Origins of the Vietnam War

U.S. History

Geography

Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia.

Rich in natural resources such as rubber, rice, tin, and minerals.

The French colonized Vietnam and controlled both its resources and people.

Some wealthy Vietnamese benefited from colonialism, but most grew more impoverished.

Southeast Asia

Post-WWII/Cold War

Following WWII, France tried to regain control over Vietnam, but… Colonialism was dying worldwide Led by Ho Chi Minh, many Vietnamese

demanded their independence from France.

The U.S. faced a difficult decision: It supported decolonization but was against communism (Minh was a communist).

Ho Chi Minh

What did the U.S. decide to do?

The U.S. supported France in its effort to control Vietnam and resist Minh’s communist movement. Preventing the spread of communism is more

important than promoting independence. $2.6 billion in military aid to France between 1950

and 1954 The U.S. felt that if Vietnam fell to

communists, then other nearby nations would also fall. This is known as the domino theory.

In 1954, the French lost control of Vietnam.

Domino Theory

Escalation of the Vietnam War

Following French control, Vietnam was divided into communist North Vietnam (led by Minh) and anti-communist South Vietnam (led by Diem).

Diem was unpopular with the people of Vietnam and only remained in power because of the support of the U.S.

Under the leadership of President Kennedy, the U.S. began sending “advisers” to Vietnam in 1961.

Under President Johnson, the U.S. began to send large numbers of troops to Vietnam.

Escalation in Vietnam

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

August 2nd, 1964 Navy claims that N. Vietnamese ships

are firing torpedoes at the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Congress gives President Lyndon B Johnson the power to “repel any armed attack against the United States to prevent further aggression.”

Later is revealed that the U.S. fired on the Vietnamese ships first.

The “start” of the war

By 1965, the U.S. was involved in a full-scale war against North Vietnam and the Vietcong (guerilla soldiers in S. Vietnam)

Many Americans questioned why the U.S. was involved in this war.

Our examination of the Vietnam War will focus on resistance to the war as well as the impact of media on public perception of the Vietnam war.