1945- Ho Chi Minh declares independence for Vietnam from the
French after being a French colony.
Slide 4
1946-1950: Indo China War begins after relations between France
and Ho Chi Minh deteriorate. French then seek to regain the
territory they once owned. Soviets and China offer weapons to
communist Vietminh. United States pledges 15 million dollars to the
French to help fight the communist party.
Slide 5
1954- As concerns grew In regards to the spread of communism,
President Eisenhower cites Domino Theory in regards to weak nations
succumbing to communism. Geneva Conventions begin which would
ultimately decide how Vietnam would be partitioned.
Slide 6
1955- Ngo Dinh Diem wins rigged election against the majority
favorite candidate, Bao Di. Many Vietnamese believed Diem, being a
catholic and educated in the U.S. held more westernized ideologies
for Vietnam. This consequently increased support for Ho Chi Minhs
communist party, the Vietminh. The Vietcong is soon developed, a
faction of the Vietminh.
Slide 7
1956-1962: Support for Vietnams communist party the Vietminh,
lead by Ho Chi Minh continues to gain support.. Weapons are moved
along Ho Chi Minh trail from North to South Vietnam. This trail
would later be used as a calculated source of guerrilla attacks.
Despite growing disapproval of Diem by the Vietnamese, Kennedy
continues to support Diems government by sending federal aid, and
troops as agents.
Slide 8
1963- Ngo Dinh Diem & President Kennedy are both
assassinated. The efforts of the two leaders to support the
Vietnamese Republic begin to dissipate as the Vietminh and Vietcong
grow stronger in numbers.
Slide 9
1964- Gulf of Tonkin. President LBJ states an American ship was
attacked by the Communist Vietminh on the high seas. This leads to
an immediate escalation of troop numbers in Vietnam.
Slide 10
1965- American troop levels in Vietnam reach 200,000. American
soldiers continue to fight the Vietcong, and Vietminh. U.S. troops
fight in a foreign terrain, and are engaged in a guerrilla
war.
Slide 11
1966-1967: American troops continue to fight a war of
attrition, without making any territorial progress.
Slide 12
1968- General Westmoreland asks for an additional 208,000
men.
Slide 13
1969-1974: American protests of the Vietnam War grows in
numbers and in strength.
Slide 14
1972- Nixon cuts troop levels by 70,000 men, and slowly begins
to withdraw, after thousands of men had perished in an effort to
stop the spread of communism.
Slide 15
1975- the last of U.S. troops leave Vietnam. Ho Chi Minhs party
has not been defeated. After thousands of lives were lost, the war
had not been declared lost nor won, but simply over.