The Vietnam War Era Mr.. Langford’s class

Vietnam

Overview of the war Dates: The Vietnamese The French The Americans The Chinese

1945 World War II The role of the Vietnamese Japanese Occupation The American Fight Who helped who?

1945 and the closing of WWII Americans promise to help the Vietnamese Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent Bo Dai turns over control Sept. 2, 1945 independence is read by Ho The Declaration of Independence influenced by The U.S. Free elections to take place

France’s Disposition Devastated after the war Looking to rally the people Wanting to rebuild all aspects of French dominance Needed economic stability

France reclaims old territories France returns to colonialism for a boost Why? What is the intention? Why won’t it work?

France Re-enters Vietnam France attempts restore order Receives resistance Imposes new sanctions Dissolve the potential government

First Indo-China War French bomb a quarter of Haiphong All negotiations brake off Viet Minh attack the French on Hanoi 40,000 Viet Minh troops move to the countryside Why?

Indo-China War cont. French demand U.S. support –take notice--will be an important decision Soviet Union and China support Viet Minh Casualties add up for the French End of Korean War, now superpowers focus on Indo-China region

Dien Bien Phu France’s Last Stand April/May of 1954 Vietnamese fought like guerilla warfare French were losing most of the battles Navarre Plan –lure Vietnamese into a conventional fight

Dien Bien Phu French take an old fort –sat in a valley Vietnamese take the hills What happened? French were completely decimated Decisive and final battle

Geneva Accords of 1954 Vietnam divided at 17th parallel Elections for all of Vietnam in 1956 Ngo Dinh Diem appointed Premier of South Vietnam French ends colonialism in Southeast Asia

North Vietnam Looked forward to the elections Developed a stronger party Received aid from Communist countries Ho Chi Minh led the North Built up a stronger and bigger army Why?

South Vietnam Led by Ngo Dinh Diem Supported by the U.S. Developed an army Asked for help in training Diem resumed a tight control of govt. Why?

U.S. begins involvement Domino Theory Zero Sum Game Gave millions in aid to the South Sent “Advisors” What else was happening at home to feed involvement?

Advisors Who were they? What did they do? What did they “really” do? Why were they important? Who was the President at the time?

Advisors

Kennedy’s New Secret Kennedy never knew about Vietnam until his inauguration He informed his VP of the situation Allowed more aid for Vietnam Allowed more troops to be sent Hamlet program

Village Lady

Johnson’s turn Took over after the assassination of Kennedy Vowed to keep the current plan Tonkin Gulf Resolution escalation of troops Nearly 500,000 troops were in Vietnam by 1967

Nixon’s Chance Nixon wins election in 1968 Takes the first chance a peace Has one of the best people--Kissinger 1973 Tries for peace in Paris Talks fail

President Nixon

Ford’s Finally Takes over the Presidency after resignation Resumes talks for peace Begins to withdraw more troops May 1975 All troops are withdrawn Fall of Saigon

Fall Of Saigon

Summary U.S. needs help of Vietnamese in WWII French reclaim old colony U.S. support French Geneva of 1954 U.S. gets involved U.S. withdraws 1975 Vietnam becomes one country