Vietnam War
I. Early Conflicts in Vietnam
A. Early Control of Vietnam
1. French Take Over 1883 France takes over
Vietnam Combined Vietnam, Lao, &
Cambodia into French Indo-China
2. Ho Chi Minh A Vietnamese Nationalist Name means “He Who
Enlightens” Believed the way to fight
the French was through communist revolution
3. Japan in Vietnam Take over the country
during WWII Ho Chi Minh starts the
League for the Independence of Vietnam (Vietminh)
B. War Breaks Out1. After WWII
Japan out of Vietnam French want Indo-China back Fighting between Vietminh
and French
2. Domino Theory Pres Eisenhower supports the
French Does not want Vietnam to
become communist Feared if it falls it will cause
other countries to fall to communism “like dominos”
3. French Lose 1954 Vietminh surround
French troops French surrender (May
7th)
4. Geneva Accords July 1954: Vietnam split
in 2
North Vietnam: Communist led by Ho Chi Minh South Vietnam: Pro Western led by Ngo Dinh
Diem Free election in July 1956 would reunite N. & S.
under one government
American Involvement
Presidents
U.S. involvement started with Eisenhower when he sent “advisors” to help the South Vietnamese as they fought the communists.
Kennedy inherited the war. He continued the practice of sending advisors.
Johnson picked up after Kennedy. He thought the only way to end the war was to increase U.S. involvement.
Congress wouldn’t allow him to send more troops over there.
In 1964 a U.S. navy ship was fired on in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Johnson used this to send in more troops.
By 1965 the U.S. had sent about 500,000 soldiers over to Vietnam.
Vietnam was the first televised war
In 1968 the Vietnamese started on offensive movement called the “Tet Offensive”.
By now the country was split over the war and Johnson’s political career was done.
Consequences of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
A. Southeast Asia1. Casualties
1 million North Vietnamese and Vietcong soldier
185,000 South Vietnamese soldiers
500,000 civilians Almost 1 million
Vietnamese children orphaned
2. Damages Cities and Villages destroyed Forests and Farmlands destroyed
3. Laos and Cambodia Both countries fall to communist dictatorships Khmer Rouge kill around 2 million people in
Cambodia 1979 Vietnam invaded Cambodia and drove out
Khmer Rouge Ongoing conflicts continue in Cambodia
B. The United States
1. Casualties 58,000 Americans died in fighting More than 2,000 remain MIA (missing in action)
2. War Powers Act (1973) Requires president to get congressional approval
before putting troops into armed conflict Nixon vetoes this bill Congress overrode his veto to pass act Gives congress increased responsibility over war
policy Forces presidents to be more cautious when
sending troops to war
1968 Election
A. Democratic Party Nominee
Hubert Humphrey (Presidential Candidate) Johnson’s Vice President Johnson put his support behind Humphrey
Edmund Muskie (Vice Presidential Candidate) Senator from Maine
B. Republican Party Nominee
Richard Nixon Former Vice president under Eisenhower Said he would restore order to American Society Said he had a “secret plan” to end the Vietnam War
C. American Independent Party
George Wallace Alabama Governor Conservative Candidate Wanted to overturn civil rights
legislation Wanted to eliminate most
federal social programs
D. Outcome of Election
Close election
Nixon wins with 301 electoral votes
Humphrey received 191 electoral votes
Wallace received 46 electoral votes