VIETNAM

1954-1975

French Indo-China

1800s France becomes colonial power in Vietnam

Japan Controls during WWII Vietminh

League formed by Ho Chi Minh Communist sympathizer

French Indo-China

1800s France becomes colonial power in Vietnam

Japan Controls during WWII Vietminh

League formed by Ho Chi Minh Communist sympathizer

Vietnam

LaosC

ambodia

French Indochina

Ho Chi Minh “He who Enlightens” Real Name: Nguyen

That Thanh Participated in Tax

revolts Wanted Free

Vietnam

After WWII Prevent Communist

Expansion --containment “Domino Theory” –

Eisenhower US paying 75% of War Cost

French Losing

Defeated French

Dien Bien Phu Jungle fortress in Vietnam

Signaled the end of French/European Influence in Asia NO US help – Too soon?

Vietnminh Experience Captured 11,721 men

Geneva Conference

Work out peace agreement & decide Indochina’s future

Geneva Accords (Temporary) Cease Fire 17th Parallel (DMZ) July 1956 – General Elections

Vietnam Leaders

Ngo Dinh Diem

South Vietnam Anti-Communist Corrupt Gov Favored

Catholics Cancelled 1956

Election

Ho Chi Minh

North Vietnam Totalitarian Gave land to

Peasants Wanted Unified

Vietnam

Civil War – Vietnam

National Liberation Front (Vietcong aka “Charlie”) Vietnamese Communist in South Killed Southern Officials

Diem’s Overthrow

Arrested & Killed Buddhist Monks US Threatens to withdraw

Diem refuses to change US supports overthrow NOV 1963

Diem Assassinated

US Involvement

EisenhowerEisenhower Send

$ & weapons Advisors to train

KennedyKennedy Increase

Advisors

JohnsonJohnson

Expanded Effort

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

Gulf of Tonkin

USS Maddox was attacked by torpedo boats off coast of North Vietnam

Two Naval Battles ensued 2nd attack was announced by LBJ

Not accurate US was on spy mission (we provoked)

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Gave complete control to President LBJ Without approval

from congress

US Enters Vietnam

Operation Rolling Thunder

Continuous bombing campaign for 3 years Did Nothing but damage country Downed Planes: POW’s

Air Strikes

US introduces B-52 Bomber Saturation Bombing “Carpet Bombing”

Dropped thousands of Explosives on North Vietnam

Fragmentation Bombing “Cluster Bombs”

Explosive projecting metal shavings Target: Ho Chi Minh Trail

Ho Chi Minh Trail Supply

route through Laos and Cambodia to aid V.C.

Agent Orange

Pesticide to kill plants (Defoliant) Goal: Expose hiding places

Napalm

Chemical agent that burns uncontrollably

Search and Destroy Strategy

Effects of Air Bombing

1. Strengthened V.C.2. Soviets & China support V.C.3. Led to South Vietnamese joining

the V.C.