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The vietnam war
The Vietnam War intensified tensions of the Cold War as the U.S. sought to contain the spread of communism through flexible response and increasing military spending. The U.S. became involved in Vietnam to aid South Vietnam after the 1954 Geneva Accords divided the country. As U.S. involvement grew, they used tactics like search and destroy missions and defoliants while the Viet Cong employed guerilla warfare. By 1969, the U.S. was divided as the public turned against the war, especially after events like the Tet Offensive and My Lai Massacre undermined the perception that the U.S. was winning. Protests on college campuses against the draft escalated tensions further.
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The vietnam war
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- 2. Intensifies Cold War“Letevery nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty. We will do all this and more.”
- 3. Flexible responseSpent 6billion on military in his first year in officeExpanded Special Forces and gave them the green beretAdded 5 combat divisionsConstruction of nuclear arsenal1,000 ICBM32 Polaris submarinesAllowed the U.S. to “choose among a variety of options to fight communism”
- 4. Going to VietnamHillsDensely forested mountainsCanals, and riversJunglesTropical monsoon climate
- 5. Roots of AmericanInvolvement
- 6. A divided colonyA1954 agreement split the French colony in North and South VietnamFrance left in 1955U.S. stepped in to assist South VietnamU.S. involvement grew slowly
- 7. Communism in VietnamGenevaAccordsAgreement between countries involvedSoviet Union, U.S., China, Laos, Cambodia, Great Britain and FranceDivided Vietnam along the 17th parallelNorth VietnamCommunistLeader Ho Chi MinhSouth VietnamAnti communist Nationalists
- 8. Why did theUnited States aid the French?Domino TheoryIdea that if one nation fell under Communist control, nearby nations will also fallRecently settled for a stalemate in Korea
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- 10. Diem’s Repressive GovermmentACatholicBuddhists protestedKilled in 1963
- 11. Communist Infiltration ofthe SouthVietcongA communist group in South VietnamOpposed Diem governmentHo Chi Minh TrailA network of paths used by the North Vietnamese to transport supplies to Vietcong in the South
- 12. Johnson and theGulf of Tonkin ResolutionU.S.S. Maddox was conducting an espionage missionGreatly escalated the war Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionAdopted in 1964Granted President broad powers to wage war in Vietnam
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- 14. Vietcong TacticsGuerilla warfareHitand Run ambushBooby trapsLand minesElaborate tunnel networksBridgesUnderground fuel tanksHospitalsSupply warehouses
- 15. U.S. TacticsWar ofAttritionGradual wear down of the enemy by continuous harassmentGeneral WestmorelandRequested additional troopsLed to high body countsSearch and Destroy missionsUse of defoliantsBattle of Hearts and mindsConvince people that America is there to helpVietcong will have no place to hide
- 16. Philosophies of theWarSec. of State McNanamaraHo Chi Minh“I don’t think these people have the capacity to fight this way”“You can kill ten of my men for everyone I kill of yours, but even at those odds you will lose and I will win.”
- 17. U.S. troubleUnsure ofterrainDifficult to determine friend from foeClear objectives were never set
- 18. Vietnam: A workingclass warA “manipulative” draftMost soldiers were in war drafted2.2 million draftedMedical defermentsCollege defermentsDraft dodgers60,000-100,000 fled to Canada to avoid servingLee Greenwood “I am proud to be an American”
- 19. 1969: Ilost the lotteryLottery reinstated to ensure fairnessDec 1, 1969First lottery was heldSocial Security Headquarters in D.C.First date drawn was Sept. 14th
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- 21. “I may disagreewith what you say but I will defend to the death your right to day it.”What did soldiers say when asked their opinion on the anti-war sentiment?Should freedom of speech be defended at any cost?Why did these young men serve when so many others avoided service?
- 22. Campus Activitism“Hey L.B.J.,how many kids have you killed today.”“Eighteen today, dead tomorrow.”“Draft beer, not boys”Columbia University
- 23. Doves v. theHawksDoves HawksOpposed warThought it was time to withdrawSupported the warShould increase military force
- 25. The TET OffensiveJanuary-February-the TET OffensiveNorth Vietnamese attack cities in South Vietnam45,000 Viet Cong and North Vietnam Army (NVA) diedShatters the illusion that American is winning the warWalter Cronkite changed public opinion
- 26. My Lai MassacreMarch1968Village of My Lai was known to support Viet Cong504 civilians were killed by U.S. soldiersSome were carved with “C” for Charlie Co. Lt. Calley convicted of killings but he stated he was following orders22 year helicopter gunner from a different unit brought massacre to light Ron RidenhourAge 3 and younger- 50Age 4-7 – 6970 or older- 27
- 27. Ending the VietnamWarThree part planGradual withdraw of American troopsRenewed bombing Hard line negations with Hanoi
- 28. Response to theBombing of CambodiaWidespread student protestKent State University near Cleveland Ohio had some of the worst riotsStudents bombed the ROTC buildingGovernor sent National guard soldiers to universityGuardsmen opened fire4 students were killed and 11 were wounded