Vietnam

Indochina Before WWII France ruled most of Indochina Before WWII France ruled most of Indochina After WWII France tried to reestablish control After WWII France tried to reestablish control Nationalist movements had gained strength Nationalist movements had gained strength Vietnamese communist (Vietminh) Vietnamese communist (Vietminh) Democratic Republic of Vietnam 1945 Democratic Republic of Vietnam 1945 –Led by Ho Chi Minh

1946 Vietminh & France went to war Vietminh & France went to war U.S. supported France U.S. supported France France was defeated in every battle France was defeated in every battle May 1954, Battle at Dien Bien Phu spelled the end for France May 1954, Battle at Dien Bien Phu spelled the end for France France left Vietnam completely France left Vietnam completely

Vietnam divided France, U.S., and others met in Geneva, Switzerland to settle the Vietnam conflict France, U.S., and others met in Geneva, Switzerland to settle the Vietnam conflict Vietnam would be divided along the 17 th parallel Vietnam would be divided along the 17 th parallel Communist North Communist North Pro Western South Pro Western South Until 1956 elections Until 1956 elections

Ngo Dinh Diem (South leader) Ngo Dinh Diem (South leader) Guerilla fighters, Viet Cong fought to unite under Ho Chi Minh (North leader) Guerilla fighters, Viet Cong fought to unite under Ho Chi Minh (North leader) 1963 South’s military staged a coup and killed Diem 1963 South’s military staged a coup and killed Diem

Vietnam War 1963 U.S. had 16,000 advisors in Vietnam 1963 U.S. had 16,000 advisors in Vietnam Aug. 2, 1964 LBJ announced that North Vietnam had fired on U.S. ships Aug. 2, 1964 LBJ announced that North Vietnam had fired on U.S. ships LBJ ordered air strikes LBJ ordered air strikes Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gave President Johnson broad war powers Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gave President Johnson broad war powers March 1965 U.S. sent the first ground troops to Vietnam March 1965 U.S. sent the first ground troops to Vietnam

Vietnam War (cont) –500,000 U.S. forces –800,000 South Vietnamese army –300,000 Viet Cong & North allies –Soviets & China sent aid but no troops –Americans could not defeat the communist

Tet (Vietnamese New Year) Antiwar attitudes in U.S. and overseas Antiwar attitudes in U.S. and overseas Feb. 1968, Viet Cong launch major military offensive Feb. 1968, Viet Cong launch major military offensive Military failure but spurred opposition to U.S. war policy Military failure but spurred opposition to U.S. war policy LBJ did not seek reelection LBJ did not seek reelection

The War Ends? Nixon inherited LBJ’s war Nixon inherited LBJ’s war Opposition to the war grew Opposition to the war grew U.S. began withdrawing troops U.S. began withdrawing troops 1973 cease fire and the last U.S. troops left 1973 cease fire and the last U.S. troops left 1975 the Viet Cong & North defeated South Vietnam 1975 the Viet Cong & North defeated South Vietnam

Results of Vietnam War Vietnam united under communism Vietnam united under communism 58,000 American casualties 58,000 American casualties 200,000 South Vietnamese casualties 200,000 South Vietnamese casualties 500,000 North Vietnamese casualties 500,000 North Vietnamese casualties 10 million refugees 10 million refugees U.S. dropped 3 times more bombs than in WWII U.S. dropped 3 times more bombs than in WWII 5 million acres defoliated 5 million acres defoliated

Relations with the West Economic difficulties Economic difficulties 1980’s encouraged limited private enterprise 1980’s encouraged limited private enterprise Vietnam government helped locate MIA’s Vietnam government helped locate MIA’s 1995 U.S. & Vietnam established diplomatic ties 1995 U.S. & Vietnam established diplomatic ties Vietnam trades with the West to help their desperately poor economy Vietnam trades with the West to help their desperately poor economy