The Vietnam War The Vietnam War America’s 10,000 Day War 1945-1975 1945-1975.
Vietnam Day 1
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Transcript of Vietnam Day 1
Historical Background of Vietnam• Vietnam has been
fighting for its independence since 208 B.C.• 1862-Asked Lincoln for
help against the French• 1918-Asked Wilson for
help against French
• 1940-Vietnam fell to the Japanese during WWII
Why not help the Vietnamese?• 1949-Asia became
important• France was an ally during
the war (NATO)• Anti-communist FoPo
• Stay consistent-Korea, Eastern Europe
• USSR Detonates the A-bomb• 1st American killed-Sept.
1945• Ho sent apology in letter
Truman cont.
• June 27, 1950• US gave 3 billion + 300
Advisors to South Vietnam• President of SV was
Buddhist Monk (Bao Dai)
B. Ike
• US supplied 80% of the French War• 500,000 total troops in
Vietnam
• US paying to keep Vietnam in French Hands• A Tiger vs. An Elephant?
Dien Bien Phu
• March 13- May 7, 1954• French took the low ground
& had no aircraft!• Ike would not use nukes!• Congress would not
authorize strike without UK.• Ridgway- to win in
Vietnam, draft almost 1 million men• French Forces leave
October 9, 1954
Election of 1956
• US Support-Ngo Dinh Diem• Lived in New Jersey
• Election of 1956• Diem (Red-Good Luck)• Bao Dai (Green-Bad Luck)• If vote red, receive a treat• If still voted green, followed,
beaten, pepper spray, water down throat
• Diem 98%, Bao Dai 2%
End of Ike
• Aid - $7 Billion• Advisors - 700
JFK cont.
• Can we win in Vietnam?• Yes, 150,000 troops +
nuclear weapons
• “We failed & so will you”-Charles De Gaulle
• Can-do-ism-Americans can do anything• Panama Canal
Quiet Escalation of the War
• Ike- 700 advisors• JFK- 16,000 advisors
• Quang Duc-Buddhist monk that self-immolates• June 11, 1963• JFK- “They hate us,
they’re going to kick our ----- out there.
Assassination of Diem
• November 1, 1963• Diem captured and murdered• US knew and supported it!• JFK did not know
assassination was coming.
• “In the final analysis it is their war. They are the ones who have to win it or lose it. • Thought about troop
withdrawal, did bring home 1000