Comprehensive Study Guide: U.S. Imperialism and the Vietnam War
Social Status, Domesticity, and Late 19th-Century History
Legal Status of Minors and Married Women * Contracts involving individuals with the status of a minor were often considered under the "sheet of force." * Women were able to hold their own property initially, but upon marriage, control shifted significantly; husbands gained control over their property and their children. * Domesticity: This concept was a central idea used by many women to compare or contrast their social roles and influences.
U.S. Imperialism and Historical Eras * Timing of Imperialism: United States imperialism is identified as spanning the periods of the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era. * Key Events in the 1890s: * The annexation of Hawaii. * The Spanish American War (noted as occurring earlier than other Progressive Era shifts).
Origins and Early Cold War Context of the Vietnam War
The Paradigm of Containment * The Vietnam War was a fundamental component of the Cold War. * The primary strategic objective of the United States was the containment of communism.
Geopolitical Division of Vietnam * North Vietnam: Governed as a communist state. * South Vietnam: Governed as a democratic state. * Failed Elections: Although free and fair elections were originally planned to unify the country, they did not occur, leading to the outbreak of fighting between the North and South.
French Involvement and Exit * The French were initially involved in the region (China/Indochina). * The Battle of Nietzsche: The French decided to quit Vietnam following their defeat at a battle located in the north referred to as the battle of "Nietzsche."
Early United States Intervention (1950s - Early 1960s) * 1950s: The United States began its involvement by sending CIA agents and other military advisers to the region. * Kennedy Administration (1960s): * President Kennedy increased the total number of advisers stationed in Vietnam. * Kennedy initiated the training of Special Forces. * There was a strategic understanding that Special Forces would be essential for fighting what were termed "new wars."
Escalation Under the Johnson Administration
The 1965 Turning Point * By 1965, President Lyndon Johnson was advised that existing strategies were failing. * The Three Choices presented to Johnson: 1. Quit Vietnam: This would allow the nation to become communist, which Johnson feared would damage his reputation and his ability to implement his "Greek society" programs. 2. Continue the current course: Acknowledged as potentially ineffective. 3. Escalate: Increasing the military commitment significantly. * Decision: Johnson chose to escalate the war but required Congressional approval to do so.
The Gulf Of Tonkin Incident and Resolution * The incident: A story was concocted involving the "Gulf Of Tonkin incident," wherein a boat allegedly attacked an American ship. * The Resolution: This led to the "Gulf Of Tonkin resolution" in August 1965 (). * Legal Impact: The resolution gave President Johnson a "free hand" to conduct the war.
Military Expansion * The war began in earnest following the resolution. * U.S. involvement transitioned from advisers to combat troops on the ground. * Troop levels eventually reached as high as people in the country.
The Decline of Public Support and the Nixon Strategy
The Tet Offensive and Credibility Gaps * Despite official reports claiming the U.S. was winning, the Tet Offensive occurred. * This event led the American public to believe the war was not being won. * Pentagon Papers: These published documents revealed that multiple presidents were aware the United States was not winning the war while the fighting continued. * 1968 Election: Dealing with the fallout of the war, Johnson decided not to seek re-election as president in 1968.
Nixon’s Policy of "Dehumanization" * Richard Nixon won the presidency claiming a "secret plan" to end the war. * Dehumanization: This was the term used for the policy of winding down American involvement (withdrawing U.S. troops) while training the South Vietnamese army to take over the fighting. * Corruption: The South Vietnamese army was noted for being deeply corrupt.
Global Strategy and Triangulation * Nixon used "triangulation" with China and the Soviet Union. * The goal was to pressure these powers to stop supplying weapons and support to North Vietnam.
Expansion of the Conflict via the Ho Chi Minh Trail * To stop weapon flow from the North, the U.S. began bombing the Ho Chi Minh Trail. * The trail extended into Laos and Cambodia, and the bombing campaigns deeply destabilized those two countries. * Public Deception: While Nixon informed the American public that the war was winding down, the actual expansion into neighboring countries caused domestic protests to increase dramatically.
Conclusion of the War * North Vietnam eventually returned to the negotiating table. * The United States achieved what was called a "peace of honor." * Five years after the U.S. withdrawal, the city/state of "zygote" collapsed.