La Clase de Fleegle Friday, October 3rd, 2008. Today’s Objective The United States and Vietnam

La Clase de La Clase de FleegleFleegle

Friday, October 3rd, 2008Friday, October 3rd, 2008

Today’s Today’s ObjectiveObjective

The United States and The United States and VietnamVietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam After World War 2Vietnam After World War 2

France ruled Vietnam as part of its colony from France ruled Vietnam as part of its colony from late 1800’s all the way through World War 2.late 1800’s all the way through World War 2. This part of France’s colony was called This part of France’s colony was called

“French Indochina”“French Indochina” This colony also included Laos and CambodiaThis colony also included Laos and Cambodia

Great question Cody Woods…Great question Cody Woods…What in the world does France want with What in the world does France want with

Vietnam?Vietnam? France increased its wealth greatly by France increased its wealth greatly by

exporting rice and rubber from Vietnamexporting rice and rubber from Vietnam


And here lies the problem…And here lies the problem… The Vietnamese never accepted French rule!The Vietnamese never accepted French rule!

So we are all guessing what now?So we are all guessing what now?

Probably… that various groups of nationalist Probably… that various groups of nationalist staged revolts demanding Vietnamese staged revolts demanding Vietnamese

independence.independence.

I know it was kind of an obvious answerI know it was kind of an obvious answer


Now let’s meet… Mr. Ho Chi MinhNow let’s meet… Mr. Ho Chi Minh 1930 unites three different Communist 1930 unites three different Communist

groups to form the Indochinese groups to form the Indochinese Communist Party (ICP)Communist Party (ICP)

This party is quite amusing….This party is quite amusing….This was a This was a communist groupcommunist group wanting wanting

an independent Vietnam to be an independent Vietnam to be controlled by peasants and other controlled by peasants and other

workersworkers

Wise man once say…

Grasshopper good.

Ho Chi Minh

Vote Chi Minh

“Power to the Peasants”


So real long, mind numbing story So real long, mind numbing story made as short as possible…made as short as possible…

The Indochinese Communist Party (ICP), The Indochinese Communist Party (ICP), organized by Ho Chi Minh, creates protests organized by Ho Chi Minh, creates protests

by peasantsby peasants


Do you know what the French Do you know what the French response to these Vietnamese response to these Vietnamese

peasant protests was???peasant protests was???

Welcome back… the “?”Welcome back… the “?”

Vietnam after WW2Vietnam after WW2

What was the French response to the What was the French response to the Vietnamese protests?Vietnamese protests?

It’s a very easy and obvious answer It’s a very easy and obvious answer actuallyactually


So what is next for Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh if So what is next for Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh if the ICP is in jail?the ICP is in jail?

Phase 1: In 1940, during World War 2, Japan Phase 1: In 1940, during World War 2, Japan took over Indochina.took over Indochina.

Phase 2: 1941 Ho Chi Minh secretly returns to Phase 2: 1941 Ho Chi Minh secretly returns to Vietnam and hides in a jungle camp.Vietnam and hides in a jungle camp.

Phase 3: somehow in this jungle camp, Ho Chi Phase 3: somehow in this jungle camp, Ho Chi and ICP joins forces with other Vietnamese and ICP joins forces with other Vietnamese “hard cores” to form the organization “Viet “hard cores” to form the organization “Viet Minh”Minh”


““Viet Minh”Viet Minh”

Anyone think its an accident Ho Chi put Anyone think its an accident Ho Chi put his own last name in the name of this his own last name in the name of this new organization?new organization?

Let’s Investigate this name:Let’s Investigate this name:

““Viet Minh”Viet Minh”““Ho Chi Minh”Ho Chi Minh”


Mission statement of this Mission statement of this secretive? “Viet Minh”secretive? “Viet Minh”

To train soldiers to fight and make To train soldiers to fight and make Vietnam independentVietnam independent


Warning: Not good News coming…Warning: Not good News coming…

Remember when Japan was an enemy Remember when Japan was an enemy in World War 2? Remember that?in World War 2? Remember that?

You predict the rest of this story with these You predict the rest of this story with these clues…clues…

AideAide Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh JapanJapanWeaponsWeapons United StatesUnited States


Be very worried here…Be very worried here…

Let me quote from our bookLet me quote from our book…”because Japan …”because Japan was an enemy of the United was an enemy of the United States in World War 2, the US States in World War 2, the US government AIDED, AIDED, AIDED government AIDED, AIDED, AIDED Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh in Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh in their fight against Japan”their fight against Japan”


So Vietnam holds of the Japanese So Vietnam holds of the Japanese thanks to thanks to “just a little”“just a little” help help

from the United States….from the United States….

