Starting in the late 1800s, France controlled Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. This area was known as French Indochina.
France profited from plantations and maintained strict rule over the Vietnamese peasants.
Vietnamese Revolutionaries and Ho Chi Minh
Many Vietnamese revolutionaries fled to China, led by Ho Chi Minh (Communist).
Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam when the Japanese took control in 1940. Vietnam was an ally of the US during WWII.
The Vietminh was created with the goal to liberate Vietnam.
End of WWII and Declaration of Independence
In 1945, WWII ended, and Japan left Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh declared independence.
The French Army arrived in Vietnam and regained the southern half of Vietnam.
Quote from Ho Chi Minh
"If ever the tiger pauses the elephant will impale him on his mighty tusks. But the tiger will not pause and the elephant will die of exhaustion and loss of blood."
The French Indochina War
France attempted to reestablish its rule in Vietnam.
The US sent massive economic and military support to help the French fight communism.
1950: Truman sent 15 million.
1950-54: The US sent over 1 billion.
Domino Theory
1954: Eisenhower explained the “Domino Theory,” stating that if one country falls to the communists, more will follow.
The French surrendered in 1954 and pulled out of Vietnam.
Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel.
Division of Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh led North Vietnam, while Ngo Dinh Diem led South Vietnam.
National elections were canceled by Diem with the help of the US.
Diem was corrupt and suppressed all opposition.
Diem was a Catholic who did not allow other religions to practice.
The Vietcong
Communists in the south opposed Diem.
Diem continued his ways and, under the orders of JFK, Diem was removed.
Diem was assassinated against JFK’s orders.
JFK was assassinated three weeks later.
LBJ and Vietnam
"I am not about to send American boys 9 or 10,000 miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves." -LBJ
Johnson Expands the Conflict
Diem’s death brought more chaos to South Vietnam.
Numerous military leaders attempted to take power but all failed.
The Vietcong’s influence grew in South Vietnam.
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution
August 2, 1964: A North Vietnamese patrol boat fired on an American ship.
August 4, 1964: Another ship was attacked (this never really happened).
Johnson asked Congress for powers to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States.”
Only 2 senators voted against it.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed.
Escalation of US Involvement
February 1965: Vietcong attacked and killed American advisors.
Johnson unleashed “Operation Rolling Thunder” – bombing raids of North Vietnam.
By June, the US had more than 50,000 soldiers in Vietnam.
Support for Containment
McNamara and Dean Rusk advised LBJ to defend South Vietnam.
Only 24% of Americans were against LBJ’s Vietnam policy.
By the end of 1965, more than 180,000 American soldiers were in Vietnam.
General Westmoreland
Requested more ground troops in order to confront the Vietcong.
LBJ met his requests.
By 1967, the US had over 500,000 soldiers in Vietnam.
An Elusive Enemy
Guerrilla Warfare: Hit and run tactics, knowledge of jungle terrain, secretly moving in and out of the general population.
Women and children took part in the war effort.
Tunnels of the Vietcong
Could withstand air strikes.
Connected villages throughout the countryside.
Used thousands of booby traps.
Westmoreland's Strategy
War of attrition: Break the enemy’s morale through Body Count.
Use of Napalm and Agent Orange.
1968- Tet Offensive
Communists attacked over a hundred locations throughout Vietnam.
US forced them back, and the communists suffered severe casualties.
Americans viewed this as a negative.
Election of 1968
Democrats: Johnson (Hubert Humphrey VP), R. Kennedy, McCarthy
Republican: Nixon
LBJ drops out of election, RFK is assassinated, Humphrey joins race, Humphrey gets nomination over McCarthy
Protests on the streets of Chicago.
Election Results
Nixon won the election.
Nixon's Strategy
Attempt at “Peace with Honor”
U.S. wanted the North to withdraw all troops from the South and to leave the government intact in South Vietnam.
The North wanted the U.S. out of the south and wanted to unite the country.
Henry Kissinger's Vietnamization
Gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Allow the South Vietnamese to fight the war.
Within three years, U.S. troops went from 500,000 to 25,000.
Bombed Laos and Cambodia.
The My Lai Massacre
U.S. Troops killed over 300 unarmed Vietnamese, including women and children.
25 charged with the crime. Only one was jailed: William Calley, Jr.
Invasion of Cambodia
1970: Nixon announces the invasion but did not inform Congress.
1.5 million college students formed a student strike, shutting down 1,200 campuses.
Kent State Protests.
Loss of Political Support
Congress repealed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution.
Nixon ran for president, stating he would end the war in 1972.
Won the election and withdrew all U.S. troops by 3/29/73.
4/30/1975: North Vietnam invaded and conquered South Vietnam.