Chapter 30: The Vietnam War YearsChapter 30: The Vietnam War YearsSection 1: Cold War Roots of the Section 1: Cold War Roots of the

ConflictConflict

From the late 1800’s until From the late 1800’s until WWII, France was in control of WWII, France was in control of

Vietnam Vietnam (which was part of French (which was part of French Indochina)Indochina)

Like any other colony, Like any other colony, the French were the French were increasing their wealth.increasing their wealth.

And Vietnamese people And Vietnamese people were getting poorer were getting poorer and losing their rights.and losing their rights.

They did have some They did have some revolts, but most were revolts, but most were not effectivenot effective

But in 1930, a new leader named But in 1930, a new leader named Ho Chi Ho Chi Minh (9)Minh (9) called for an independent Vietnam called for an independent Vietnam

He organized the He organized the Indochinese Indochinese Communist Party (ICP)Communist Party (ICP)

The French responded The French responded by arresting and by arresting and killing some of the ICP killing some of the ICP leaders.leaders.

They couldn’t catch They couldn’t catch Ho Chi Minh, but Ho Chi Minh, but sentenced him to sentenced him to death anyways.death anyways.

During WWII, Japan controlled Indochina - During WWII, Japan controlled Indochina - and the U.S. helped Ho Chi Minh fight the and the U.S. helped Ho Chi Minh fight the

Japanese.Japanese. When WWII was over, When WWII was over,

the French tried to the French tried to regain control.regain control.

In the meantime, Ho In the meantime, Ho Chi Minh had formed a Chi Minh had formed a group called the Viet group called the Viet Minh - and they were Minh - and they were saying Vietnam was saying Vietnam was now independent.now independent.

War broke out War broke out between the French between the French and the Viet Minh.and the Viet Minh.

Remember, the Viet Minh were Remember, the Viet Minh were a communist groupa communist group

And the United And the United States had a States had a “containment “containment policy” towards policy” towards communism.communism.

The United States The United States agreed to help agreed to help France and offered France and offered them money and them money and military aid. military aid.

The U.S. had a The U.S. had a “domino theory” (16)“domino theory” (16) about communismabout communism

That if one country That if one country fell to communism, fell to communism, the ones around it the ones around it would also fall.would also fall.

France could not defeat the France could not defeat the Viet Minh and in peace talks…Viet Minh and in peace talks…

It was decided Vietnam It was decided Vietnam would be split in two.would be split in two.

Ho Chi Minh and the Ho Chi Minh and the communists would communists would control the Northcontrol the North

Ngo Dinh Ngo Dinh Diem (5)Diem (5) and and the anti-communists the anti-communists would control the would control the South.South.

There would eventually There would eventually be elections to re-unify be elections to re-unify the country.the country.

Ho Chi Minh was very popular in North Ho Chi Minh was very popular in North Vietnam – and even in the SouthVietnam – and even in the South

If there were If there were elections he would elections he would win, so Diem decided win, so Diem decided not to hold the not to hold the elections in the elections in the South.South.

He actually had a He actually had a very evil government very evil government - he jailed, tortured - he jailed, tortured and executed his and executed his opponents.opponents.

There were some South Vietnamese There were some South Vietnamese communists who opposed Diemcommunists who opposed Diem

Diem made fun of them Diem made fun of them and called them and called them Viet Cong Viet Cong (22)(22)

(meant Vietnamese communists)(meant Vietnamese communists) The Viet Cong fought to The Viet Cong fought to

overthrow Diem – and were overthrow Diem – and were supported by North supported by North Vietnamese communists.Vietnamese communists.

They sent supplies along a They sent supplies along a network of paths called the network of paths called the “Ho Chi Minh Trail.”“Ho Chi Minh Trail.”

Kennedy was president, and he Kennedy was president, and he continued to support South continued to support South

VietnamVietnam But he also had some But he also had some

things going on “back things going on “back home.”home.”

He supported and helped He supported and helped train a group who tried to train a group who tried to invade Cuba to re-take the invade Cuba to re-take the country from country from Fidel Castro Fidel Castro (26).(26).

They invaded at the They invaded at the “Bay “Bay of Pigs”(25),of Pigs”(25), but were but were unsuccessful.unsuccessful.

JFK said it was his biggest JFK said it was his biggest mistake as president.mistake as president.

The Soviet Union decided to The Soviet Union decided to build the Berlin Wallbuild the Berlin Wall

Which became a symbol of communism Which became a symbol of communism and it’s oppression.and it’s oppression.

And… in October, 1962 And… in October, 1962 in the most serious Soviet confrontation in the most serious Soviet confrontation

ever…ever…

The United States The United States learned the Russians learned the Russians had put nuclear missiles had put nuclear missiles in Cuba – and they were in Cuba – and they were bringing more.bringing more.

In a huge “showdown,” In a huge “showdown,” the Soviets took back the Soviets took back the missiles (the new the missiles (the new ones), and the U.S. ones), and the U.S. promised to not invade promised to not invade Cuba.Cuba.

The Cuban Missile Crisis (28)

Back in Vietnam at this Back in Vietnam at this time…time…

The U,S. told Diem he The U,S. told Diem he had to make some had to make some changes.changes.

He refused.He refused. A U.S. militaryA U.S. military coup coup

overthrew Diem and overthrew Diem and even though Kennedy even though Kennedy didn’t want them to, they didn’t want them to, they killed Diem.killed Diem.

Three weeks later, Three weeks later, Kennedy was Kennedy was assassinated.assassinated.