Essential Question # 3 How do the origins of the Vietnam War reflect the Cold War policies and strategies of the United States?

Where is Vietnam?

Before World War II Indochina = Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand Former French colony Rubber! Japanese took over during World War II

World War II and Post-War Vietminh = League for the Independence of Vietnam Leader = Ho Chi Minh Helped the allies get the Japanese out Wants a unified Vietnam, run by Vietnamese

HO CHI MINH

OSS AND HO CHI MINH

World War II and Post-War 1954 = French pushed out by Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh Geneva Peace Accords Discuss Vietnam’s future Temporary partition along the 17th parallel

French and American Colonialism Democratic elections in 1956 to reunify country (US prevents this) North = Ho Chi Minh (Communist, Soviet/China) South = Ngo Ding Diem (Democratic, US)

Ngo Ding Diem Oppressive, corrupt, seen as puppet of imperialist US

Protests Against Diem

The National Liberation Front (“Viet Cong”) Southern Vietnamese against Diem Communists and non-Communists Wanted to unify Vietnam, self-govern Nicknamed the “Viet Cong” by U.S (derogatory term meaning Vietnamese Communists)

Kennedy’s Counter-Insurgency Sends “advisors” to stabilize Diem regime “Safe Hamlets” as counterinsurgency plan Alienates peasants, further destabilizes Diem regime

Coup d'état Coup d'état = 1963: Diem’s generals approach U.S Embassy in Saigon Kennedy approves takeover Diem and his brother assassinated

Video Notes: August 2, 1964 U.S.S Maddox is fired upon in the Gulf of Tonkin by Northern Vietnamese forces We still aren’t sure what exactly happened

Video Notes: August 7, 1964 Congress passes the “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution” Authorized Johnson to “take all necessary steps” to secure Southeast Asia