The Vietnam War began in 1954 as an effort by the United States to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. Under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, U.S. involvement escalated through military advising and direct combat troops. The 1968 Tet Offensive turned U.S. public opinion against the war as it showed the Viet Cong were not close to defeat. Growing anti-war protests and the release of the Pentagon Papers further eroded support. Under President Nixon, Vietnamization transitioned fighting to the South Vietnamese army but Saigon fell to North Vietnam in 1975, marking the end of the war.

1. The Vietnam
War
1954 - 1975

2. U.S. begins
involvement
 Domino
Theory – if South Vietnam
fell to communism, neighboring
countries would also fall to
communism like a row of dominos
 Resisting communism in South
Vietnam might prevent this collapse

4. President Kennedy
1960-1963
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Kennedy sent aid and
Military Advisors to assist
South Vietnam
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Requested by South Vietnamese
Govt.
JFK felt democracy in
South Vietnam would
serve as a model to other
developing Asian, African,
and Latin American
countries
President Kennedy

5. z
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President
Johnson
1963-1968
Under President Johnson,
the U.S. would become deeply
involved in Vietnam
U.S. ships were attacked by the
North Vietnamese in
international waters
Congress passed The Gulf of
Tonkin Resolution in 1964
Congress voted to give Johnson
full military, “blank check”,
powers to stop North Vietnam
aggression due to attacks.

6. Johnson
escalates the
Congress never officially declared war
War
Johnson used the Gulf of Tonkin
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Resolution to escalate (increase) the war
LBJ ordered massive bombings raids
over North Vietnam and sent more
troops
By 1968 - 500,000 U.S. soldiers in
Vietnam
New Weapons
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•
Napalm – sticky gasoline-based jelly that
burns; great damage
Agent Orange – herbicide killed jungle
cover used by VC
President Johnson

7. 1968 - The
Tet Offensive
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Vietcong launched massive simultaneous
offensive throughout South
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Vietcong committed brutal acts of terror
against South Vietnam officials
American forces finally beat back the offensive
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Seizing capital city of Saigon
Turning point in the war
Demonstrated to American public that victory
was on the way
Disproved the rhetoric of the US govt that the
Vietcong were weak, under supplied,
disorganized and low in morale

8. The Tet
Offensiv
e

9. 1968 - The Tet
Offensive

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1968 - The Tet
Offensive
Roy Benavidez 1935-1998
(CLICK HIS NAME FOR VIDEO-stop at 4 min)
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Born in Cuero, TX
Master Sergeant in the Army Special
Forces
Facing constant fire, carried wounded
members of his platoon to rescue-helicopters
Critically wounded, Benavidez refused to
stop gathering survivors
Benavidez saved the lives of 8 men
Awards
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Distinguished Service Cross for heroism
Congressional Medal of Honor by President Ronal
Reagan in 1981
Benavidez dies in San Antonio in 1998

11. Anti-War
Movement
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Media has a great influence in shaping
public opinion
Newspapers, radio, television
First time America audiences could watch
WAR
President Johnson (LBJ) told U.S. public
they were winning the war
Journalist reported different story
“Credibility Gap” is the name given
when Americans lost faith in their
government’s reliability on telling the
truth about Vietnam War

12. Anti-War
Movement
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Disconnect among young Americans who objected their
country’s involvement in Vietnam
Mass anti-war movements occurred from 1965 until the end
of the war in 1975
Protesters burned draft cards, marched in Washington DC,
held rallies and staged demonstrations
By 1968, millions of young Americans actively protested the
war
Anti-War movement influenced Military policy
American “doves”
Wanted U.S. withdraw from Vietnam
Saw war as a civil war between North and South Vietnam
Believed U.S. leaders were acting immorally by bombing civilians and
burning villages
American “hawks”
Supported the war
Believed it was an attempted to protect South Vietnam from Communist
takeover

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President
Nixon
Republican President Richard Nixon was
1969-1973
elected in 1969
Reasons for winning elections
z Division among Democratic Party
z Assassination of Robert Kennedy (younger
brother to JFK)
z Staunch anti-communist
z Promised Americans “peace with honor”
in Vietnam
z However war dragged on for 5 more years
z Henry Kissinger aided Nixon
z Introduced “Vietnamization”
z Increased bombings and diplomacy

14. Vietnamization
Vietnamization – South Vietnam Army gradually took over the brunt fighting
allowing U.S. forces withdrawal, same time increase bombing of North Vietnam and
provide military aid to South Vietnam
Nixon’s Vietnam Policy
Invasion of Cambodia – Nixon believed
war would shorten if supply routes (Ho
Chi Minh Trail) from North to South could
be cut. 1970 U.S. invaded Cambodia
Diplomatic Overtures – Nixon negotiated
with Vietnam’s communist allies (China
and Soviet Union) to put pressure on North
Vietnam

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Nixon – Public
Anti-War
Increased with bombing of
INCREASES
Cambodia
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1969 – National guardsmen
shoot and kill 4 students
demonstrating at Kent State,
Ohio
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College campuses across the
nation close due to student
demonstrations
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Student engaged in mass
marches on Washington D.C.
and other major cities
Kent State University

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Nixon – Public
Anti-War
Nixon and VP Agnew insisted most Americans
INCREASES
supported the war
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“Silent Majority” is what they called them
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Exchanges between anti-war and pro-war supporters
became violent
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Pentagon Papers
z leaked documents in 1971 New York Times
z revealed several Presidents before Nixon LIED to America about
Vietnam (goes back to “credibility gap”)
z President felt Vietnam could not be won but didn’t want the
disgrace of defeat with their Presidency

17. Anti-War
Demonstration
s
Student Protestors
at Univ. of CA
in Berkeley, 1968
Democratic Convention
in Chicago, 1968

18. The Fall of
Saigon
z Vietnamization gradually reduced U.S.
armed forces in Vietnam
z 1973 – Kissinger led negotiators in Paris
to work a cease-fire agreement with
North Vietnam
z Nixon agreed to pull out all remaining
U.S. troops from Vietnam if North
Vietnam would release U.S. prisoners of
war
z After U.S. withdrawal fighting continued

19. The Fall of
Saigon
z South Vietnamese Army incapable of stopping
advance of North Vietnam Army
z April 30, 1975, Saigon (South Vietnam capital)
fell to North Vietnam
z Saigon (present day Ho Chi Minh City)
marked the end of the Vietnam War
z South Vietnamese government officials,
military officers, and soldiers who supported
American presence in Vietnam were sent to
Communist “re-education camps” where they
faced torture, disease and malnutrition

20. 26th Amendment



Most states set the voting
age at 21
– Draft (take or selected)
age in the military was
18
Many Americans protested
the law during Vietnam War
– Saying it was unfair to
send someone to war
without letting them vote
Ratified in 1971
– Lowered the voting age
to 18

21. Vietnam War Legacy
Death and Destruction – 58,000+ Americans died
1.
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2.
Many suffered physical and psychological injuries
1+ million Vietnamese killed; many more left homeless
Impact at Home and abroad – expenses led end of some
Great Society programs
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Brought rising inflation
Demonstrated that public opinion can affect government policy
Crisis in American self-confidence; next to the U.S. Civil War, Vietnam War
was most divisive war in U.S. History
Limits Presidential Power
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Both Korean and Vietnam Wars, U.S. President sent troops into extended
combat without declaration of war from Congress
1973, Congress passed WAR POWERS ACT – sets limits on President’s power
in a conflict without formal declaration of war by Congress
The act requires the President to inform Congress within 48 hrs of sending
troops to fight overseas; if within 60 days Congress doesn’t approve of usage of
these forces, President must withdraw them