The Vietnam War
Background Information
American officials felt Vietnam was important in
their campaign to stop the spread of
communism (domino theory)
Background Information
Ho Chi Minh (nationalist movement) – advocate of
communism
• Wanted to overthrow the French, was exiled to
Soviet Union, came back when Japan occupied
Vietnam during WWII, organized the Vietminh to
force Japan out
• Japan was defeated by US, Vietnam declares
independence, France sent in troops to regain
control over lost empire, asked US for help (it was
better than allowing communism
Background Information
French struggled fighting against guerrilla tactics (irregular troops)
• Last French stronghold was in the town of Dien Bien Phu –
defeated
• Geneva Accords divided Vietnam between the Vietminh (North
Vietnam) and a pro-western regime (South Vietnam)
• When elections were held to unite the country, US supported Ngo
Dinh Diem – tensions escalated with US caught in the middle
– Vietnamese opposed Diem’s gov’t (corrupt)
– Diem refused to hold national elections – Ho Chi Minh created
guerrilla army (Vietcong) – goal was to reunify the country
– Diem was eventually overthrown, US continued to send aid to
South Vietnam
North = Communist
- Vietminh
South = Pro-Western
- Vietcong (communists in South)
US Involvement
Johnson becomes President – needs to prevent
South Vietnam from falling to communism
(Republicans would use it against the Democrats)
• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – Congress gave the
President power to take all measures necessary
to repel an armed attack on US forces
• Johnson increased American involvement (was
warned that it might be hard to get out)
• Public opinion supports further involvement
US Involvement
Napalm and Agent Orange was used to destroy
Vietcong hiding places
US Involvement
Johnson refused to order
a full invasion (feared
Chinese involvement)
and would not attack
Vietcong supply line (Ho
Chi Minh Trail)
Impact on Americans
As the war dragged on, public support faded
(credibility gap)
• Anti-war protests
• Draft protests
• Doves vs. Hawks
“Fortunate Son”
What was war like for soldiers?
• “Goodnight Saigon”
Tet Offensive (in 1968)
Surprise attack occurred during Tet (Vietnamese
New Year) by Vietcong and North Vietnamese
• Military disaster for the Communists, political
victory against America
• Approval rating for Johnson plummeted (Johnson
withdrew from re-election)
Also in 1968…
• MLK and RFK were assassinated
• Clash between protesters and police at the
Democratic National Convention in Chicago
• Richard Nixon becomes president (shift of
power from Democrats to Republican)
Nixon’s role in Vietnam
Nixon begins Vietnamization –
gradual withdrawal of US
troops from Vietnam
• Invades Cambodia to
destroy Vietcong military
bases
• Congress repealed Gulf of
Tonkin Resolution
• Pentagon Papers were
released – showed that
different administrations
had lied about progress in
Vietnam
Nixon’s role in Vietnam
Nixon dropped insistence that North Vietnam
withdraw before a peace treaty could be signed
• South Vietnam refused any peace treaty that left
North Vietnam in the South
• Both sides eventually agreed to end the war
• North Vietnamese launched a full-scale invasion
– Nixon had already resigned due to Watergate
– President Ford asked Congress to provide aid, they
refused
Legacy of Vietnam
• $170 billion and 58,000
deaths
• Soldiers who returned faced
psychological problems –
“Still in Saigon”
• War Powers Act – President
must inform Congress of any
commitment of troops
within 48 hours and
withdraw them in 60 – 90
days unless Congress
approves the commitment
• Increased cynicism about
government – “Born in the
USA”
Tet Offensive Assignment
Describe the Tet Offensive and the impact it had on
US public opinion. You may use any of the options
below:
Write a poem (at least 20 lines)
Write a song (at least 3 verses + a chorus)
Draw a picture (must accurately depict the event
and outcome)
Write a story (include characters, plot, climax,
appropriate ending)