Vietnam War 1950-1975!
- France had gained control of Indochina in a series of colonial wars in the mid-late 1800's
- during World War 11 Vichy France worked with Japanese forces in controlling Indochina during WWII.
- after the Viet Minh defeated the French colonial army at the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the French withdrew, and the colony was granted independence.
- the united states armed forces fought in this.
- President Truman began US involvement by sending money to help the French.
- President Eisenhower continued US support by sending military advisers to give temporary help.
- President Kennedy continued sending advisers as well as special operation forces.
- President Johnson sent more and more combat troops.
- several US ships were supposedly attacked by North Vietnamese torpedoes in the Gulf of Tonkin.
- Johnson and General William Westmoreland kept saying that with more troops we will win the war.
- more Americans tended to believe this at first.
- the Americans public faith was shattered on January 30th, 1968 when the enemy, supposedly on the verge of collapse, mounted the Tet Offensive in which nearly every major city in South Vietnam was attacked.
- named after the lunar new year festival which is the most important Vietnamese holiday in south Vietnam.
- although we crushed the enemy's military, the surprising huge offensive attack from an enemy that was supposedly almost defeated convinced name Americans that victory was impossible.
- Operation rolling thunder was the code name for the non-stop bombing raids in north Vietnam conducted by the united states armed forces.
- Nixon gradually pulls US troops out and the train the ARNV to take our place in fighting the North.
- Expanded the war into Laos and Cambodia leading to college protests. (Kent St.)
- On January 115, 1973, President Nixon announced the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam.
- the Paris peace accords were later signed on January 27, 1973, which officially ended US involvement in the Vietnam conflict.
- the peace did not last.
- march 1975, the north invaded the south.
- the south was not strong enough and fell quickly.
- US did not live up to its promise to come to their aid if the North attacked.
how did people get out of serving?
- went to Canada and Sweden.
- went to college.
- got married
- medically unfit for service.
- joined the national guard or peace corps.
- claimed to be homosexual.
- being rich.
why were so many people against the war.?
- Tet offensive.
- Pentagon papers
- Injuring/killing innocent people (My Lai Massacre.)
- Supporting a bad government in South.
- The power of the press.
President Blog Discussion:
Jimmy Carter:
- only US president to have received the Nobel Peace prize after leaving office.
- had been a peanut farmer and governor or Georgia before being President.
- strongly emphasized human rights as President.
- has been a very active former President.
- he was a one term president.
- not a popular president.
- known as the green president because he passed a lot of acts for the environment.
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