The Vietnam War What were the main reasons the United States fought in Vietnam and was that the right decision?

Pre 1954: Ho Chi Minh vs. Imperialism During the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, Ho Chi Minh wants to speak about Vietnamese independence from France After his idea is rejected, Ho Chi Minh joins the Communist Party, agreeing with Lenin’s viewpoint on imperialism 1941: to fight the Japanese and help the US, Ho Chi Minh forms a resistance army called the Vietminh 1945: Thinking the US will now support him, Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent & uses the US Declaration of Independence as a model French don’t accept an independent Vietnam & quickly restore their colonial control in the southern part of Vietnam, while the Vietminh retreat to the north.

Put this info at the bottom of your note sheet Southeast Asia Info Put this info at the bottom of your note sheet North Vietnam & Laos are influenced by the Soviets South Vietnam & Thailand are influenced by the United States Cambodia’s government is influenced by the United States (Communist rebels are trying to overthrow the Cambodian Govt)

Vietnam becomes two nations (1954-1959) 1954: The Vietminh attack the French army from the north The French are defeated at Dien Bien Phu UN Treaty called Geneva Accords ends the war Vietnam will be split at the 17th parallel into a Communist North and a non-Communist South, pending nationwide elections in 1956 1955: Eisenhower fears Ho Chi Minh will win a national election and unify the country. US supports Ngo Dinh Diem as the ruler of an independent “Republic of Vietnam (S. Vietnam)” – elections cancelled 1959: Ho Chi Minh forms Democratic Republic of Vietnam (N. Vietnam) – declares war on S. Vietnam

US “Advisors” in Vietnam (1959-1964) 1959: Fearing that South Vietnam will fall to the communists, the United States commits military advisors to aid Diem in the war with the north “DOMINO THEORY” 1960: southern communists form the National Liberation Front also known as the Vietcong VC will aid N. Vietnam by using guerilla warfare against South Vietnam’s Army and its ally, the United States 1961: President Kennedy begins to send more “advisors” to South Vietnam However, Diem is very unpopular with the South Vietnamese people – JFK unsure

1963: Diem is assassinated in November during a coup de tat 1963: Diem is assassinated in November during a coup de tat. JFK is assassinated a few days later in Dallas. President Johnson steps up the military campaign by launching a massive bombing campaign against North Vietnam Aug. 1964: The Maddox, a U.S. destroyer, is slightly damaged by NV boats in Tonkin Gulf After a “reported” second attack on the USS Turner Joy, Congress passes Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving Johnson authority to intensify the war

US Expands the War under LBJ (1965-1968) 1964: General William Westmoreland takes command in Vietnam. He advocates a large American force to inflict as many casualties as possible March 1965: First US combat troops land in Da Nang, SV 1966: LBJ asks Congress for $12.8 billion to help finance war War debated in Congress, but money eventually is approved. Anti-war protests occur in 40 US Cities 1967: Public opinion poll find most American disagree w/ war Boxing champion Muhammad Ali refuses induction into the armed forces, citing religious reasons. Dec 67: LBJ & Westmoreland assure the US public the enemy is nearly defeated “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong”

Jan 1968: US troop levels near 500,000 North Vietnamese Army & Vietcong launch a massive campaign called the Tet Offensive reaching all the way to U.S. Embassy in Saigon. Even though US gains back all territory, American public realizes the war is far from over like LBJ stated. Antiwar movement in the US grows. March of 1968 - Johnson decides not to seek re-election. Former Vice-President Richard Nixon runs with a campaign promise of ending the war by achieving “peace with honor”.

Vietnamization & the Fall of Saigon (1969-1975) 1969: Nixon calls for Vietnamization of the war by pulling out US troops and replacing them with South Vietnam’s Army (ARVN) 1972: Nixon does bring home troops but expands the bombing campaign against North Vietnam during Operation Linebacker. Nixon further expands the war by invading neighboring Cambodia 1973: Paris Peace Accords - US, North Vietnam and South Vietnam sign a peace treaty ending the war (Kissinger negotiates treaty) 1974-75: North Vietnam invades South Vietnam. President Ford asks Congress to help and the Congress refuses. Saigon, the South Vietnamese capital falls in April of 1975. Vietnam is unified.