jfk to vietnam

JFK to VietnamJFK to Vietnam

Kennedy and Johnson YearsKennedy and Johnson Years

Causes of VietnamCauses of Vietnam

Consequences of VietnamConsequences of Vietnam

JFK and JohnsonJFK and Johnson

1960 Election1960 Election

John Kennedy John Kennedy (D) vs. Richard (D) vs. Richard Nixon (R)Nixon (R)

1st Televised 1st Televised debate- debate- Kennedy better Kennedy better lookinglooking


Kennedy and the Cold WarKennedy and the Cold War

Kennedy sees Kennedy sees Fidel CastroFidel Castro of Cuba as of Cuba as new threat to democracynew threat to democracy

K. wants “K. wants “flexible responseflexible response” - prepare US ” - prepare US to fight any type of warto fight any type of war

K. funds “3rd World” countriesK. funds “3rd World” countries peace peace corps, Alliance for Progresscorps, Alliance for Progress


Bay of Pigs InvasionBay of Pigs Invasion– US breaks relations with Cuba in 1961 US breaks relations with Cuba in 1961

(Castro is commie)(Castro is commie)– Eisenhower told CIA to recruit Cuban rebels Eisenhower told CIA to recruit Cuban rebels

to overthrow Castro and plan secret invasion to overthrow Castro and plan secret invasion of Cubaof Cuba

– Kennedy took over and plan failedKennedy took over and plan failed complete complete disasterdisaster

– Kennedy embarrassed and took complete Kennedy embarrassed and took complete blameblame


The Cuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis– 1962- US learns Soviets building nuclear 1962- US learns Soviets building nuclear

missiles in Cuba to protect Castro from missiles in Cuba to protect Castro from another US invasionanother US invasion

– Kennedy demands Krushchev remove Kennedy demands Krushchev remove missiles, but secretly negotiates peace terms missiles, but secretly negotiates peace terms behind scenesbehind scenes

– 6 day standoff6 day standoffpractice practice détente détente (ease (ease tensions in Cold War)tensions in Cold War)


The New FrontierThe New FrontierKennedy promised his administration would Kennedy promised his administration would improve economy, education, healthcare, and improve economy, education, healthcare, and civil rightscivil rights New FrontierNew FrontierUS involved in Cold War, economy in US involved in Cold War, economy in recessionrecession deficit spending deficit spendingNovember 22, 1963: Kennedy assassinated by November 22, 1963: Kennedy assassinated by Lee Harvey OswaldLee Harvey OswaldJack RubyJack Ruby shoots Oswald as he is being shoots Oswald as he is being transferred from custodytransferred from custodyWarren CommissionWarren Commission- official investigation into - official investigation into assassinationassassination


Johnson’s Great SocietyJohnson’s Great Society

Lyndon B. Johnson becomes Pres. after Lyndon B. Johnson becomes Pres. after JFK shotJFK shot

Declares “Declares “War on PovertyWar on Poverty”” job corps, job corps, educationeducation

The Great SocietyThe Great Society– Vision for US- end poverty and racial injusticeVision for US- end poverty and racial injustice– Created Medicare and MedicaidCreated Medicare and Medicaid


Warren CourtWarren Court- Supreme - Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren Court Justice Earl Warren makes landmark decisionsmakes landmark decisions– Brown vs. BOE: ends Brown vs. BOE: ends

school segregationschool segregation– Baker vs. Carr: ends Baker vs. Carr: ends

gerrymanderinggerrymandering “one “one man, one vote”man, one vote”

– Strengthened rights of the Strengthened rights of the accused: Gideon vs. accused: Gideon vs. Wainwright; Miranda vs. Wainwright; Miranda vs. Arizona;Arizona;

Vietnam IVietnam I

Origins of the WarOrigins of the WarLate 1800s: France imperialized Laos, Late 1800s: France imperialized Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia (Vietnam, Cambodia (Indochina)Indochina)US gives money to France to maintain US gives money to France to maintain Indochina, while anti-imperial forces in Indochina, while anti-imperial forces in Vietnam (led by Vietnam (led by Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh) begin to ) begin to growgrowHo Chi Minh starts communist party in Ho Chi Minh starts communist party in VietnamVietnam VietminhVietminh

Vietnam IVietnam I

Origins continued…Origins continued…

US concerned over US concerned over domino theorydomino theory- if Vietnam - if Vietnam falls to commie, its neighbors would followfalls to commie, its neighbors would follow

France loses hold in Indochina at France loses hold in Indochina at Dien Bien Dien Bien PhuPhu- military base- military base

Vietnam divided at Vietnam divided at 17th Parallel17th Parallel: : North(Commie) vs. South (Dem.)North(Commie) vs. South (Dem.)

