By:

William Torres

Vietnam War Second Indochina war Fallowed first Indochina war a) between communist (north) supported

by communist allies b) against South Vietnam (supported by the

U.S. (anti-communist nations) Cold war a) military conflict b) in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

Viet Cong Vietnamese communist controlled front a) fought guerrilla war ( irregular

warfare) (where they use ambushes and

raids) b) U.S. and south Vietnamese relied on

air superiority and overwhelming fire power c) search and destroy

Why the U.S entered war? To prevent communist takeover Strategy of containment Combat units were deployed U.S. ground forces were withdrawn

(Vietnamization) Fighting continued

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Case-Church amendment Passed by U.S. Congress Prohibited use of U.S. military (after

August 15,1973) Unless president’s approval in advance

Capture of Saigon

Captured by North Vietnamese April 1975

Marked the end of the war A year later North and South Vietnam

were reunified

1949

France began it’s conquest of Indochina (in late 1850’s)

France completed pacification in 1893 Treaty of Hue

a) 1884

b) basis of French colonial rule in Vietnam

In W.W. II French were defeated by Germans

Meaning they became allies with German and Italian axis powers

French wanted and searched for power But were resisted by ultimate power Japanese

This continued Until Germans were forced out of

France French Indochina started secret talks

with Free France Japanese could not trust France any

more

Independence Democratic Republic of Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh leader of Viet declared Independence Democratic Republic of

Vietnam He began a speech paraphrasing the

Declaration of Independence ( All men are created equal...)

Major allies United States United Kingdom And Soviet Union All agreed land belonged to France France did not have weapons, ships and

soldiers to take Vietnam

British troops would occupy the south While Nationalist Chinese would move

in from the North When British landed they aided the

French since there was not enough troops to take Vietnam themselves

Guerilla War

Viet Minh started a Guerilla war against the French

First Indochina war War spread to Laos and Cambodia Chinese communist aided there allies

U.S. Aides French

U.S. created MAAG ( Military Assistance and Advisory Group)

U.S. supplied small arms U.S. spent $1 billion on the war and

shouldered the war paying 80% of the war

There were talks between Americans and French, and use of three Nuclear weapon was considered

There was Operation Vulture sending 60 B 29’s from U.S. bases

Supported by 150 fighters to bomb Viet Minh (commander Vo Nguyen Giap’s positions)

U.S carriers sailed to the Gulf of Tonkin According to Nixon the plan involved

drawling up three tactical nuclear weapons for the French

Nixon, "We might have to put in American boys”

Battle of Dien Bien Phu

Marked the end of French involvement in Indochina

French Union garrison surrendered Geneva Conference French came to agreement with Viet

Minh Independence to Cambodia and

Vietnam

Vietnam

Temporarily partitioned at the 17th parallel

Civilians were free Northerners (mostly Catholics) fled to

the south Frightened by communism

Propaganda

Using American Propaganda Such as

The Virgin Mary is heading South U.S. funded $93 million for relocation

program

Geneva Conference (1954) Domino Theory – if one country fell all

surrounding countries would also By Eisenhower Security of Cambodia and Laos were

those that were threatened by overflow of communism in Vietnam

Insurgency in the South Ho Chi Minh ,”do not engage in military

operations that will lead to defeat” Be selective in your violence If assassination is necessary Use a knife, not rifle, bomb, or grenade

use only a knife

Assassin

Make sure peasant know why killing has occurred

Armed propaganda

Assassination continues… Le Duan was a communist leader that

was working in the south He returned to Hanoi 400 government officials were killed Violence had increased greatly 20% of South Vietnam’s village chiefs

were assassinated

John F. Kennedy’s Administration John F. Kennedy won 1960 election He took over despite warnings from

Eisenhower

Green Berets Special forces employed by Kennedy Effective in brush fire war in Vietnam

South Vietnamese Military Quality of South Vietnamese military

remained poor

a) bad leadership

b) corruption

c) political promotions Guerrilla attacks rose

Kennedy increased military assistance John Kenneth warned Kennedy of the

danger, we shall replace French as a colonial force

Government refused to undertake land reform

Farmers paying high rents

Nations’ Agreement

July 23, 1963 Fourteen nations signed agreement promising the neutrality of Laos

Including : People’s Republic of China, South Vietnam, Soviet Union, North Vietnam and United States

Coup and Assassinations Diem was not able to defeat

communism might make a deal with ho Chi Minh

Robert F. Kennedy stated “Diem wouldn’t make even the slightest

concessions and he was difficult to reason with”

Protest broke out on ban of Buddhist flag

U.S. officials began discussing of regime change

United Stated Department in favor of encouraging coup

While defense Department favored Diem