V. Vietnam Before WWII, Vietnam was controlled by France as part of French Indochina.
THE VIETNAM WAR€¦ · FRENCH RULE IN VIETNAM Late 1800s-WWII, France rules most of Indochina...
Transcript of THE VIETNAM WAR€¦ · FRENCH RULE IN VIETNAM Late 1800s-WWII, France rules most of Indochina...
THE VIETNAM WARMoving Toward Conflict
FRENCH RULE IN VIETNAM
Late 1800s-WWII, France rules most of Indochina
1940, Japanese take control of Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh– leader of Indo-Chinese communists
Vietminh– Vietnamese communists (North); sought independence for Vietnam
Sept. 1945, Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam an independent nation
Vietnam’s Independence
What is the Vietminh’s main goal?
Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam as independent nation.
FRANCE BATTLES THE VIETMINH
1945: French troops return to Southern Vietnam
1950: United States begins economic aid to France to stop communism.
To prevent Southeast Asia from turning to communism
Why did the U.S. get involved in the struggle?
THE VIETMINH DRIVE OUT THE FRENCH
Domino Theory: introduced by Eisenhower; if one country fell to communism, they all would
Geneva Accords: peace agreement that divided communist North and non-communist South (until unification elections)
Election to unify country called for in 1956
Dien Bein Phu: French outpost surrendered to Vietminh in NW Vietnam
DIEM CANCELS ELECTIONS
Ho Chi Minh has brutal, repressive regime but is popular for land distribution
Ngo Dinh Diem: strong anti-communist South Vietnamese president; refused to take part in election
U.S. promises military aid for stable, reform government tin South
Diem corrupt, stiles opposition, restricts Buddhism
Vietcong: South Vietnamese communists
Ho Chi Minh Trail: network of paths that supplied arms to the Vietcong
Ngo Dinh Diem (with U.S. support) cancelled them; feared Ho Chi Minh and the communists would win
Why were the elections in Vietnam cancelled?
KENNEDY AND VIETNAM
Like Eisenhower, JFK backs Diem financially; sends military advisers
Diem’s popularity plummets from corruption, lack of land reform
Diem starts strategic hamlet program to fight Vietcong (villagers resent being moved from ancestral homes)
Diem presses attacks on Buddhism; monks burn themselves in protest
U.S. supported military coup topples government; Diem assassinated
THE SOUTH GROWS MORE UNSTABLE
Succession of military leaders rule South Vietnam; country unstable
LBJ thinks U.S. can lose international prestige if communists win
THE TONKIN GULF RESOLUTION
Alleged attack in Gulf of Tonkin; LBJ asks for power to repel enemy
Tonkin Gulf Resolution: granted Johnson broad military powers in Vietnam (adopted by Congress)
1965: 8 Americans killed in an attack by Vietcong
Operation Rolling Thunder: sustained bombing campaign over North Vietnam after a Vietcong attack killing 8 Americans