Moving towards conflict The Vietnam War Years Moving towards conflict

I. Japanese control of Vietnam A) In 1940 the Japanese take control of Vietnam. B) The next year, Ho Chi Minh returns from China and forms the Vietminh, to win independence from foreign rule. C) When Japan is forced to leave in 1945 Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam an independent nation.

II. Not so Fast! The French Return A) French troops gain control of the southern half. B) Ho Chi Minh vowed to fight the French. C)The U.S. sends $15 million in aide to France. Why did the U.S. support France???

III. Geneva Accords A) Temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel. 1. The Communist were in the North and Anti-Communist were in the South. 2. An election was to be held to see who would lead the country.

V. Diem Cancels Elections Diem knew he was going to lose the elections so he canceled them. The US promised military aide to Diem in return for a stable government in the South

C) Instability in the South 1) Diem becomes very unpopular because he did not support land reform and attacks on Buddhism 2) A communist opposition group in the south, known as the Vietcong begins attacks on the Diem government Ho-CHiMin Trail

VI. The U.S. Steps up A) Because Diem couldn’t maintain stability the US supported a military coup that toppled Diem’s regime

B. Tonkin Gulf Resolution A North Vietnamese patrol boat fired a torpedo at an American destroyer, President Johnson asked congress to adopt the Tonkin Gulf Resolution which gave Johnson “ all necessary powers to take all necessary measures to repel an armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggressions”.

Look at the poster on pager 732 How might this poster have generated support for the Vietcong? Do you think the use of propaganda is acceptable? When have we seen propaganda used before?

What time period is this poster from? What is the message of this poster?

1) What event is depicted in these images? 2) How is propaganda being used? 3)How was this event similar to the events that occurred in the Tonkin gulf?

Do you think congress was justified in passing the Tonkin Gulf resolution? Use details from your text and notes to support your response