Where is Where is Vietnam?Vietnam?

Why Did the United Why Did the United StatesStates

Fight a War in Vietnam? Fight a War in Vietnam?• To stop the spread of To stop the spread of

world Communism. world Communism. • It’s part of the Cold War It’s part of the Cold War

between the Soviet between the Soviet Union and United States Union and United States after WWII.after WWII.

• The French were The French were defeated by Vietnam in defeated by Vietnam in the 1950s. America the 1950s. America began its war in the began its war in the 1960s.1960s.

Longest and Most Longest and Most Unpopular WarUnpopular War

• The Vietnam War was the The Vietnam War was the longest and most unpopular longest and most unpopular war in American history. war in American history. – 58,000 Americans lost their 58,000 Americans lost their

lives.lives.• The oldest was 62 years old; the The oldest was 62 years old; the

youngest, 16.youngest, 16.• 61% were 21 or younger.61% were 21 or younger.

– 304,000 were wounded.304,000 were wounded.– 75,000 were severely disabled. 75,000 were severely disabled. – The United States spent over The United States spent over

$200 billion dollars on the $200 billion dollars on the war. war.

The Domino TheoryThe Domino Theory• This theory stated, “If South Vietnam falls This theory stated, “If South Vietnam falls

to the Communist, Laos, Cambodia, to the Communist, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, India and Pakistan would Thailand, Burma, India and Pakistan would also fall like dominos. The Pacific Islands also fall like dominos. The Pacific Islands and even Australia could be at risk”.  and even Australia could be at risk”.  

• If one country becomes communist, all If one country becomes communist, all nearby countries will follow.nearby countries will follow.

Vietnamese in the WarVietnamese in the War• ““Viet Cong” – the Viet Cong” – the

communist army of communist army of North Vietnam. They North Vietnam. They believed they were believed they were fighting against fighting against American invaders.American invaders.

• South Vietnam— South Vietnam— Fighting against the Fighting against the North Vietnamese North Vietnamese communists with U.S. communists with U.S. helphelp

Kennedy’s WarKennedy’s War• Gave “advisers,” guns, Gave “advisers,” guns,

and money to South and money to South Vietnam. Kept U.S. Vietnam. Kept U.S. soldiers out.soldiers out.

Attack on American Attack on American ShipsShips

• In August 1964, North In August 1964, North Vietnam launched an attack Vietnam launched an attack against the C. Turner Joy against the C. Turner Joy and the U.S.S. Maddox, two and the U.S.S. Maddox, two American ships on call in the American ships on call in the Gulf of Tonkin.Gulf of Tonkin.

Bombing, helicopters, Bombing, helicopters, patrolspatrols

HelicoptersHelicopters

• Of all aircraft, Of all aircraft, thethe helicopter helicopter was the most was the most useful, dropping useful, dropping platoons in the platoons in the jungle clearings jungle clearings and out again. and out again. They were They were excellent air excellent air ambulances. ambulances.

How did the North VietnameseHow did the North VietnameseFight Back Against the U.S. Fight Back Against the U.S.

Invaders?Invaders?• Guerrilla tactics—attack and then Guerrilla tactics—attack and then

disappear into the jungle.disappear into the jungle.• Give help to villagers, turning them Give help to villagers, turning them

against the U.S.against the U.S.

North Vietnamese North Vietnamese TacticsTactics• Their weapons were Their weapons were

cheap cheap and reliable.and reliable.– Deadly booby traps. Deadly booby traps.

Tunnel ComplexesTunnel Complexes

• The Vietnamese built large tunnel The Vietnamese built large tunnel complexes. This protected them from complexes. This protected them from the bombing raids by the Americans the bombing raids by the Americans and gave them cover for attacking and gave them cover for attacking the invaders. the invaders.

Search & Destroy TacticsSearch & Destroy Tactics• The United States countered The United States countered

with “Search and Destroy” with “Search and Destroy” tactics. Troops checked for tactics. Troops checked for weapons. If they found them, weapons. If they found them, they rounded up the they rounded up the villagers and burned the villagers and burned the villages down.villages down.

– As one marine said – “If they weren’t Vietcong As one marine said – “If they weren’t Vietcong before we got there, they sure [...] were by the time before we got there, they sure [...] were by the time we left”. we left”.

The My Lai MassacreThe My Lai Massacre• Hushed up at the time and only Hushed up at the time and only

discovered by a tenacious journalist, discovered by a tenacious journalist, this involved the killing of this involved the killing of approximately 400 men, women and approximately 400 men, women and children by US troops.  children by US troops. 

The War in AmericaThe War in America

• Since there were not Since there were not enough volunteers to enough volunteers to continue to fight a continue to fight a protracted war, the protracted war, the government instituted a government instituted a draft. draft.

Anti-War ProtestsAnti-War Protests

• Protests erupted on college Protests erupted on college campuses and in major cities at first, campuses and in major cities at first, but by 1968 every corner of the but by 1968 every corner of the country seemed to have felt the country seemed to have felt the war's impact.war's impact.

Kent StateKent State

• At Kent State in At Kent State in Ohio, four Ohio, four students were students were killed by National killed by National Guardsmen who Guardsmen who were called out to were called out to preserve order on preserve order on campus after days campus after days of anti-Nixon of anti-Nixon protest.protest.

Why Did the United States Why Did the United States Lose the Vietnam War?Lose the Vietnam War?

   

SourcesSources

• Battlefield Vietnam: A Brief HistoryBattlefield Vietnam: A Brief Historyhttp://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/history/ihttp://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/history/index.htmlndex.html

• Vietnam Revision GuideVietnam Revision Guidehttp://www.learnhistory.org.uk/vietnam/ustactihttp://www.learnhistory.org.uk/vietnam/ustactics.htm cs.htm