The Vietnam War Flashcards
Context
1959, Ho Chi Minh declared a war to unite Vietnam under communist rule. USA (Kennedy) sent troops to Vietnam- 23,000 by 1964.
Johnson committed to a full-scale conflict- Tonkin Gulf incident (Aug, 1964, attack ships)
Gave him power to ‘take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression and achieve peace and security’
8th March 1965, 3,500 US marines sent to Vietnam.
Johnson’s Handling
By 1966, $1.2 billion spent on War On Poverty, $22 billion on the War.
End of 1968 troop levels reached over 500,000- feared the draft
July 1967 poll, over 50% disapproved of handling of the war, continued until May 1968, last poll during presidency
Tet Offensive
January + February 1968, communists attacked all major cities in South Vietnam. Military failure but convinced Americans war couldn’t be won.
Johnson stated peace negotiations in Paris in March 1968
TV
Footage of US planes bombing Vietnam alienated Americans
TV footage intensified American opposition- main opponents feared draft
CBS- Walter Cronkite. Said only rational option was to negotiate an honourable withdrawal.
70% trusted him above other public figures, inc. politicians
My Lai Massacre
March 1968, US troops massacred old people, women, and children in My Lai, central Vietnam. Over 200 civilians killed
25 officers charged, complicity in
massacre + cover-up
March 1971, only Lieutenant William Calley convicted of murder, over 70% disagreed- saw him as a scapegoat.
Nixon reduced sentence to house arrest- student protests intensified
Anti-War Protests
Invasion of Cambodia- announced on 30th April 1970 + need for additional 150,000 troops.
4th May, Kent State University, Ohio- student protests, state governor sent 900 members of Ohio National Guard, 28 fired on students, killing 4.
Almost 500 colleges shut down/disrupted by student protests
Pentagon Papers
June 1971- New York Times published ‘The Pentagon Papers’, leaked by Dr Daniel Ellsberg, Defence Department Employee
US Gov. hadn’t told full story of Gulf of Tonkin incident
Nixon attempted to block publication, overruled by Supreme Court
Support for Nixon
Involvement continued until January 1973.
‘Hard Hat Riot’ in NYC on 8th May 1970, 200 construction workers in favour of Nixon’s policies, called for the US to bomb Hanoi, N.Viet capital
Joined by hundreds of others, attacked anti-war student demonstrators in Manhattan.
Analysis
The Vietnam War polarised political and moral opinions in response to events broadcast on TV, leading to condemnation of J’s actions
Media held significant influence over public perceptions- exposed credibility gap in J. administration
Both pro-war and anti-war attitudes became more prevalent.
