The Vietnam War Honors United States History 20.1 Honors United States History 20.1

Southeast Asia

America and the War in Indochina  America did not get involved until the 1960s.  Vietnam War Roots:  European colonialism  Cold War politics (Communism v. Capitalism)  Vietnamese call for independence

Background to the War zFrance controlled “Indochina” since the late 19 th century zJapan took control during World War II zWith U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar period

France Rules Indochina in SE Asia  France ruled Vietnam w/ a heavy fist –Imposed high taxes and strict policies –Wealthy Vietnamese benefited from this but the rest resented the colonial relationship  Ho Chi Minh –Born in 1890 –Joined many anti-French organizations + fled the country in 1912 –30 year absence:  Wrote about Vietnam + studied Communism  Gained the attention of Soviets

The French Battle Nationalism and Communism  Japanese control of Vietnam during WWII weakened France’s influence there –Colonialism a dying institution –Ho Chi Minh returned determined to gain independence + implement Communism

The French Battle Nationalism and Communism  U.S. torn b/w its anti-communist and anti- colonial sentiments –Support Vietnamese independence = support Communism –Support France = support colonialism –Truman went w/ the latter… and Eisenhower continued this policy  ∴ The U.S. offered financial aid to France ($2.6 billion b/w )  Had to contain Ho Chi Minh’s Vietminh  League for the Independence of Vietnam

Background to the War: Domino Theory  Eisenhower argued that by aiding the French they were helping to contain the spread of communism –Domino Theory: if Vietnam fell to communism the countries closest to it would also fall to communism.  U.S. worried about Japan, Philippines, Australia etc

The Domino Theory

Background to the War: Dien Bien Phu  The French finally lost Vietnam entirely in 1954 –The Vietminh trapped a large French military base at Dien Bien Phu + held it for 55 days –May 7, 1954 the French surrendered after experiencing “hell in a very small place.” –French asked for U.S. military support but Eisenhower refused

Background to the War  Geneva Accords –Vietnam divided at the 17 th parallel –Ho Chi Minh’s nationalist/communist forces controlled the North –Ngo Dinh Diem forces controlled the South  He was a Catholic, French-educated leader supported by Western gov’ts including U.S. –Date in 1956 set for free elections to take place in Vietnam but…

America Opposes Communism in Vietnam  SEATO – Southeast Asia Treaty Organization –Contain the spread of communism in SE Asia  U.S. also provided $ + military aid to Diem in South Vietnam –Diem, supported by the U.S. backed out of the elections, b/c he was predicted to lose –Led to military conflict between North and South

Communist Sentiment Grows  1957 – Communist rebel group grew out of the South + called themselves the National Liberation Front (NLF) –Committed to undermining Diem’s regime –NLF guerilla fighters = Vietcong  Supported by North Vietnam they carried out many surprise hit and run attacks against the South  Diem also losing support among other South Vietnamese b/c –Repressive dictatorial rule by Diem  Diem’s family holds all power  Wealth is hoarded by the elite  Buddhist majority persecuted  Torture, lack of political freedom prevail

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

Early Protests of Diem’s Government Self-Immolation by a Buddhist Monk

Kennedy Sends U.S. Troops to Vietnam  1961 – Kennedy sends Special Forces to advise Diem’s army on how to fight the communists –Army of the Republic of Vietnam aka ARVN  1963 – more that 15,000 American “advisors” were fighting in Vietnam  However, JFK understood that Diem was not going to be able to hold power for much longer – ∴ U.S. military began working w/ anti-Diem forces + support a coup d'état that overthrows Diem –Diem executed Nov 1, 1963

Johnson Leads the Nation into War  JFK assassinated Nov 22, Johnson assumes the presidency  Johnson: Remembers domino theory –”I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.” –He knew the American ppl expected a victory in Vietnam

North Vietnamese and U.S. Forces Clash  August 2, Gulf of Tonkin Incident(s)? –3 NV torpedo boats fired on USS Maddox as it patrolled the Gulf of Tonkin off coast of NV –Maddox not hit but fired back over 250 shells –Claimed a second incident occurred 2 days later  “Tonkin ghosts?”  Johnson called for an airstrike against North Vietnam –Turned towards Congress for approval

Congress Gives Johnson Broad Military Powers  The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: –Only 2 senators voted against it –Gave LBJ “The Blank Check” –Authorized Johnson:  “To take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the U.S. and to prevent further aggression.” –Allowed LBJ to commit troops to SV+ fight a war against NV w/o going back to Congress for a declaration of war