Vietnam

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Vietnam

• 1959-1975
• Get out your composition book

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Warm-Up

• Shortly after World War II, the cold war
  developed mainly as a result of the
• United States refusal to send economic aid to
  European nations
• Soviet domination of Eastern Europe
• competition between the superpowers to explore
  outer space
• continuation of the pre-World War II balance of
  power

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Warm-Up

• Shortly after World War II, the cold war
  developed mainly as a result of the
• United States refusal to send economic aid to
  European nations
• Soviet domination of Eastern Europe
• competition between the superpowers to explore
  outer space
• continuation of the pre-World War II balance of
  power

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Vietnam History

• 1940s Japan controlled the area
• 1945 Japan forced out by Vietminh
• French reclaim Land
• Ho Chi Minh vows to drive out the French

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US Involvement

• US. Provides support and economic aid to France
• US involvement due to counter communism
• Eisenhower introduces Domino Theory
• Some change would cause similar change in another
  area

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France Withdrawals

• Geneva Accords
• Divided the country
• North and South until elections could be held
• Elections were never held
• Diem was overthrown
• US Tonkin Gulf Resolution

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The Faces of Vietnam
Robert McNamara
Lyndon B. Johnson
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U.S. Involvement and Escalation

• Johnsons Policy
• Election of 1964 against sending troops
• March of 1964 sends troops

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Elusive enemy

• Hit and run attacks
• Lived among the population
• Network of tunnels
• Used explosive traps

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NVA v. NLF
Northern Vietnamese Army
National Liberation Front (Viet Cong)
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American Strategy

• Destroy Morale
• Continuous harassment
• Introduces the Body Count
• Win support of the people

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Sinking Morale

• American soldiers become frustrated
• Jungle conditions were harsh
• South Vietnamese leaders were corrupt and unstable

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The War at home

• Economy began to suffer
• War very costly
• Casualties mounted
• Became a Living-Room War
• Combat footage shown daily
• Images contradict government claims

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1968 The Tet Offensive
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Tet Offensive

• A simultaneous attack on South Vietnam cities
• The Offensive was military failure for the
  communist
• However, a psychological and political victory
• Public support for war falls
• Media criticizes the war
• McNamara resigns

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Violence and protest

• April 4, 1968 King was assassinated
• Led to riots in major cities

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• June 5 1968 Robert Kennedy was assassinated
• Colleges become hotbeds for protest

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Election of 1968

• Johnson withdraws nomination
• Democrat's were in disorder
• Convention in Chicago turns into a riot
• Nixon Wins election
• Promises to restore order and end the war

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Nixon and Vietnamization

• Policy for gradual withdrawal while the South
  Vietnamese take a more active role
• Nixon calls Communist to withdrawal
• Peace with Honor
• Maintain US dignity
• Continued to attack the North
• Wanted the enemy to know he was capable of
  anything

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The End of the War and its Legacy

• Kent State Jackson State protest
• National Guard firing on students

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Invasion of Cambodia

• 1970 US troops ordered to clear out supply
  centers

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My Lai Massacre
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The Pentagon Papers

• Revealed government had plans for entering the
  war
• Reaffirmed that the government had not been
  honest
• Dec. 31, 1970 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution repealed

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Americas Longest War Ends

• January 27, 1973 an end of combat agreement was
  signed
• March 29, 1973 the last combat troops left
• On April 30, 1975 South Vietnam surrendered to
  North Vietnam

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Legacy

• Hawks
• US should have employed more power
• Blamed the anti-movement for morale loss

• Doves
• North showed greater resistance
• Continuing might have prompted action by the
  Soviets

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Change in U.S. Policy

• Abolished the Draft
• Passed War Powers Act
• Contributed to the cynicism of national government

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Bob Dylan
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CCR
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Buddhist Monks
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Black Panther Program 1966
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Petition of the Voting Age
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LBJ Ho Chi Min
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Country Joe Macdonald
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GI against the War
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Political Cartoon
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Muhammad Ali
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Rolling Stones