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War Agatinst France
Vietnamese wage anti-colonial war against France. -
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Geneva Peace Accords
Goals:
1. Unify Korea.
2. Restore peace in Indochina. Participants:
The Soviet Union, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and the People's Republic of China Outcome:
1. France relinquishes control of Indochina, which is divided into Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam
2. Vietnam is temporarily divided in two parts at the 17th parallel until a general election could be held. No action is taken to unify Korea. Some blame U.S. for obstructing plans. -
Dien Bien Phu ("Seat of the Border County Prefecture")
After losing Indochina to Japan in WWII, France tries to retake it. French hostility among native Vietnamese and Cambodians fosters support for communist leader Ho Chi minh. By 1950 Truman's government aided France as apart of the cold war, while China and the USSR aided Viet Minh guerrilla forces. After 170 days of confrontation, French forces surrender at Dien Bien Phu. Eisenhower refuses to send troops. This leads to the Geneva Peace accords of 1954. -
Restoring Peace: Geneva Conference and consequences
Vietnam is divied at the 17th parallel Two hostile governments form. North: Ho Chi Minh establishes a Communist dictatorship. South: Elections promised for July 20, 1956, but never held. Ngo Dinh Diem , who was Catholic, anticommunist, and French educated was chosen by the US to lead. -
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)
An agreement apart of the Truman Doctrine to prevent the "fall" of Communism in Laos, Cambodia, and South Vietnam. U.S., UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Pakistan, and the Philippines agreed to defend one another in case of attack. SEATO was designed to be Southeast Asia's NATO, headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. . Eisenhower's secretary of state, John Foster Dulles, was an integral part in SEATO's formation. SEATO was dissolved on 30 June 1977. -
The Domino Theory
1955-1961 Eisenhower justifies $1billion in aid to South Vietnam with the Domino Theory. He argued if Vietnam fell to Communism, the rest of South-east Asia would soon fall. -
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Support South Vietnam
Under Eisenhower ($8 million) to South Vietnam and their army (ARVN) -
Hawks vs. Doves
Supporters of the war, "Hawks", felt the war was apart of a calculated soviet effort to take over SE Asia. Opponents of the war, "doves", saw the war as a conflict between Vietnamese nationalists and communists seeking to overthrow the corrupt Saigon government. Some felt domestic poverty and education should take priority. The New Left, students , and SDS and organized marches and sit-ins at universities against the war. Sen.Eugene McCarthy (MN) is the 1st anti-war advocate (1967) -
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Under Kennedy
After Kennedy is elected, aid is doubled.
With Kennedy's promises to be "hard on communism" and the failure in Cuba (Bay of Pigs) he demonstrates his strength against communism with Vietnam. -
Kennedy White Paper
Kennedy commissioned a team to S. Vietnam to evaluate the necessity of U.S aid. The report called for increased combat troopsand "advisers" to stabilize the Diem regime and quash the NLF. Some called Vietnam a "dead-end alley" and advocated total withdrawl. Kenndy compromised and added more U.S. advisers and support troops. This plan failed, for more NLF victories were reported. By 1963 there were more than 16,000 support troops in S. Vietnam, aiming to create "strategic hamlets". -
Diem Assassinated!
Diem fails to win the public opinion and loses the support of the general public, specifically the peasants. In Saigon, Buddhists protest Diem's policies by setting themselves on fire.The national divide begins to stir doubts of South Vietnam's ability to defend themselves against a Communist insurgency. Kennedy administration knew of plans of Diems assassination -
Assassination of JFK
President Kennedy is assassinated, and presidential power is handed down to Lyndon B. Johnson.
