- The document provides a timeline and overview of key events in the Vietnam War from 1946 to 1975, including the U.S. decision to support France in recolonizing Vietnam after WWII, the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, escalating U.S. involvement and bombing campaigns under Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson, and the Tet Offensive that turned U.S. public opinion against the war. - It discusses tactics like search and destroy missions, use of Agent Orange, and the growing anti-war movement. The war deeply divided the U.S. and took a heavy toll in lives until the final U.S. withdrawal and fall of Saigon to North Vietnam in 1975.

1. Vietnam America’s Longest War

5. Timeline for Vietnam 1946

6. Independence for Vietnam in 1946? Read the handout. Set your goal. Decide what you will do with regard to Vietnam and France -Be prepared to share your answers with the class.

7. Truman’s Decision on Vietnam U.S. supported Vietnamese and Ho Chi Minh (their leader) during World War II They look for independence following the war U.S. supported independence for colonies following the war U.S. needs France to help containment policy

8. France and Vietnam France claimed it needed Vietnam as a colony to recover from World War II Linked American support to recolonize France’s willingness to help America stop the spread of communism Truman stayed neutral France reclaimed Vietnam as a colony Unintended Consequences Divided France internally Pushed Ho Chi Minh away from U.S. to China and U.S.S.R.

9. Aid to the French U.S. sent large-scale aid to the French 1953- U.S. provides 33% of funds for war 1954- grows to 78% Result of fall of China, Korean War and Red Scare Negative Consequences French lost war U.S. aid to colonial power hurt reputation

10. Dien Bien Phu 1954 President Eisenhower went to Congress to get approval for bombing Vietnam. Congress placed conditions on involvement Made it impossible for U.S. to get involved Eisenhower decided to do nothing Probably avoided a huge mistake

11. Domino Effect Feeling that if one country in Southeast Asia fell to communism, all would fall Stated by President Eisenhower Led to U.S. undermining the Geneva Accords Peace between France and Vietnam French withdraw from Vietnam within 1 year Temporary division of Vietnam Elections scheduled for 1956

12. U.S. Actions Against the Geneva Accord U.S. supports South Vietnamese leader Ngo Dinh Diem Lived in New Jersey before taking over Viewed as a puppet of U.S. government Only given limited support by Eisenhower Diem felt U.S. needed him and didn’t respond to U.S. requests for reform South Vietnam made part of an alliance with the U.S. SEATO

13. Diem’s Actions Unpopular He declared South Vietnam a separate country Cancelled the election of 1956 An opposition group called the Vietcong rebelled against him. They were imprisoned in concentration camps without trials He supported the Catholic, wealthy minority over the Buddhist landless majority As time goes by, Diem is becoming more repressive

15. Diem Overthrown By Vietnamese generals The U.S. does not intervene Unintended consequences Instability in South Vietnamese government Numerous other coups took place Kennedy said he would reduce the commitment to South Vietnam U.S. troop withdrawal after 1964 election If done before he would lose election

16. Johnson Expands the Conflict Diem’s death brings more chaos to Vietnam Incident in the North North Vietnamese patrol boat fires on the USS Maddox Takes place in the Gulf of Tonkin off North Vietnamese coast Maddox returns fire and damages patrol boat Two days later, enemy torpedoes spotted in the water under poor weather conditions Maddox fire with no return fire seen or heard

17. Tonkin Gulf Resolution Johnson used alleged attack to ask Congress for broad military power in Vietnam Technically not a declaration of war Johnson used questionable information to achieve his goals Johnson uses the new powers to escalate the war

18. Comic Book Industry Shapes and reflects the public mood of the nation Industry started in the 1930s and peaked during World War II Expressed patriotic themes during the war

19. Comic Book Industry During the Korean War some comics were accused of subversion. 1954 Comic Code created to regulate the industry This and television led to the demise of the comic industry

20. Comic Book Industry In the 1960s Comic book readers were adolescent males who would soon serve in Vietnam Comics patriotic against stereotypical red villains 1975 younger writers replace older ones push for more creative freedom Comic book code revised to allow writers to deal with issues like race relations, women’s issues and antiwar sentiment

21. Operation Rolling Thunder First sustained bombing of North Vietnam Form of retaliation for Feb. 1965 attacks on U.S. bases U.S. dropped three times as many bombs as in all of World War II 2/3 bombs dropped on South Vietnam Left the landscape looking like the surface of the moon Malaria spread as a result of stagnant water in the craters

22. Failure of Operation Rolling Thunder Was unsuccessful North Vietnamese had extensive air defense system. North Vietnam had few good targets. 1967 report-U.S. bombing cost ten times as much as the property they destroyed. It did little real damage to North Vietnamese effort.

23. Troops 1965- 100,000 Americans in Vietnam General Westmoreland continues to request more troops Doesn’t like the fighting ability of Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 1967- 500,000 Americans in Vietnam Westmoreland’s strategy becomes one of attrition Gradual reduction of the enemy’s forces Enemy dead body count becomes important

24. The Draft Known officially as the Selective Service Act Focused on men between the ages of 18 and 26 People found ways around serving in the military 80% of those drafted were from poorer families

25. Hearts and Minds Trying to win support of South Vietnam’s rural population America’s tactics don’t help Dropped napalm-gasoline bombs that set the jungle on fire Sprayed Agent Orange- a toxic chemical that kills leaves (and allegedly causes cancer) Search and destroy missions that uproot villagers with suspected ties to Vietcong Burning villages Killing livestock

26. Interpret this political cartoon.

27. Interpret this political cartoon.

28. Battles in South-east Asia

29. Troops in Vietnam 1961-1972 Battle Deaths in Vietnam 1961-1972

30. Vietcong Tunnels

31. A Nation Divided Credibility gap- People started to believe that what President Johnson was reporting was wrong Opposition grows on the New Left and college campuses By 1967 war divides the nation into two sides Hawks- America should unleash more of its military to win the war Doves- The U.S. should withdraw from Vietnam

32. Saigon Police Chief Executing Suspected Vietcong

33. Tet Offensive Simultaneous attacks on numerous cities by Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army Defeat for the communist guerillas Stunned the American public Pushes more Americans to criticize the war Before Tet- 56% hawks; 28% doves After Tet- 40% hawks; 40% doves

34. Johnson’s Approval Ratings

35. Results 1968 Election

36. Election of 1968 Democratic Primary in turmoil Violence erupts outside convention in Chicago V.P. Hubert Humphrey wins nomination Republican select Richard Nixon He wins promising a return to law and order

37. Vietnamization Gradual withdraw of U.S. forces South Vietnam takes a bigger role in fighting Started in 1969 Calls for “Peace with Honor” Preserve U.S. dignity during withdraw Keep America’s power at negotiation table

38. Troubles in Vietnam My Lai Massacre U.S. soldiers massacre over 200 Vietnamese civilians Invasion of Cambodia U.S. forces attempt to clear out North Vietnamese and Cambodian supply centers Causes protests on college campuses

39. Nixon’s Troubles at Home Kent State Massacre National Guard fire live ammo into a crowd of protestors, killing 4 and wounding nine Pentagon Papers Government documents that reveal the government was not honest about its intentions

40. End the War in Vietnam Combat troops return home Last one leaves Vietnam March 29,1973 Fall of Saigon April 30, 1975 North Vietnamese capture Saigon Causes South Vietnam to surrender to the North