Chapter 30

French Controlled Vietnam

From 1800 until war– Plantations– Strict laws– Restricted Freedom of speech– Jailed many dissenters

Vietnamese fight back

1930 Indochinese Communist party staged a number of revolts

Ho Chi Minh 1940 Japan took over

control of vietnam Ho Chi Minh formed the

Vietminh

Dwight D. Eisenhower

The “Domino Theory”

One country falls, they will all begin to fall

1954 Vietminh defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu

Geneva Convention

France, Great Britain, The Soviet Union, The United States, China, Laos, and Cambodia convened with The Vietminh and South Vietnam to iron out the problems and settle on a peace agreement. Divided Vietnam at the 17th Parallel into two countries.

North Vietnam/South Vietnam

North– Communist lead by Ho Chi Minh

South– Anti-Communist lead by Ngo Dinh Diem

Vietcong/VC

Ho Chi Minh Trail Ho Chi Minh

was Secretly supplying the VC with arms and other supplies along the Ho Chi Minh trail

Protest to American Involvement in Vietnam

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

USS Maddox was attacked in the Tonkin Gulf

Tonkin Gulf Resolution gave the President unrestrictive power to deal with Vietnam

William Westmoreland

Became the commander of the American forces in Southeast Asia

New Style of Fighting

Jungle Warfare & Camouflage

What do you see?

Not all images are military images

Tunnel Systems

Credibility Gap

Media would report on a daily basis about the war with live footage.

This causes the government to be forthright in their explanation of the war itself.

Selective Service Act

Most soldiers were sent to the front lies by the draft

Draft dodging and Draft card burning became prominent part of the counter culture.

Cultural Dilemmas in Vietnam

Race– The home front still

fighting racial segregation and the Civil Rights movement

– MLK speaks out against war because blacks fighting for country that does not grant them equality

Women– Began to join the

service in supporting roles.

– Men concerned about seeing women blown to pieces and the emotional impact on soldiers.

Turning point of the war

 

Johnson Resigns

With the weight of Vietnam Bearing down on him

Tet Offensive Johnson decides not

to run for a second term

Richard Nixon

1968 Nixon becomes next President of the US

Vows to bring home American Soldiers

Vietnamization

The gradual reduction of troops in Vietnam

Rolling Thunder

While the troop size was being reduce

The Bombs being dropped increased

Bomb Tonnage dropped

WWII and Korea– 2.6 Million tons

dropped combined

Vietnam– 8 Million Tons

dropped

My Lai Massacre

Nixon Announces plan to invade Cambodia as part of his Vietnamization process

Kent State

Saigon Fall soon after US Departure

War Powers Act

Extension of Executive Privilege 48 Hours to inform Congress Leave troops for 90 days without

declaration of war

Wall of Heroes