The Vietnam War

Who’s war is it?

Who is in control of Vietnam?

• 1800 to WWII: French• WWII: Japan• After WWII: Back to French

or Independent?– French troops back– Ho Chi Minh wants

communism• 1953 Eisenhower sends

support to help French beat Commies (3/4 of cost paid by USA)

Vietnamese Civil War

• Ngo Dinh Diem• Anti-Communist• Pro-West, Catholic

• Ho Chi Minh• Influenced by Communists in

China and USSR• Wants a united Vietnam• Army=Vietcong (VC)

Build Up to a larger war• 1960: Kennedy elected– Increases troops– Diem’s (S. Vietnam) gov’t was corrupt

• Many people in S. Vietnam upset with gov’t leads to huge protests– Discrimination against Buddhists

US Cold War Policy• Our P.O.V.

– USA and W. Europe=GOOD=Free=Democracy– USSR and Commies=BAD=Not

free=Dictatorship

• Containment: Don’t let communism spread beyond where it already is

• Domino Theory: If Vietnam falls to communism, then Thailand, then India, etc (slippery slope to world domination)

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution•Congress gives LBJ authority to “take all necessary measures to repeal any armed attack against the United States.”•No Declaration of War (Art I, Sec 6.11)

“Americanization” of War• Operation Rolling Thunder• US takes the offensive by escalating troops

and military actions

“I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBksHaTQCbU

Agent Orange

The Elusive Enemy• Vietcong and Vietminh use surprise/sneak

attacks• Only engage when they know victory is assured• US technological advantage not obvious

Vietcong tunnels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azxnc1nDkos

Discontent in America• Lower morale on war front due to stalemate• Doves and Hawks argue back home• War was draining US resources; LBJ struggles to

get his social programs initiated

Students Protest Nationwide

Tet Offensivehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDy0Z3HSkTE&feature=player_embedded#at=135

Johnson doesn’t run for re-election