Naturally of course then, Ho Chi Naturally of course then, Ho Chi Minh then declares Vietnam an Minh then declares Vietnam an independent country for the first independent country for the first time in Vietnamese historytime in Vietnamese history

Party!!!

!!!!!

NOT!


Now enter ….. France back into the picture.Now enter ….. France back into the picture.


““if they force us into war, we will fight. if they force us into war, we will fight. The struggle will be atrocious, but the The struggle will be atrocious, but the Vietnamese people will endure Vietnamese people will endure anything rather than give up their anything rather than give up their freedom”freedom”

-- Ho Chi Minh-- Ho Chi Minh

And on that note…And on that note…1946 War breaks out between Viet Minh 1946 War breaks out between Viet Minh

and Franceand France

Truman and Eisenhower Aid Truman and Eisenhower Aid the Frenchthe French

Does the title of this section alone make Does the title of this section alone make you scratch your head?you scratch your head?

Now we are aiding the French?Now we are aiding the French?

Well remember, Truman's main goal was Well remember, Truman's main goal was to prevent the spread of Communism. to prevent the spread of Communism. So when he heard about Communism So when he heard about Communism growing in Vietnam he ran to support growing in Vietnam he ran to support the Frenchthe French

Truman and Eisenhower Aide Truman and Eisenhower Aide the Frenchthe French

Three Reasons:Three Reasons:

1.1. United States at this time was also United States at this time was also dealing with the Soviet Union and the dealing with the Soviet Union and the Cold War.Cold War.

Yes, still the COLD Yes, still the COLD WARWAR


2) The United States thought if 2) The United States thought if they aided the French in they aided the French in Vietnam, then France would Vietnam, then France would support the United States support the United States against the Soviet Union.against the Soviet Union.

3) Ultimately they did not want 3) Ultimately they did not want Vietnam to become CommunistVietnam to become Communist


1949 while the United States is 1949 while the United States is aiding the French in Vietnam, aiding the French in Vietnam,

the spread of Communism grows the spread of Communism grows in Chinain China


How much aide did we give the French?How much aide did we give the French?

The United States entered the conflict The United States entered the conflict in Vietnam in 1950 when President in Vietnam in 1950 when President Truman offered $10,000,000 dollars Truman offered $10,000,000 dollars in military aide to the French.in military aide to the French.

Once Truman left office, President Once Truman left office, President Eisenhower then moved into office and Eisenhower then moved into office and continued aiding the French.continued aiding the French.


What is the What is the domino theory?domino theory?

A theory stating A theory stating that if a country that if a country

fell into fell into communism, communism,

nearby countries nearby countries would also fall would also fall

into communisminto communism


US leaders felt if Vietnam fell to US leaders felt if Vietnam fell to Communism the rest of southeast Communism the rest of southeast

Asia would soon follow.Asia would soon follow.

After all Japan was communist.After all Japan was communist.

China was communist.China was communist.

Korea was communist.Korea was communist.

Dividing North and SouthDividing North and South

So great now we are aiding the French, in So great now we are aiding the French, in hopes that…hopes that…

1.1. We stop communismWe stop communism2.2. France supports the United States in the Cold France supports the United States in the Cold

War.War.

Even with US aide, the French could not Even with US aide, the French could not defeat the “Viet Minh”. defeat the “Viet Minh”.

France would eventually meet with the “Viet Minh” France would eventually meet with the “Viet Minh” in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss peace talks.in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss peace talks.

An agreement was reached that became An agreement was reached that became known as the “Geneva Accords”known as the “Geneva Accords”

Dividing North and SouthDividing North and South

Under the “Geneva Accords” an Under the “Geneva Accords” an agreement was made to split Vietnam agreement was made to split Vietnam into North and South along the 17into North and South along the 17thth parallelparallel This split was naturally intended to be This split was naturally intended to be

temporarytemporary

However…..However…..These “Geneva Accords” would allow These “Geneva Accords” would allow

for separate governments in the for separate governments in the North and South of VietnamNorth and South of Vietnam

Dividing North and SouthDividing North and SouthAt this point I think Ho Chi Minh should have bought a At this point I think Ho Chi Minh should have bought a

lottery ticket. He has led peasant revolts, fled his lottery ticket. He has led peasant revolts, fled his country for fear of his life, escaped from being country for fear of his life, escaped from being arrested from the French, re-entered his country, and arrested from the French, re-entered his country, and is now going to be announce as leader of North is now going to be announce as leader of North Vietnam Vietnam

Sooooooooooooooo………..Sooooooooooooooo………..

