Essential Question
What events led to U.S.
involvement in the Vietnam
War?
The United States and Vietnam
Vietnam
Controlled by
France until WWII
Seized by Japan
Pushed for
independence after
the war
Ho Chi Minh
Leader of a
nationalist
movement in
Vietnam
Founded the
Vietminh
Domino Theory
The belief that if
Vietnam fell to
communism, all of
southeast Asia
would follow
Division of Vietnam
According to the
Geneva Accords
Divided at the 17th
parallel
Elections to be held
in 1956 to unite the
country
North Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh and
the Vietminh
controlled the north
Communist
supporters
South Vietnam
Pro-western regime
Led by Ngo Dinh
Diem
Supported by the
U.S.
Diem’s Government
Diem regime
became corrupt
and repressive
Refused to hold
promised elections
Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh formed
the National
Liberation Front
(NLF) to reunite the
country
Guerrilla terrorist
forces known as the
Vietcong
Vietnam
November 1,
1963
Diem
overthrown and
assassinated
Vietnam
Johnson followed
idea of global
containment
“I am not going to
lose Vietnam”
Intended to
increase troops
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
August 2, 1964
North Vietnamese
fired on U.S. destroyer
Maddox
Congress gave
Johnson a mandate to
conduct operations in
Vietnam
War Escalates
March 8, 1965
Marines landed at
Da Nang
By 1968, over
500,000 troops
were stationed in
Vietnam
Vietnam Warfare
Vietcong used
ambushes, booby
traps and guerilla
warfare in the thick
Asian jungles
Realities of War
“Three quarters of the way through the
tangle, a trooper brushed against a twoinch vine, and a grenade slung chest high
went off, shattering the right side of his
head and body . . . Nearby troopers took
hold of the unconscious soldier and, half
carrying, half dragging him, pulled him the
rest of the way through the tangle.”
Vietnam Warfare
U.S. carried out
search and destroy
missions
Get rid of thick jungle
hiding places by
using napalm and
Agent Orange (kills
foliage)
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Main supply line for
the North Vietnamese
Passed through
Cambodia and Laos
Received military
support from China
and Vietnam
Tet Offensive
January 1968
Vietcong launched
assaults on South
Vietnam, nearly
overran Saigon
Americans viewed
war as unwinnable
Antiwar Movement
By 1967 – U.S.
public discontent
with the war
Television
coverage, body
counts, carnage
Counterculture Movements
Youth attack on
mainstream
America
Student protests
Revolution against
middle class
respectability
Music
Woodstock
Election of 1968
Democrat –
Hubert Humphrey
Republican –
Richard Nixon
Independent –
George Wallace
Troop Withdrawal
June 1969
Nixon announced
the withdrawal of
25,000 troops
My Lai Massacre
Nov. 1969
Slaughter of 350
Vietnamese
villagers by U.S.
troops
Sinking morale
among troops
Mobilization Day
November 16, 1969
½ million protestors
of the war in
Washington
Anger over news of
Cambodia invasion
Kent State
May 4, 1970
National Guard fired
into an anti-war rally
4 students killed, 11
wounded
Kent State
Kent State
Paris Peace Accords
January 27, 1973
Ceasefire
agreement that
accepted North
Vietnamese troops
in South Vietnam
Troop withdrawal
began
Vietnam Reunification
March 1975 – final
offensive of North
Vietnamese against
the South
April 29, 1975 –
Vietnam was reunited
Saigon renamed Ho
Chi Minh City
Fall of Saigon
Fall of Saigon
Fall of Saigon