VIETNAM WAR

 In 1954 Vietnam gained independence from the French. Ho Chi Minh: a nationalist and Communist from Vietnam that led guerrilla forces against the French, and became the leader of North Vietnam. BACKGROUND:

 Geneva Accords (1954): diplomats from almost 100 nations agreed to divide Vietnam at the 17 th parallel and officially ended French rule in Vietnam.  Ho Chi Minh’s Communists controlled North Vietnam  A non-Communist government led by Ngo Dinh Diem, and supported the United States, ruled South Vietnam. VIETNAM IS DIVIDED

 According to the agreement, elections were going to reunite the two Vietnams.  These elections never happened because South Vietnam and the United States were scared that the Communists would win. WHAT WENT WRONG

 American foreign-policy planners were scared that if the Communists took over South Vietnam then non- Communist governments across Southeast Asia would become Communist. This was known as the domino theory. AMERICA ENTERS THE VIETNAM WAR

 Ho Chi Minh wanted all of Vietnam to be under one Communist rule.  He supported the Viet Cong, which were Vietnamese communist rebels trying to overthrow South Vietnamese government. VIETNAM

 At first the United States only sent supplies and military advisers but in 1965 it started to send troops.  Both the Soviet Union and China sent aid to North Vietnam. UNITED STATES AND OTHER OUTSIDE FORCES

 Some American men became draft dodgers and left the country to avoid being drafted.  The North Vietnamese used guerrilla warfare because they knew the countryside well and the local villagers often helped them find refuge. FACTS ABOUT THE WAR

 Before the end of the war Pres. Johnson decided not to run for re-election and Nixon became president.  January 1973 Nixon negotiated the Paris Peace Accord.  The Paris Peace Accord established a cease-fire where the US agreed to withdraw troops and North Vietnam agreed not to send any more troops to the south. ENDING THE WAR

 North Vietnamese conquered South Vietnam, it’s capital Saigon was named Ho Chi Minh City in 1976 THE FALL OF SAIGON

 American casualties: 58,220  Vietnamese civilian casualties: 587,000  South Vietnamese casualties: 440,357  North Vietnamese casualties: 444,000 CASUALTIES

 Ellis, Elisabeth Gaynor., and Anthony Esler. Prentice Hall World History: The Modern Era. Boston Mass.: Pearson/Prentice Hall, Print.  "The Vietnam War." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 08 Jan  "Statistics about the Vietnam War." Statistics about the Vietnam War. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Jan WORKS CITED