1960s

Background (Vietnam War)

• before WWII, Vietnam was ruled by France

• During WWII, Vietnam was conquered by the Japanese

• Strong anti-Jpn resistance movements emerged: the Viet Minh under Ho Chi Minh

Fighting the French (Vietnam background)

• 1945- the french tried to take control again- another 9 years of war followed

• Viet Minh:

  • lead by Ho Chi Minh

  • Supported by China (communist after 1949)

• French:

  • under Truman, US supported ($500 million per year)

  • By 1953, USA paying 80% of French Bill

Eisenhower and Vietnam

• He gave the French $385 mil of armaments before Dienbienphu

• Sent US bombers and 200 technicians to help the French

• refused direct American help for Dienbienphu

Reasons why Eisenhower helped the French:

• Cheaper and easier to get the French to prevent spread of Communism

• He didn’t want to ‘lose Vietnam’ after ‘losing China’ thwarted Truman’s presidency

• Eisenhower didn’t want to send US troops

Events of the Geneva Accords

• after Dienbienphu: gave Ho Chi Minh control of North Vietnam

• 1956, would be national elections, Eisenhower wouldn’t sign

• instead he set up SEATO, and agreed with Diem’s decision to postpone the election

• Gave Diem $7 billion of funding to Diem despite his controversy and sent 1000 advisers to Saigon

Conditions of the Geneva Accords

• Comms in North

• Diem in south, deeply unpopular in south

• Minh gave up territory of 17th parallel

• Neither side were to make military alliances with foreign countries

• French remain in south

SEATO

(created from fear of 80% of voters for Minh)

members - US. Britain, France, Pakistan, Australila and New Zealand

aimed to protect South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

US device to circumvent Geneva

Kennedy and Vietnam

• needed outright foreign victory after B.O.P

• Influenced by Secretary of Defence, Robert McNamara - military solutions

• Sent extra 16 000 advisers, yet they failed to improve the ARVN

• Diem so unpopular, CIA gave covert encouragement to ARVN to assassinate him (killed on Nov 1st 1963)

Difference between 1963 and 1968

1963: 1968:

-17 000 US advisers -535 000 US ground troops

-200 Americans killed -almost 37 000 dead

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Allowed Johnson to take action and retaliate without approval from Congress

“take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the US and to prevent further aggression”

Operation Rolling Thunder

Feb 13 1965

large scale bombing campaign on N. Vietnamese targets

lasted over 2 years

President also allowed deployment of ground combat troops in Viet countryside to fight Viet Cong

Public reaction to Rolling thunder

67% of Americans approved escalation with Rolling Thunder

70% supported Johnson in 1965 polls and 47% believed he should send in more troops

Congress granted $700 mil for military operations in May 1965

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JFK: Background

• Born into wealthy Irish-American family, 1917, Massachusetts

• Congressman 1947-53

• Senator 1953-60

• Elected president 1960 Nov

• President: Jan 1961- Nov 1963

JKF key events:

• Bay of Pigs Apr 1961

• Created Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, Dec 14 1961

• Equal Pay Act 1963 (amended Fair Labor Standards Act

• Immigration and Nationality Act 1963