He is re-electedin 1964, and he continues to fund the war and send in more troops throughout his administration. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The resolution, passed by U.S. Congress, was a response to two naval battles (collectively called the Gulf of Tonkin Incident) between the North Vietnamese Navy's Torpedo Squadron and the destroyer USS Maddox. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to use military force in SE Asia, without adeclaration of war by Congress to help "any member or protocol state of the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty." Resolution was used to rapidly increase troops. -
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More fighting
The US troops in Vietnam increases, but the South Vietnamese army (ARVN) and the US troops make little progress. -
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Controversy at Home
War Hawks vs. Doves:
Hawks=believed War was Soviet aggression and attempt to take Southeast Asia (rich in oil)
Doves=a civil war with a communist attempt to unify Vietnam and overthrow the installed corrupt government of South Vietnam
Anti-War Protest:
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) demonstrated in Washington, D.C. After High School, boys could be drafted into the military. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Under Johnson, Operation Rolling Thunder greatly increases the bombing on North Vietnam. After the Gulf of Tonkin, the US becomes more active in the Vietnam War. -
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Operation Rolling Thunder
The U.S. aerial bombardment campaign against the North Vietnamese. Four Evolved Objectives
1. To boost morale of the Saigon regime
2. To persuade the North to cease its support for the Southern Communist insurrection
3. To destroy North Vietnam's transportation,and industrial and air bases.
4. To prohibit the flow of men and material into South Vietnam North Vietnam was aided by the USSR and the People's Republic of China. Operation was terminated in 1968 for failing all its objectives. -
Students for a Democratic Society
SDS recruited 20,000 people for an anti-war demonstration in Washington, D.C. the youth and the New Left movement generally opposed the war, for many boys just out of high school were drafted. -
Tet Offensive
Cronkite on the Tet Offensive (min:140)Tet (Lunar New Year) the Vietcong (North Vietnam) launched a surprise attack on every American base and and city in South Vietnam. Though it was unsuccessful, and the US counterattack was much stronger and devastating, the effect on the Homefront was tremendous. Public opinion shifts against the war. Highly influential Walter Cronkite of CBS News questioned and doubted the effectiveness of the the War. LBJ was quoted, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America." -
My Lai Massacre
US troops, expecting vietcong forces, found only a village, yet carried out a mass killing of all the inhabitants (women, older men, and children), About 400 villagers died, and twelve officers were charged with murder. Only Lieutenant William Calley received four years of prison and parole. The My Lai massacre exposed the reality in Vietnam and heavily shifted public opinion further towards the Anti-War sentiment. -
Johnson Announcement
A result of the Tet offensive, the US leans towards peace and an end to the Vietnam War. President L.B. Johnson begins movement for peace in Vietnam (peace talks), reduction of bombing in North Vietnam, and his decision to not run for presidency. -
1968 Democratic National Convention
DNC 1968L.B.J announced he would not seek re-election, so the convention was held to nominate a new candidate. The convention was held after MLK and Robert F. Kennedy's assassination. Although Richard J. Daley, Chiago's mayor, aimed to showcase Chicago, the convention became infamious for demonstrations and police brutality. Yippie (Youth International Party) activists organized, "A Festival of Life". Mass media, Mike Wallace and Dan Rather publicized rioting between demonstrators and police. -
Nixon and Cambodia
Newly elected President Nixon and a "hard on communism" platform, begins to secretly bomb Cambodia and pulling out troops from South Vietnam. All the while, he continues Johnson's peace talks. Nixon also promised to end the Vietnam War during his presidency. In 1970, he orders the ARVN and the US to invade Cambodia. Troops decrease over 50% during this time. In 1972, Nixon orders the drop of the most devastating bomb on North Vietnam. -
Pro-War Demonstration
In New York, there was a demonstration in support of Nixon and the invasion of Cambodia, Members wore hard hats and waved American flags. There was a heavy pro-war sentiment and a defined controversy between pro-war and anti-war Americans. -
end of US involvement
With the end of his presidency looming, President Nixon hurries the end of US involvement in the Vietnam War. Henry Kissinger (Secretary of State) negotiates a peace treaty, that ultimately fails South Vietnam. The US, North Vietnam, and South sign the formal accords in Paris that end US involvement. -
Communism wins
North Vietnam invades South Vietnam.
The Vietcong defeat the ARVN and occupy Saigon, which becomes Ho Chi Mihn City.
