Vietnam War Lecture Notes

Introduction

Geographic Reality: Vietnam divided into North (communist, Ho Chi Minh) and South (democratic, allied with U.S.) after decolonization.
Political Context: North Vietnam was under communist governance, while South Vietnam had strong ties to the U.S.

Eisenhower's Domino Theory: Suggested that if South Vietnam fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow.
Kennedy's Approach:
- Supported the domino theory.
- Sent 16,000 military "advisers" to South Vietnam to support, not fight.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident: North Vietnamese allegedly fired on a U.S. battleship.
- Led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving Johnson the power to escalate U.S. military involvement without a formal declaration of war by Congress.
- Sparked debate over the executive branch's military actions without congressional approval.
Military Escalation:
- U.S. troops increased significantly (200,000 by 1965, doubling by 1967).
- North Vietnamese proved more resilient than expected.

The Vietnam War was the first truly televised war, revealing the harsh realities of the conflict.
Credibility Gap: Discrepancy between the Johnson administration's positive reports and the grim reality shown on TV.
Domestic opposition grew with anti-war protests alongside the civil rights movement.

A significant surprise attack by the North Vietnamese, causing heavy U.S. casualties.
Despite a U.S. counterattack, the offensive led to Johnson stopping further escalation.

Richard Nixon:
- Sought to reduce U.S. involvement without admitting defeat.
- Proposed "Vietnamization," withdrawing U.S. troops while continuing financial and military support to South Vietnam.

Nixon effectively ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
Importance of understanding the Vietnam War in the broader context of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War.

For further help on Unit 8 or to access additional resources, refer to the provided playlist or review packet for exam preparation.