War in Southeast Asia Vietnam and Cambodia

Section Objectives What role did Ho Chi Minh play in the decolonization of Vietnam? How did the United States become involved in the war in Southeast Asia? The Tragedy in Cambodia

Executive Summary Struggle Against France A Divided Nation American Involvement A Slow Return to Peace Tragedy in Cambodia

Struggle Against France A.Struggle Against France 1.Ho Chi Minh a.Leader of movement for free Vietnam Viet Minh b.Formed Viet Minh during WWII to fight against the Japanese *Japanese were defeated in August of 1945 c.Led Viet Minh against French as French tried to reassert control over Vietnam

Struggle Against France A.Struggle Against France continued 2.In 1954, the Viet Minh trapped a French army at Dienbienphu, forcing it to surrender 3.France left Vietnam later that same year

A Nation Divided B.A Divided Nation 1.After the cease-fire with the French, Vietnam was divided into a Communist north and non-communist south Communism: a.Communism: a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.

A Nation Divided B.A Divided Nation continued 2.Vietnam was divided at the 17 th parallel Viet Cong 3.During the early 60s, communists infiltrated into South Vietnam and called themselves the Viet Cong

American Involvement C.American Involvement 1.Americans were fearful of communism spreading throughout all of SE Asia Domino Theory: *Domino Theory: if one nation fell to communist forces, neighboring nations would also become communist, like a row of falling dominoes

American Involvement C.American Involvement continued Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 2.Gulf of Tonkin Resolution a.In 1964, two American patrol boats were supposedly attacked by the North Vietnamese navy b.President Lyndon Johnson received the power to “take all necessary steps including the use of force”, to help South Vietnam

American Involvement C.American Involvement continued 3.U.S. had committed 500,000 troops by China and the Soviet Union were supplying the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) with weapons, equipment, and training 5.The war spreads Ho Chi Minh Trail a.U.S. bombing Laos and Cambodia to slow the flow of arms into South Vietnam; Ho Chi Minh Trail

American Involvement C.American Involvement continued b.Tet Offensive i.December 1968 ii.Americans won but demoralized folks back home

A Slow Return to Peace D.A Slow Return to Peace 1.Americans withdrew from Vietnam in 1973 a.Fall of Saigon in 1975 b.55K Americans killed 2.In 1975, communists forces defeated South Vietnam, thus uniting Vietnam into one country 3.South Vietnamese were sent north for “reeducation”

Tragedy in Cambodia E.Tragedy in Cambodia: “The Killing Fields” 1.In 1975, Khmer Rouge come to power in Cambodia 2.Pol Pot was Khmer Rouge leader 3.Wanted to get rid of all foreign influences

Tragedy in Cambodia E.Tragedy in Cambodia: “The Killing Fields” 4.Emptied the cities and forced people to work on commune farms 5.Millions were killed through murder and famine Genocide: 6.Genocide: the deliberate killing of an entire national or ethnic group

The End

Student Notes

Struggle Against France A.Struggle Against France 1.Ho Chi Minh a.Leader of movement for free Vietnam Viet Minh b.Formed Viet Minh during WWII to fight against the Japanese *Japanese were defeated in August of 1945 c.Led Viet Minh against French as French tried to reassert control over Vietnam

Struggle Against France A.Struggle Against France continued 2.In 1954, the Viet Minh trapped a French army at Dienbienphu, forcing it to surrender 3.France left Vietnam later that same year

A Nation Divided B.A Divided Nation 1.After the cease-fire with the French, Vietnam was divided into a Communist north and non-communist south Communism: a.Communism: a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.

A Nation Divided B.A Divided Nation continued 2.Vietnam was divided at the 17 th parallel Viet Cong 3.During the early 60s, communists infiltrated into South Vietnam and called themselves the Viet Cong

American Involvement C.American Involvement 1.Americans were fearful of communism spreading throughout all of SE Asia Domino Theory: *Domino Theory: if one nation fell to communist forces, neighboring nations would also become communist, like a row of falling dominoes

American Involvement C.American Involvement continued Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 2.Gulf of Tonkin Resolution a.In 1964, two American patrol boats were supposedly attacked by the North Vietnamese navy b.President Lyndon Johnson received the power to “take all necessary steps including the use of force”, to help South Vietnam

American Involvement C.American Involvement continued 3.U.S. had committed 500,000 troops by China and the Soviet Union were supplying the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) with weapons, equipment, and training 5.The war spreads Ho Chi Minh Trail a.U.S. bombing Laos and Cambodia to slow the flow of arms into South Vietnam; Ho Chi Minh Trail

American Involvement C.American Involvement continued b.Tet Offensive i.December 1968 ii.Americans won but demoralized folks back home

A Slow Return to Peace D.A Slow Return to Peace 1.Americans withdrew from Vietnam in 1973 a.Fall of Saigon b.55K Americans killed 2.In 1975, communists forces defeated South Vietnam, thus uniting Vietnam into one country 3.South Vietnamese were sent north for “reeducation”

Tragedy in Cambodia E.Tragedy in Cambodia: “The Killing Fields” 1.In 1975, Khmer Rouge come to power in Cambodia 2.Pol Pot was Khmer Rouge leader 3.Wanted to get rid of all foreign influences

Tragedy in Cambodia E.Tragedy in Cambodia: “The Killing Fields” 4.Emptied the cities and forced people to work on commune farms 5.Millions were killed through murder and famine Genocide: 6.Genocide: the deliberate killing of an entire national or ethnic group