The War in Vietnam A Chronology

Vietnam Background Vietnam is a country in South East Asia Main crop is rice Southern Vietnam is hot, humid, and has jungles Neighbors are Laos, Cambodia, and China

Vietnam Occupied France colonized Vietnam in 20 th century They brought Catholic religion and language The took tin and rubber Japan occupied Vietnam during WW II

French-Indochina War After WW II France reasserted control of Vietnam The Vietnminh fought for independence, led by Ho Chi Minh France defeated at battle of Dien Bien Phu The US supported France

Vietnam Divided Vietnam was divided, after defeat of French The Geneva Accords called for division along 17 th parallel North Vietnam was communist, but election promised in 1956

US Supports South Vietnam The US supported South Vietnam US support for unpopular president Diem 1956 Diem cancelled elections, fearing a communist victory

Domino Theory and US Advisors President Eisenhower feared that if Vietnam became communist, other nations in Asia would, too Domino theory US sent advisors to South Vietnam,

Gulf of Tonkin In 1964 the US accused the North Vietnamese of firing on US ships US Congress passed “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution” Gave President Johnson power to send US troops to Vietnam

What do you think? Do you think the Gulf of Tonkin incident, where two US ships were fired upon by North Vietnamese patrol boats, warranted the US going to war? Why or Why not?

1965 US Sends Ground Troops President Johnson sent large numbers of US ground troops to aid South Vietnam in their fight against the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong communists

1968 Tet Offensive The North Vietnamese communists attacked South Vietnamese cities and US military bases during Tet New Year

1969 Draft Lottery and Protests The US began draft with numbers assigned by lottery Antiwar protests increased Nixon proposed Vietnamization, South Vietnamese forces would replace US forces

Hawks Americans who supported the Vietnam War Believed we needed to fight in Vietnam to stop the spread of communism Wanted to aid our ally South Vietnam

Doves American who opposed the Vietnam War Believed that we should stay out of a civil war in Vietnam Protested the Vietnam War

Hawks or Doves?

Are you a hawk or a dove? Talk to your neighbor and explain you reason for supporting or opposing the Vietnam War Share you reason.

1970 US enters Cambodia Nixon calls for air strikes against Viet Cong supply lines in Cambodia US troops enter Cambodia to fight Viet Cong

1973 Paris Peace Accords US and North Vietnamese negotiate in Paris Both sides agree to US troop withdrawal in 60 days

1975 Fall of Saigon North Vietnamese and Viet Cong defeat South Vietnam Saigon Falls and many South Vietnamese flee Vietnam is reunited under the communist Party.