Background to the War France controlled Indochina since the late 19 th century Japan took control during World War II With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar period
Background to the War The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh s forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu
Background to the War Geneva Conference (1954) Vietnam was divided at 17 th parallel O N. Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh O Vietminh (N.V. communists) O S. Vietnam - Ngo Dinh Diema French-educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the South (non-communist) O Vietcong communists in South Vietnam
Background to the War A date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnam Diem was corrupt Vietcong communists in South Vietnam Want to topple Diem and unite country under Ho Chi Minh, supported by China and SU
U.S. Military Involvement Begins Repressive dictatorial rule by Diem Diem s family holds all power Wealth is hoarded by the elite Torture, lack of political freedom prevail The U.S. aided Diem s government Ike sent financial and military aid Feared Domino Theory 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960
U.S. Military Involvement Begins JFK increases military advisors to 15,000 Buddhist monk sets himself on fire in protest of Diem world opinion changes overnight 1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese military coup d etat Diem killed
Early Protests of Diem s Government Buddhist Monk who set himself on fire
Johnson Sends Ground Forces Remembers Truman s loss of China Domino Theory revived I m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.
The Beginning of the War Tonkin Gulf Incident - North Vietnamese ships allegedly fired on American ships LBJ called the attack unprovoked ordered limited retaliatory air raid against N.V. bases Secretly: US Navy and S. Vietnamese were raiding N. Vietnamese coasts Self-defense by N.V. or possible no attack whatsoever Tonkin Gulf Resolution Gave Johnson a virtual blank check on what he could do in affairs in Vietnam Johnson said it was like his grandma s nightshirt, it covered everything! No formal declaration of war
Vietcong attacked US air base at Pleiku, S.V. President ordered retaliatory bombing raids in N.V. + troops on land Operation Rolling Thunder (March 1965) regular full-scale bombing attacks against N.V. 3 years bombed bases, roads, railways, Ho Chi Minh Trail By end of 1965 184,000 troops Strategy escalation of troops would drive the enemy to defeat (Gen. Westmoreland) As we increased troops, so did N.V. S.V. became spectators in their own war By 1968 500,000 troops to Asia, $30 billion annually no end in sight Quagmire a swamp, can t get out of it, bad situation
And in the End. Ho Chi Minh: If we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be you who tires of it.
Ground War Search and destroy missions Vietcong knew the terrain, had peasant support Villages uprooted, moved to urban areas
Who Is the Enemy? Vietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at night. Very patient people willing to accept many casualties. The US grossly underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness.
The Ground War 1965-1968 No territorial goals Body counts on TV every night (first living room war)
Air War Air strikes preferred less US lives Vietcong dug 30,000 miles of tunnels US uses napalm and Agent Orange Agent Orange defoliant to clear jungles and see enemy no cover Caused death, maiming, birth defects, deformities Cancer in many Veterans Napalm mix of thickening gel and petroleum used in incendiary bomb to start fires Can stick to skin and causes burns (1500-2200 degrees F)
The Air War: A Napalm Attack
Who Is the Enemy?
World Opinion Are we defending a democratic ally? S.V. had successive corrupt govts Is this a test of containment? World opinion grew hostile a superpower blasting an underdeveloped country Nations expelled US Peace Corps (France) Prevented US help in ME Anti-war demonstrations Began as small campus teach-ins Biggest cause of protest Draft 5000 per month to 50,000 a month Poor and black Drafted men fled to Canada or publicly burned draft cards Marches Hell no, we won t go, Hey, Hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?
Anti-War Demonstrations Columbia University 1967
Hell no, we won t go!
Anti-War Demonstrations Student Protestors at Univ. of CA in Berkeley, 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, 1968
Hanoi Jane Jane Fonda: Traitor?
Anti-War Demonstrations May 4, 1970 4 students shot dead. 11 students wounded Kent State University Jackson State University May 10, 1970 2 dead; 12 wounded
World Opinion Opposition in Senate Comm. On Foreign Relations Sen. William Fulbright (AR) Held a series of TV hearings prominent people voice anti-war views Doves increase US feels deceived about causes and the winnability of the war Credibility gap opened between govt and people Robert McNamara (Defense Sec) increased discomfort with war, he was eased out of job Early 1968 considered most unpopular war in US History - 100,000 casualties, more bombs dropped than in WWII LBJ ordered CIA to spy on domestic anti-war activists Encouraged FBI to turn its counterintelligence program (Cointelpro) against the peace movement Leading doves falsely accused as communist sympathizers
Vietnam Vexations US was fighting against highly motivated rebels striving to overthrow an oppressive regime What is our purpose? US has no will to win Drug use by troops in Vietnam Rumors of rape and murder by US Johnson still clung to escalation strategy Washington saying Vietnam is about to be won
U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam 600,000 500,000 400,000 U.S. Troops 300,000 200,000 100,000 1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 0
The Ground War 1965-1968 General Westmoreland, late 1967: We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The End of LBJ Tet Offensive (Jan 1968) Viet Cong launched massive attacks on several S. Vietnamese cities, including Saigon Tet = Vietnamese New Year We thought the North was losing. Tactical loss for Vietcong, but political victory Americans demanded a quick end to the war
The Tet Offensive, January 1968 N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon) Take every major southern city US beat back the offensive Viet Cong destroyed N. Vietnamese army debilitated BUT it s seen as an American defeat by the media
The Tet Offensive, January 1968
Impact of the Tet Offensive Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration
Johnson s popularity dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%.
The End of LBJ LBJ in personal agony over casualties cried over letters of condolence, prayed with monks at night Johnson challenged from within his own party Eugene McCarthy and Bobby Kennedy March 31, 1968 TV address LBJ freezes troop levels and will scale back bombing Announced he would not run in 1968 US shocked!
Impact of the Vietnam War Johnson announces (March, 1968): I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.