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"Domino Theory"
Domino theoryDuring the Cold War, President Eisenhower gave his iconic domino theory speech. The domino theory was his theory that with out prospersity of Vietnam, the rest of Asia will fall out after, with a domino effect. With his domino theory led the United States to their involvement in the Vietnam war. The domino theory is an important aspect to the involvement in the Vietnam war because the presidents following Eisenhower used it as a justification to be more involved militarily. -
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The Vietnam War
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Geneva Conference
Geneva conferenceThe Geneva agreements were made to help Vietnam have a fair and safe election. One of the agreements was that during the two year period, France would remove troops and help Vietnam with having no foreign troops entered. United States refused to sign and thought that idea sounded terrible. We also did not want Vietnam to become communist, so we came in greater involvement after this point. -
Johnson visits Vietnam
Johnson goes to VietnamJohnson visits Vietnam, promising his continuing support of Diem. When he came back from his visit, he reiterated that with the fall of Vietname would eventually become the war on American soil. -
Protests
buddhist monksWith Vietnam going up in flames (literally) many were protesting. The buddhists were upset with Diem removing buddhists from goverment positions and replacing them with Catholic supervisors. In an act of protest, a buddhist monk lights himself on fire, and gave the world the iconic image. In an act to disperse the crowd during the protests, Diem's men opened fire killing citizens, and pinned blame on the Vietcong. -
Johnson announces higher military presence in Vietnam
Johnson's speechJohnson announced during a press conference that he would he increasing our military presence. He increased the troops right away from 75,000 to 125,000. In order with that increase, he doubled the draft to be taking 35,000 men. With this great increase in our presence there, Johnson is taking full advantage of the "blank check" that leaves Vietnam with nearly no rules. -
American Protests
American Protests
With America involvement high, and our troops higher many Americans were protesting. The support for our involvment in Vietnam was extremely low, and many places over America were having "teach ins" where liberals were voicing there strong anti-war opinons. Also, many Americans were very against the new drafting policies established, even burning their draft cards. -
Robert McNamara
McNamara steps down
McNamara was the Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War. He was very supportive of America's increase of presence in the war. But, he began changing what he believed in with regards to our involvement. McNamara was voicing his doubts to the public and was ultimately asked to step down. McNamara spent the rest of his political career battling the consequences of his policies, which he felt much guilt. -
My Lai Massacre
My Lair
The My Lai massacre is an outstanding event in the controversial Vietnam war. 500 South Vietnam unarmed civilians were killed by American troops. The civilians included women, children, and even infants. There was also evidence of women being gang raped and their bodies mutilated. Accounts of soliders trying to stop this, were actually shunned by the congress man and referred to as traitors. With this event came more backlash. -
LBJ Lack of Support
Re-election
The truly terrible way that LBJ handled the Vietnam war led to downfall and lack of support from the American people. The people saw the way he handled the war, that in all ways he escalated the war in the wrong ways killing more Americans. But, Johnson's reasoning for not running for re-election was because he simply wanted more time to spend with his family. -
Beginning of the End
Beginning of the End
On this date, LBJ announces he plans to begin ending the attacks in Vietnam. He included the fact that they will not be having any attacks near any populated areas or food producing areas. He also speaks to other countries involved, asking them to abide as well. -
Longest War in Our History
Longest War
After the war begin with the first death on December 22ed of 1961, Vietnam goes down as the longest war in history. It is interesting that Vietnam is considered the longest, when it was never truly declared. -
Vietnamization
Vietnamization
This big step in ending our involvement in the war was a strategy that Nixon used. It was the training of South Vietnamese troops to help them do what the American troops were doing. It was also an attempt to slowly take troops out. -
Cambodia Invasion
Cambodia
The Invasion of Cambodia was an attempt of America and South Vietnam to help stop North Vietnam from Cambodia's support. This move was very unpopular by the people and caused great backlack. Many anti-war protests continued, with protesters injured and even two killed. -
University Protests
ProtestsProtests
With the accouncement of Cambodia, campuses all over were going up in flames in protest. At Kent State 28 guardsmen opened their fire on protesters injuring and even killing some. The public was outraged. The goverment origanally ignored it, but then went on to try to charge 8 of the guardsmen. The case was dropped for lack of evidence. A similar situation took place at Jackson State as well. -
Draft Ends
Draft
Nixon's promise during his campaign to end the war was actually happening. He used the ending draft as a strategy, by showing those opposed to the war that they would not have to fight unless they volunteered. -
War Officially Ends!
The End
On this day, the war officially ends with last soliders being sent home. With 60,000 American casualities and hundreds of thousands injured the undeclared, longest war in American history, is over.
