vietnam

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Vietna m Longest War in U.S. History After WWII, France reclaimed, and took control of, its colonies in S.E. Asia (including Vietnam) Vietnam wanted to be an independent country (not a French colony) A nationalist leader named Ho Chi Minh led Background:

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This is not meant to be shown to a class all at once...it is long and covers a lot. It should be shown in pieces when you teach the Vietnam War

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Page 1: Vietnam

VietnamLongest War in U.S. History

After WWII, France reclaimed, and took

control of, its colonies in S.E. Asia (including Vietnam)

Vietnam wanted to be an independent country

(not a French colony)

A nationalist leader named Ho Chi Minh led Independence Movement

Background:

Page 2: Vietnam

Communist Party of VietnamHo Chi Minh’s Party Platform

1. To overthrow French imperialism (later U.S.)

2. To make Indochina completely independent.

3. To establish a worker-peasant and soldier government.

4. To confiscate the banks and other enterprises belonging to the imperialists and put them in control of the worker-peasant government.

5. To confiscate all the plantations and property belonging to the imperialists and Vietnamese reactionary capitalist class & distribute them to poor peasants.

6. To implement the eight hour work day.

7. To abolish public loans and poll tax. To waive unjust taxes hitting poor people.

8. To bring back freedom to the masses.

9. To carry out universal education.

10. To implement equality between men and women.

Page 3: Vietnam

1950’s: Einsenhower YearsFrench Indo-China War

Funded by U. S.France lost war & withdrew in 1954Results = Divided Country

North = Controlled by Ho Chi Minh (still wants independence & unification)

South = Controlled by U.S. installed: Ngo Dinh Diem

Einsenhower sent Military Advisors

Page 4: Vietnam

The Domino Effect•If one country in S.E. Asia falls to communism, they all could fall.•U.S worried Ho Chi Minh was a communist sympathizer.•U.S. worried about Chinese communist influences.

In the 1950s Americans trusted the government to take care of foreign policy.

Page 5: Vietnam
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1960-1963: JFK YearsMilitary Advisors in So. Vietnam increase to 16,000Green Berets established and sent overSpecial Forces in counterinsurgencySpecial Operations started in Vietnam

Leader of So. Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem, was unpopular = instability

Page 7: Vietnam

Corrupt and losing support

Catholic Leader in Buddhist country

1963: JFK realizes Diem needed to be removed or replaced

U.S. supported overthrow of Diem which resulted in his assassination

So. Vietnam becomes extremely unstable…unglued if you will

Three weeks later…JFK is assassinated

Buddhist Monks lead protest against Diem by publicly lighting themselves on fire…these are some of the first images Americans see

from Vietnam

Ngo Dinh Diem:

Page 8: Vietnam
Page 9: Vietnam

1964-1968: LBJ YearsJohnson Promises Peace in Vietnam

While Preparing for War

1964 - Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionResolution passed by Congress after “incident” in Gulf of Tonkin based on faulty reports that U.S. ships were attacked

It stated: “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of U.S. and prevent further aggression”

It was a blank check to take action. President Lyndon Johnson

Page 10: Vietnam

Increasing Troop Involvement

THE DRAFT!

Number of Troops in Vietnam:

1965: 25,000 184,0001966: 385,0001967: 485,0001968: 543,000

Anti-War Protests

Escalated Too!

LBJ:

Page 11: Vietnam
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Tet Offensive:Major unexpected, offensive attack by North Vietnam during their holiday period (Tet New Year).

Demonstrated the North was not close to surrender, and theWar was not close to over, as many kept promising.

1968: Election Year and Turning Point for Vietnam

Page 14: Vietnam

Pulitzer Prize Winning Photo by AP Photographer Eddie Adams (also film footage)

Taken during the Tet Offensive…

Became a symbol of the War’s brutality, and also a reason to control and censor the media!

Page 15: Vietnam

My LaiMassacre:

U.S. Troops Slaughter Over 300 Villagers.

Showed Dark Side of Conflict.

Frustration with “Insurgents”.

Anyone a Potential Enemy (Civilians Killed).

Page 16: Vietnam

Advantages of North Vietnam:

Fighting for Independence

Home country; knew the lay of the land, geography, etc.

Used guerrilla war tactics; hide and seek, ambush, booby trap

Hatred for imperialistsDoes any of this sound familiar?

Page 17: Vietnam

Anti-War Demonstrations

1965 - 15% Favored Withdrawal

1969 - 69% Considered War “A Mistake”

1970 - Majority of Americans Supported Withdrawal

Page 18: Vietnam

1968-1974: Nixon YearsVIETNAMIZATION:

Slowly removing U.S. Troops(in an attempt to hand the war back over to

So. Vietnam)

Drafts & Tours Continued

1970s: Bombing Cambodia &Laos

Air Campaign: destroy supply routes & camps

Secret at first (illegal)

Public knowledge by 1972

Fuels Anti-War Movement

Page 19: Vietnam

1973: U.S. Ceasefire… …but Civil War continues as the frenzy to “get out” starts

1975: Last Man Out and the Fall of Saigon

1974: Nixon resigns over Watergate Scandal

Page 20: Vietnam

Pentagon PapersGovernment study of U.S. involvement in S.E. Asia by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in 1967

Top Secret / 47-Volume / covered timeframe of Vietnam fromWWII-1968

Exposed miscalculations, arrogance & deceptions

Page 21: Vietnam

1971: Pentagon Papers leaked to NY Times

Increased public distrust in the government…You mean the government lies?Increased Anti-War Protests &

Attitudes.

Page 22: Vietnam