The Vietnam War

1954 - 1975

The Vietnam War

1954 - 1975

Mr. BrinkUnited States History

20.1

Mr. BrinkUnited States History

20.1

Southeast Asia

Background to the War

Background to the War

z France controlled “Indochina” France controlled “Indochina” since the late 19since the late 19thth century century

z Japan took control during World Japan took control during World War IIWar II

z With U.S. aid, France attempted With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar re-colonization in the postwar periodperiod

The Pleas of Ho Chi Minh Rebuked by

Wilson after WWI

Rebuked by US after WWII– French serve

as “bulwark against communism”

The Domino Theory

Background to the War

Background to the War

z The French lost control to The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Ho Chi Minh’s Viet MinhViet Minh forces in 1954 at forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Dien Bien PhuPhu

z President Eisenhower President Eisenhower declined to intervene on declined to intervene on behalf of France.behalf of France.

Background to the War

Background to the War

z International Conference at International Conference at GenevaGenevaP Vietnam was divided at 17Vietnam was divided at 17thth

parallelparallelO Ho Chi Minh’sHo Chi Minh’s nationalist nationalist

forces controlled the Northforces controlled the NorthO Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem, a French-, a French-

educated, Roman Catholic educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the claimed control of the SouthSouth

Ngo Dinh Diem Corrupt US-

Backed Dictator of South Vietnam

Persecutes Buddhist majority

Ho has support of peasants, so Ngo blocks election

Causes civil war in 1955

Background to the War

Background to the War

z A date was set for democratic A date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnamelections to reunify Vietnam

z Diem backed out of the Diem backed out of the elections, leading to military elections, leading to military conflict between North and conflict between North and South(US Doesn’t Want Them)South(US Doesn’t Want Them)

Civil War

North Vietnamese Army (NVA or Vietminh)

VietCong (VC) – guerrilla groups in South Vietnam

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

z Repressive dictatorial rule by DiemRepressive dictatorial rule by DiemP Diem’s family holds all powerDiem’s family holds all powerP Wealth is hoarded by the eliteWealth is hoarded by the eliteP Buddhist majority persecutedBuddhist majority persecutedP Torture, lack of political freedom Torture, lack of political freedom

prevailprevail

z The U.S. aided Diem’s governmentThe U.S. aided Diem’s governmentP Ike sent financial and military aidIke sent financial and military aidP 900 U.S. Army advisors sent by 900 U.S. Army advisors sent by

1960.1960.

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

z Kennedy elected 1960Kennedy elected 1960z Increases military “advisors” Increases military “advisors”

to 16,000to 16,000z 1963: JFK supports a 1963: JFK supports a

Vietnamese military Vietnamese military coup coup d’etat d’etat – Diem and his brother – Diem and his brother are murdered are murdered (Nov. 2)(Nov. 2)

z Kennedy was assassinated Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later just weeks later (Nov. 22)(Nov. 22)

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Self-Emolation by a Buddhist MonkSelf-Emolation by a Buddhist Monk

Johnson Sends Ground ForcesJohnson Sends Ground Forces

z Remembers Truman’s “loss” Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China of China Domino Theory Domino Theory revivedrevived

I’m not going to I’m not going to be the president be the president who saw who saw Southeast Asia Southeast Asia go the way China go the way China went.went.

Johnson Sends Ground ForcesJohnson Sends Ground Forces

z Advised to rout the Advised to rout the communists by Secretary of communists by Secretary of State, State, Robert S. McNamaraRobert S. McNamara

z Tonkin Gulf Incident Tonkin Gulf Incident 1964 1964(acc. to Johnson, the attacks (acc. to Johnson, the attacks were unprovoked)were unprovoked)

z Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf ResolutionP ““The Blank Check” The Blank Check” **

U.S. Troop Deployments

in Vietnam

U.S. Troop Deployments

in Vietnam