Vietnam war
Quote: Let us understand: North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that. --Richard M. Nixon, 1969
Subjunctive Question: Would the US have supported the war to the extent they did if the Vietnamese propaganda was not as strong?
Fun fact: There were more bombs dropped on North Vietnam than in all of World War 2.
Subjunctive Question: Would the US have supported the war to the extent they did if the Vietnamese propaganda was not as strong?
Fun fact: There were more bombs dropped on North Vietnam than in all of World War 2.
First conflict since WW2, first one were television became a major player. Media war. Able to film the experience. Footage was available to watch as a family. Americans lost this war in many ways because of the media.
Ho chi Minh and his communist supporters resisted Japanese occupation during WWll (He lead the north vietnam)
After WWll the French reoccupied this terratory.
Ho Chi Minh fought the French and defeated them in 1954 (Dien Bien Phu)
Laos, Cambodia granted independence
Vietnam became divided along the 17th parallel
Now that the french were out, there was a fear of a domino effect due to the south being democratic and the north being communist. (supported mainly by the Chinese and Russians)
A Divided Country
South Vietnam was led by Catholic named Ngo Dinh Diem
(Wrong religion to lead.. primarily a budsit area, while he was catholic)
The mainly Buddhist south had opposition in the form of the National Liberation Front (NLF) and the Viet Cong (A guerrilla force)
The North (Ho Chi Minh) supported both of these groups
American Involvement in Vietnam
US saw this as another situation in which containment was necessary (SEATO)
The U.S. had supported the French (military advisors)
Kennedy increased troops in 1962 from 500-10,000
CIA overthrows Diem in 63'
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964
A fabricated incident was set up; an American destroyer (USS Maddox) was torpedoed
Led President Johnson to install the Tonkin Gulf Resolution
Lead to the commitment of regular ground troops and air support
200,000 troops in 1965- 600,000 in 1968
The Ho Chi Minh Trail
The NAtional Liberation Front (NLF) supported by the North
Sent supplies on a route from the north through Cambodia, Laos and behind lines into south Vietnam
The U.S. refused to fight on Cambodia or Laotian territory so supplies remained safe
The Tet Offensive, 1968
Offensive launched by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) in 1968
Surprises Americans
Is played up as a major victory for the North although very little is achieved
Public relations victory
Anti-war demonstrations increase as a result
The plan had a 2 part fprmula.
1) Make the south well trained enough militarily that they could withstand the north on their own
2) strengthen the south's government to attract a broader base
The bombing campaign really started with the American withdrawals in 1969
The air was increased
N-52 dropped more bombs on North Vietnam than during all or WWll
1971 almost entirely an air war
1972,00,000 trips
By Jan 73, signed a cease fire
Aug 1973 all of US had with Vietnam.
South vietnam inevitably becomes communist. Who supported them the most.
Outcomes & effects of the Vietnam War
costs the U.s. 150 billion $$
57,939 men killed
loss of a country to communism
Limitations brough in on the residents powers to wage war.
Made the u.S. look bad worldwide.
Conscription was ended in U.S.
Ho chi Minh and his communist supporters resisted Japanese occupation during WWll (He lead the north vietnam)
After WWll the French reoccupied this terratory.
Ho Chi Minh fought the French and defeated them in 1954 (Dien Bien Phu)
Laos, Cambodia granted independence
Vietnam became divided along the 17th parallel
Now that the french were out, there was a fear of a domino effect due to the south being democratic and the north being communist. (supported mainly by the Chinese and Russians)
A Divided Country
South Vietnam was led by Catholic named Ngo Dinh Diem
(Wrong religion to lead.. primarily a budsit area, while he was catholic)
The mainly Buddhist south had opposition in the form of the National Liberation Front (NLF) and the Viet Cong (A guerrilla force)
The North (Ho Chi Minh) supported both of these groups
American Involvement in Vietnam
US saw this as another situation in which containment was necessary (SEATO)
The U.S. had supported the French (military advisors)
Kennedy increased troops in 1962 from 500-10,000
CIA overthrows Diem in 63'
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964
A fabricated incident was set up; an American destroyer (USS Maddox) was torpedoed
Led President Johnson to install the Tonkin Gulf Resolution
Lead to the commitment of regular ground troops and air support
200,000 troops in 1965- 600,000 in 1968
The Ho Chi Minh Trail
The NAtional Liberation Front (NLF) supported by the North
Sent supplies on a route from the north through Cambodia, Laos and behind lines into south Vietnam
The U.S. refused to fight on Cambodia or Laotian territory so supplies remained safe
The Tet Offensive, 1968
Offensive launched by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) in 1968
Surprises Americans
Is played up as a major victory for the North although very little is achieved
Public relations victory
Anti-war demonstrations increase as a result
The plan had a 2 part fprmula.
1) Make the south well trained enough militarily that they could withstand the north on their own
2) strengthen the south's government to attract a broader base
The bombing campaign really started with the American withdrawals in 1969
The air was increased
N-52 dropped more bombs on North Vietnam than during all or WWll
1971 almost entirely an air war
1972,00,000 trips
By Jan 73, signed a cease fire
Aug 1973 all of US had with Vietnam.
South vietnam inevitably becomes communist. Who supported them the most.
Outcomes & effects of the Vietnam War
costs the U.s. 150 billion $$
57,939 men killed
loss of a country to communism
Limitations brough in on the residents powers to wage war.
Made the u.S. look bad worldwide.
Conscription was ended in U.S.