Chapter 32 Vietnam War

1968-The pivotal year

during vietnamese new year, the vietcong launch massive attacks in every major south vietnamese town.

• Tet offensive- takes a month to drive them out.

War Unfolds

• Japanese are kicked out of SE Asia

• French control Vietnam, advocate communism

• U.S supports French by supplying weapons

My Lai Massacre

A U.S plantoon led by Lt Calley kills 230-400 residents of My Lai village

Political divisions

Student activism

• Baby Boomers go to college

• Radical groups form to oppose racism and war in Vietnam

• Many participate in Teach-Ins > professors made public statements against war.

Election of 1968

• Johnson does not seek re-election

• Hubert Humphrey supports war

• Race between Nixon and Humphrey

• Nixon wins, promise to end war and restore order at home

Driving the French Out

French forces occupy a town in North Vietnam in hopes to bring the commie army into open battle

• French are defeated

Geneva Accords

• Splits Vietnam at the 17th parallel

• Elections are held

• Diem doesn’t agree because he knows Hi chi Minh will be elected

• Minh creates the Vietcong

• U.S sends troops

• Diem is assassinated

Johnson and Vietnam

• Democrats didn’t want to lose Vietnam

• Gulf of Tankin Resolution- North Vietnamese gunboats attack 2 U.S Navy destroyers

• Johnson asks congress for power

• Operation Rolling Thunder- sustained bombing campaign

Aftermath

• Commies launch a massive invasion of South Vietnam

• Sout Vietnam falls

• Cambodia and Lao also falls to communism

Fighting the War

• U.S troops go on search and destroy missions which was designed to find the enemy, bomb them, draw them into open combat

• Vietcong used ambushes, traps, guerrilla tactics

• North vietnam sends supplies to Vietcong

• Johnson refuses to invade North Vietnam bc he’s scared China will enter the conflict

Results of Pivotal year/ Tet offensive

• Destorys the Vietcong as a fighting force

• Turns U.S public opinion against war

• News media openly criticize war

Nixons Vietnam Policy

• Nixon asks Kissinger to embark on a policy of linkage

• improving with soviets and chinese to end war

• Vietnamization- withdraw of U.S troops gradually

• Expands war to cambodia

American withdraw

Agreement signed

• U.S would withdraw forces in 60 days

• POWs released

• Everyone would end military action in Cambodia and Laos

• 17th parallel would split Vietnam until reunited