Communist rebel forces form in SVCommunist rebel forces form in SV VietcongVietcong

Vietnam IVietnam I

Origins continued…Origins continued…

USS MaddoxUSS Maddox almost hit by NV in the almost hit by NV in the Gulf Gulf of Tonkinof Tonkin, misses, misses

JFK assassinated, LBJ takes overJFK assassinated, LBJ takes over asks asks congress to use force for war congress to use force for war

Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution: LBJ to use : LBJ to use unlimited resources for warunlimited resources for war

Vietnam IVietnam I

US Involvement GrowsUS Involvement Grows

Ho Chi Minh starts supplying Vietcong in Ho Chi Minh starts supplying Vietcong in SV along SV along Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

LBJ starts LBJ starts Operation Rolling ThunderOperation Rolling Thunder (constant bombing) hoping supplies would (constant bombing) hoping supplies would stopstop

Vietnam IVietnam I

US begins spraying US begins spraying Agent Orange and Agent Orange and NapalmNapalm, increases air strikes, increases air strikes

NV uses guerrilla warfareNV uses guerrilla warfare booby traps, booby traps, tunnels, tunnels, wear down US wear down US

US never invaded NV, depended on SV to US never invaded NV, depended on SV to withstand their invasionwithstand their invasion

US soldiers and civilians question purpose US soldiers and civilians question purpose of war- morale declinesof war- morale declines

Vietnam IVietnam I

US divides on war:US divides on war:– Hawks:Hawks: supports LBJ’s war policies supports LBJ’s war policies– Doves:Doves: Question war Question war

Vietnam IVietnam I

The War Divides AmericaThe War Divides America

Those sent to Vietnam were drafted, no Those sent to Vietnam were drafted, no volunteersvolunteers More AA’s drafted than white More AA’s drafted than white

College campuses become center for anti-war College campuses become center for anti-war protestsprotests

Vietnam becomes “living room war”- families Vietnam becomes “living room war”- families watched on TVwatched on TV

Credibility GapCredibility Gap grows grows America’s growing America’s growing distrust of statements made by gov’tdistrust of statements made by gov’t

Vietnam IVietnam I

Tet OffensiveTet Offensive: Turning point of Vietnam : Turning point of Vietnam WarWar– 1968: Mini truce declared for Vietnam New 1968: Mini truce declared for Vietnam New

Year (Tet)Year (Tet)– Vietcong launch surprise attack when SV is at Vietcong launch surprise attack when SV is at

it weakestit weakest– SV/US win, but proves Vietcong and SV/US win, but proves Vietcong and

communism is still strongcommunism is still strong

US realizes war is nowhere near end, LBJ US realizes war is nowhere near end, LBJ announces he would not run againannounces he would not run again

Vietnam IIVietnam II

1968- Chaotic Year1968- Chaotic Year– Robert Kennedy, JFK’s bro, runs as Dem. Robert Kennedy, JFK’s bro, runs as Dem.

candidatecandidate– Assassinated by Sirhan SirhanAssassinated by Sirhan Sirhan– MLK jr. assassinated in MemphisMLK jr. assassinated in Memphis– November: November: Richard NixonRichard Nixon (Rep.) wins (Rep.) wins

electionelection promises “ promises “peace with honorpeace with honor” in ” in VietnamVietnam

– Appeals to “Appeals to “silent majoritysilent majority”- the ”- the undemonstrators and follows “undemonstrators and follows “southern southern strategystrategy””


The War’s End and ImpactThe War’s End and Impact

Nixon begins peace talks- all commie out of the Nixon begins peace talks- all commie out of the SV and return of POW’sSV and return of POW’s

NV wants US out of SVNV wants US out of SV Nixon refuses Nixon refuses

Nixon gradually pulls US troops, leaves more Nixon gradually pulls US troops, leaves more responsibility on SV forcesresponsibility on SV forces VietnamizationVietnamization

As pullout began, Nixon ordered massive As pullout began, Nixon ordered massive bombing of Ho Chi Minh trail in Cambodiabombing of Ho Chi Minh trail in Cambodia peace with honorpeace with honor


US is outraged- US is outraged- Kent State KillingsKent State Killings- 4 - 4 college students shot by guardcollege students shot by guard

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre- US soldiers shoot and - US soldiers shoot and kill women, children kill women, children

1971: 1971: Pentagon PapersPentagon Papers reveal US reveal US leaders lied to public, never had plan to leaders lied to public, never had plan to end warend war


Jan. 1973: US and NV sign peace Jan. 1973: US and NV sign peace agreement; even though US gone, NV still agreement; even though US gone, NV still attacking SV forcesattacking SV forces Saigon falls Saigon falls

Vets return home to love and disrespectVets return home to love and disrespect

War leads to gov’t distrust- War leads to gov’t distrust- War Powers War Powers ActAct: restricts president war powers: restricts president war powers


Nixon and the Cold WarNixon and the Cold WarNixon hires Nixon hires Henry KissingerHenry Kissinger as National Security as National Security advisoradvisorReal politikReal politik- base foreign policy on how powerful a - base foreign policy on how powerful a country is, not whether it is Com. or Dem.country is, not whether it is Com. or Dem.Suggests reaching out to Communist China to start trade Suggests reaching out to Communist China to start trade with USwith USNixon tours China in 1972, then visits Soviet UnionNixon tours China in 1972, then visits Soviet UnionPractices Practices détente:détente: easing Cold War tensions easing Cold War tensionsSigns Signs SALT I TreatySALT I Treaty: limit number of missiles each : limit number of missiles each country ownscountry owns

jfk to vietnam

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