Ho Chi Minh and the Communist will control North VeitnamHo Chi Minh and the Communist will control North Veitnam

Ngo Dinh Diem and the anti-Communist will control South Ngo Dinh Diem and the anti-Communist will control South VietnamVietnam

Sounds peaceful, thank goodness maybe now we can Sounds peaceful, thank goodness maybe now we can get out of Vietnam and on to bigger better world get out of Vietnam and on to bigger better world

issues.? issues.?

A perfect match???A perfect match???

6 Flags Magic Mountain“A Night of Magic”

Dividing the North and Dividing the North and SouthSouth

So that whole “Geneva Accords” and the So that whole “Geneva Accords” and the “temporary” split in government thing?“temporary” split in government thing?

Well you should have known something was Well you should have known something was up with the phrase…. “meant to be up with the phrase…. “meant to be temporary”temporary”

Vietnam National Elections CensusVietnam National Elections CensusIf just one national Vietnamese election would If just one national Vietnamese election would

have taken place, Ho Chi Minh (yes the have taken place, Ho Chi Minh (yes the communist) would have received about 80% communist) would have received about 80%

of the votes.of the votes.


In a perhaps one of the most brilliant campaign moves ever in In a perhaps one of the most brilliant campaign moves ever in the history of campaigning, the history of campaigning, Ngo Dinh Diem refuses to hold Ngo Dinh Diem refuses to hold

national elections.national elections.

Eisenhower sends more aide to Eisenhower sends more aide to South Vietnam describing their South Vietnam describing their

mission as “nation building”mission as “nation building”


Catchy title huh?Catchy title huh?

““nation building”nation building”

The Viet Cong Oppose DiemThe Viet Cong Oppose Diem

Something you may not want to admit Something you may not want to admit if you were president looking to be if you were president looking to be re-elect…re-elect…

““my fellow Americans (echo: Americans, my fellow Americans (echo: Americans, Americans, Americans), it Americans, Americans), it has the been has the been the goalthe goal (the goal, the goal) of the United (the goal, the goal) of the United States to help the people of South States to help the people of South Vietnam, Vietnam, howeverhowever, , we did not knowwe did not know they had a corrupt government”they had a corrupt government”


So here is a growing list of people So here is a growing list of people unhappy with Ngo Dinh Diem:unhappy with Ngo Dinh Diem:

1.1. Ho Chi Minh (ICP and Viet Minh)Ho Chi Minh (ICP and Viet Minh)

2.2. FranceFrance

3.3. The United StatesThe United States

4.4. And now his own southern part And now his own southern part of Vietnam for being corruptof Vietnam for being corrupt


South Vietnam now forms yet another new South Vietnam now forms yet another new COMMUNIST group, the COMMUNIST group, the “National “National

Liberation Front”.Liberation Front”. This was a group of dissatisfied This was a group of dissatisfied

southern Vietnamese communist.southern Vietnamese communist.

Basically what happens next is…Basically what happens next is…Ngo Diem Dinh sticks his tongue out at Ngo Diem Dinh sticks his tongue out at

him and calls them an offense and him and calls them an offense and slang termslang term

““Viet Cong”Viet Cong”


Once word of this Southern Communism Once word of this Southern Communism takeover reached North Vietnam and Ho Chi takeover reached North Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh, the Northerners welcomed a reuniting Minh, the Northerners welcomed a reuniting of the entire country under communism rule.of the entire country under communism rule.

Ho Chi Minh sends soldiers and supplies Ho Chi Minh sends soldiers and supplies through the jungles and mountains of through the jungles and mountains of Laos and Cambodia. Laos and Cambodia. This path/ route of sending supplies This path/ route of sending supplies

became known as the “Ho Chi Minh became known as the “Ho Chi Minh Trail”Trail”

I wonder whoseWeapons they trained

these ‘soldiers’ with?

Captain Obvious says…

Kennedy Faces Communist Kennedy Faces Communist ThreatsThreats

Congratulations Mr. Kennedy…Congratulations Mr. Kennedy…

you just became president….you just became president….

Oh by the way, Viet Cong is close to Oh by the way, Viet Cong is close to taking over all of Vietnam making it, taking over all of Vietnam making it,

Japan, Korea, and China all COMMUNISTJapan, Korea, and China all COMMUNIST

What do you want to do about that?What do you want to do about that?

How does the story end???How does the story end???

Read page 436.Read page 436.

You will need to You will need to know this for the know this for the

test.test.

Documents

La Clase de Fleegle Friday, October 3rd, 2008. Today’s Objective The United States and Vietnam