Vietnam War

Vietnam After Diem refused to hold elections, Ho Chih Minh began an armed struggle to reunify the nation After Diem refused to hold elections, Ho Chih Minh began an armed struggle to reunify the nation Many Vietnamese supported the Vietcong, North or South Many Vietnamese supported the Vietcong, North or South –Opposed to Diem and afraid of Minh American support increased as Kennedy took over presidency American support increased as Kennedy took over presidency

Vietnam American’s believed that Diem was causing people to support Vietcong, so they urged him to reform and help peasants American’s believed that Diem was causing people to support Vietcong, so they urged him to reform and help peasants Diem made himself more unpopular by discriminating against Buddhism Diem made himself more unpopular by discriminating against Buddhism –Countries strongest religion –During protests, Diem’s military killed 9 monks and injured 14

Vietnam Because of Diem’s unpopularity, many wanted him to be overthrown Because of Diem’s unpopularity, many wanted him to be overthrown –Americans supported this idea Vietnamese generals seized power Vietnamese generals seized power After Diem was gone the leaders of South Vietnam were worse After Diem was gone the leaders of South Vietnam were worse –The weaker the leader was, the stronger the American support became

Vietnam Shortly after Diem was gone, Kennedy was assassinated Shortly after Diem was gone, Kennedy was assassinated Johnson took over Johnson took over Did not want to widen the war, however was not going to let Vietnam fall to communism Did not want to widen the war, however was not going to let Vietnam fall to communism

Vietnam Gulf of Tonkin Gulf of Tonkin –Two American destroyers were fired upon by North Vietnamese torpedo boats –Johnson and congress felt that an attack on American ships meant that they should be able to defend themselves Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Gulf of Tonkin Resolution –Signed and gave power to the president to make all necessary moves in order to prevent further attacks

Vietnam Shortly after Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, N. Vietnam attacks American army stations Shortly after Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, N. Vietnam attacks American army stations –Johnson orders air-strikes on N. Vietnam Johnson’s approval rating was extremely high after the attacks Johnson’s approval rating was extremely high after the attacks Continued using bombs to attack N. Vietnam Continued using bombs to attack N. Vietnam –Operation Rolling Thunder –Also sent combat troops into Vietnam

Vietnam In ,000 combat troops were sent to Vietnam In ,000 combat troops were sent to Vietnam –In 1966 it was doubled Troops were confident that it would be a short war with little casualties Troops were confident that it would be a short war with little casualties Vietcong used booby traps and guerilla warfare to avoid confrontation with American Troops Vietcong used booby traps and guerilla warfare to avoid confrontation with American Troops

Vietnam American’s then used search and destroy missions to force them out in the open American’s then used search and destroy missions to force them out in the open –Napalm, Agent Orange Vietnamese were too determined to be defeated so easily Vietnamese were too determined to be defeated so easily –Would not surrender –Accepted heavy losses by just replenishing army

Vietnam North Vietnamese heavily supported Vietcong North Vietnamese heavily supported Vietcong Ho Chih Minh Trail Ho Chih Minh Trail –Supply line by which Vietcong received weapons and food –Passed through countries not involved in Vietnam Johnson would not attack the trail Johnson would not attack the trail

Vietnam Johnson was afraid of a full scale attack on N. Vietnam Johnson was afraid of a full scale attack on N. Vietnam –Feared that China and Russia would get involved and cause greater problems Because of this, war was gauged based on body counts Because of this, war was gauged based on body counts –Between ,000 Vietnamese were killed compared to 6,700 Americans However Vietnamese would not surrender and kept fighting However Vietnamese would not surrender and kept fighting