh consolidates power in North Ho Chi Minh consolidates power in North

Vietnam.Vietnam. In the South, an anti-Communist government is In the South, an anti-Communist government is

headed by Pres. Ngo Dinh Diem which is headed by Pres. Ngo Dinh Diem which is supported by the United States. supported by the United States.

Diem and Pres. Eisenhower oppose elections Diem and Pres. Eisenhower oppose elections because of the fear that 80% of Viet citizens because of the fear that 80% of Viet citizens would vote for Communism and elect Ho Chi would vote for Communism and elect Ho Chi Minh.Minh.

Kennedy AdministrationKennedy Administration Stopping the spread of Stopping the spread of

Communism takes precedence Communism takes precedence over democracy.over democracy.

Diem is not perceived as a strong Diem is not perceived as a strong enough leader to defeat Minh – enough leader to defeat Minh – he does not have enough he does not have enough support from the people. support from the people.

November 2, 1963: with November 2, 1963: with encouragement from the CIA, encouragement from the CIA, South Vietnam generals kill Diem South Vietnam generals kill Diem and take control of the and take control of the Vietnamese government.Vietnamese government.

EscalationEscalation Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (August 2, 1964): Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (August 2, 1964):

supposed torpedoing of US ships by North supposed torpedoing of US ships by North Vietnam. Congress gives President Johnson Vietnam. Congress gives President Johnson unaccountable power to wage war.unaccountable power to wage war.

A different kind of war: guerilla and terrorist A different kind of war: guerilla and terrorist warfare used by Vietnam against the stronger warfare used by Vietnam against the stronger United States. United States.

Search and destroy: heavy bombardment of Search and destroy: heavy bombardment of suspected Viet Cong positions, using napalm.suspected Viet Cong positions, using napalm.

Innocent civilians die Innocent civilians die

Victims of Napalm: Justifiable Victims of Napalm: Justifiable Attacks?Attacks?

President JohnsonPresident Johnson Johnson was faced with limited choices:Johnson was faced with limited choices:

1. Admit defeat and pull out causing a 1. Admit defeat and pull out causing a domino effect in Southeast Asia domino effect in Southeast Asia 2. Limited support that would end in 2. Limited support that would end in defeatdefeat3. Actively attack North Vietnam with loss 3. Actively attack North Vietnam with loss of American lives and high financial costsof American lives and high financial costs

Resistance to PeaceResistance to Peace

North Vietnam resists peace attempts, North Vietnam resists peace attempts, believing they could outlast over the 500, believing they could outlast over the 500, 000 American forces stationed in the 000 American forces stationed in the country.country.

The End in Sight?The End in Sight? In 1967 American Gen. Westmoreland In 1967 American Gen. Westmoreland

said the end was in sight.said the end was in sight. Viet Cong attacks American embassy in Viet Cong attacks American embassy in

January 1968 during the Tet OffensiveJanuary 1968 during the Tet Offensive Military defeat for communists, but Military defeat for communists, but

propaganda victory as American public propaganda victory as American public turns against warturns against war

In March 1968 US bombing stops, but In March 1968 US bombing stops, but Peace Talks in Paris the same year fail.Peace Talks in Paris the same year fail.

Protest and ReactionProtest and Reaction

On the home front, Americans did not On the home front, Americans did not support the Vietnam War (protests, riots, support the Vietnam War (protests, riots, etc). Youth were violently against “the etc). Youth were violently against “the machine” of American government policy.machine” of American government policy.

The Turning Point: 1968The Turning Point: 1968Robert Kennedy is assassinated and Pres. Robert Kennedy is assassinated and Pres. Johnson drops out of election race. Johnson drops out of election race.

President Nixon narrowly wins electionPresident Nixon narrowly wins election

Protest and ReactionProtest and Reaction

Protest and ReactionProtest and Reaction Conservative backlash: Conservative backlash:

lack of respect for lack of respect for order and government order and government from wealthier from wealthier children. children.

Student protests: Student protests: college campuses college campuses became the grounds became the grounds for many protests. for many protests. Why do you think this Why do you think this is?is?

Government SecrecyGovernment Secrecy

Nixon wanted to end Nixon wanted to end the war without the war without losing or prolonging it losing or prolonging it because of limited because of limited support at home.support at home.

The Pentagon Papers: The Pentagon Papers: four presidents had four presidents had lied about US lied about US involvement in involvement in Vietnam. Vietnam.

In 1973 Nixon In 1973 Nixon announces announces VietnamizationVietnamization: : American troops American troops replaced by South replaced by South Vietnamese Vietnamese troops.troops.

In 1974 North Viet In 1974 North Viet attacks South Viet. attacks South Viet. In 1975, the war In 1975, the war ends with the ends with the capture of Saigon.capture of Saigon.

ConclusionConclusion The United States theoretically loses the The United States theoretically loses the

Vietnam war. Vietnam war. Why? Because they lost support on the Why? Because they lost support on the

home fronthome front..

The legacy of Vietnam sets the stage for The legacy of Vietnam sets the stage for government mistrust and less American government mistrust and less American military involvement in the world.military involvement in the world.