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The Vietnam War 195

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The Vietnam War 195. MAYO AYO. Background to the War. France controlled “Indochina” (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) since the late 19 th century Japan took control during World War II With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar period An attempt to regain “manhood”. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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The Vietnam War 195 MAYOAYO
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Page 1: The Vietnam War   195

The Vietnam War 195

MAYOAYO

Page 2: The Vietnam War   195

Background to the War

a France controlled “Indochina” (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) since the late 19th century

a Japan took control during World War II

a With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar perioda An attempt to regain “manhood”

Page 3: The Vietnam War   195
Page 4: The Vietnam War   195

Background to the War

a The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu

a President Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France.

Page 5: The Vietnam War   195

Background to the War

a International Conference at Genevae Vietnam was divided at 17th parallel

\ Ho Chi Minh’s communist forces controlled the North (Hanoi)

\ Ngo Dinh Diem, a French-educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the South (Saigon)

Page 6: The Vietnam War   195

Background to the War

a A date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnam

a Diem (South Vietnamese leader) backed out of the elections, leading to military conflict between North and South

Page 7: The Vietnam War   195

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

a Repressive dictatorial rule by Dieme Diem’s family holds all powere Wealth is hoarded by the elitee Buddhist majority persecutede Torture, lack of political freedom prevail

a The U.S. aided Diem’s governmente Ike sent financial and military aide 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.

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Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Self-Emulation by a Buddhist Monk

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U.S. Military Involvement Begins

a Kennedy elected 1960a Increases military “advisors” to

16,000a 1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese

military coup d’etat – Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2)

a Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. 22)

Page 10: The Vietnam War   195

Johnson Sends Ground Forces

a Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China --> Domino Theory revived

I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.

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Johnson Sends Ground Forces

a Advised to rout the communists by Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara (liar, loser, it’s all his fault)

a Tonkin Gulf Incident --> 1964(acc. to Johnson – attacks were unprovoked)

a Tonkin Gulf Resolutione “The Blank Check”

Page 12: The Vietnam War   195

U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968

U.S. Troops

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The Ground War 1965-1968

a No territorial goalsa Body counts on TV every night

(first “living room” war)

a Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Trail

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The Air War1965-1968

a 1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam beginsa Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965)

a 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

a Downed Pilots: P.O.W.sa Carpet Bombing – napalm (jelly-like gasoline)

Page 16: The Vietnam War   195

The Air War:A Napalm Attack

Page 17: The Vietnam War   195

Who Is the Enemy?

a Vietcong:e Farmers by day; guerillas at night.e Very patient people willing to accept

many casualties.e The US grossly underestimated their

resolve and their resourcefulness.

The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- Mao Tse tung

Page 18: The Vietnam War   195

Who Is the Enemy?

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The Ground War1965-1968

a General Westmoreland, late 1967:

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Page 20: The Vietnam War   195

Booby Traps and Tunnels

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Booby Traps

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The Tet Offensive, January 1968

a N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)

a Take every major southern citya U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensivea Viet Cong destroyeda N. Vietnamese army debilitateda BUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by

the media

Page 23: The Vietnam War   195

The Tet Offensive

US troops defending the American Embassy in Saigon

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Impact of the Tet Offensive

a Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration

a Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?

Page 26: The Vietnam War   195

Impact of the Vietnam War

e I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes, or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office, the Presidency of your country. Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.

Johnson announces (March, 1968):

Page 27: The Vietnam War   195

American Morale Begins to Dip

a Disproportionate representation of poor people and minorities.

a Severe racial problems.a Major drug

problems.a Officers in combat

6 mo.; in rear 6 mo.Enlisted men incombat for 12 mo.


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