Chapter 26The Vietnam War

Chapter 26Lesson 1

Vietnam

Post WWII – France goes into Vietnam to regain its old colony

U.S. Supports the French

Vietnamese want to rule themselves

Ho Chi Minh becomes the communist leader of the Vietnamese

America Aids the French

After Japans surrender in 1945, France moves in to regain it’s former colony

U.S. sends aid to France to stop Minh’s communist government.

Eisenhower believed that if Vietnam were to fall to communism it would lead to a domino effect.

Domino Theory – The rest of South East Asia would fall to communism if Vietnam did.

Defeat at Dien Bien Phu

Vietnamese use guerilla warfare to defeat the French

Vietnamese surround Dien Bien Phu and bombard the French force

Forces the French to make peace and withdraw from Vietnam

1954 – Vietnam is divided into North and South

1954 Geneva Accords

Divide Vietnam in to North and South

Communism – North

Democratic – South (backed by U.S.)

American Involvement Deepens

Ho Chi Minh organizes communist sympathizers in the south (Vietcong)

President Kennedy expands U.S. involvement in Vietnam

Troop levels jump from 2,000 to 15,000 from 1961-1963

South Vietnam President Ngo Dinh Diem alienates Buddhist Monks. Monks protest and are killed by police

South Generals plan a coup to overthrow Diem.

Seize control on November 1, 1963 and execute Diem (South Vietnams government weakened)

American Involvement Deepens

President Kennedy assassinated – Lyndon Johnson continues Kennedy’s legacy in Vietnam

North Vietnam’s navy attacks U.S. ships in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Johnson asks Congress for approval to send additional U.S. troops. Congress approves the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

A Bloody Stalemate

By 1966 300,000+ U.S. personnel in Vietnam

U.S. superior weapons and technology

Vietcong – blend in with the civilian population, booby traps, and guerilla warfare

Search and Destroy

Draw the enemy out into the open

Planes drop Napalm and Agent Orange

The Ho Chi Minh Trail

Network of jungle paths that wind through Cambodia and Laos

Used to transport troops and equipment

North Vietnam receives support from China and Russia

Johnson feared attacking North Vietnam would bring China into the war (repeat of Korean War)

Chapter 26Lesson 2