Vietnam War Chapter 22 Section 1 &2

Beginning French Indochina War http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnSUBFEHmB0 1950 French Indochina War France = trying to gain control back in Vietnam America Supports France Massive economic aide’ Stop communism France ruled Vietnam Laos Cambodia Restricted freedom of speech = jailed nationalists Beginning

Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Vietminh Revolutionaries fled to China Created the Indochinese Communist Party Returned home with help and formed: Vietminh Organization who wanted independence from foreign rule in Vietnam Vietnam

France Battle Vietminh France not giving up Ho Chi Minh fights from the North Truman send $15 million to France Next 4 years U.S. pays for much of the war = $1 Billion France Battle Vietminh

Drive out the French 17th parallel Battle of Dien Vien Phu French forced to surrender - May 1954 Countries meet to decide the fate of Vietnam Peace agreement Geneva Accords Temporarily divide Vietnam 17th parallel Ho Chi Minh controlled the north = Capital Hanoi Diem controlled the south = Capital Saigon Drive out the French

U.S. Steps In Ho Chi Minh winning support from the North US aides South Vietnam Ho Chi Minh winning support from the North Land redistributing to Peasants National Hero Diem refused to take part in elections Not holding up his part of bargain Corrupt government Suppressed opposition Angered Buddhists = restricted practices (he was catholic) U.S. Steps In

Cont. 1957 Vietcong Communist opposition group in the South Attack Diem’s government Assassinating thousands Supported by Ho Chi Minh Suppling arms Ho Chi Minh Trail Cont.

Kennedy Kennedy increases aide Diem’s popularity plummets Troops sent to train the South 1963 = 16,000 Diem’s popularity plummets Corruption Moved villagers Attacks intensified on Buddhism Killed 100+ Destroyed temples Monks burn themselves in protest November 1, 1963 U.S. supported military coup Diem assassinated Kennedy

Johnson Kennedy was going to withdraw Johnson escalates U.S. role in the war Diem’s death brings more chaos Unstable because of no clear leader Vietcong’s influence grows in the South Johnson

Tonkin Gulf Resolution August 2, 1964 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYf6JZtVClY American destroyer fired upon by North Vietnamese USS Maddox Returned fire 2 days later reported more enemy torpedoes U.S. destroyers began firing Johnson retaliates Launching bombing strikes on North Vietnam Tonkin Gulf Resolution Gave Johnson broad military powers in Vietnam Blank Check Operation Rolling Thunder 1965 = 50,000 Tonkin Gulf Resolution

U.S. involvement and escalation Much of America supported Johnson’s attempt to contain communism. Began sending large amounts of troops to aide S. Vietnamese. By end of 196 500,000 American soldiers over there U.S. involvement and escalation

Fighting the Viet Cong Guerilla Tactics Hit and run, ambush No rules 3.5 million land mines Civilians still being killed by them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl8-dAPCQmQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDzGj0mHMxM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo7XBaG_-SE Fighting the Viet Cong

U.S. goal was to destroy moral of Viet Cong through Attrition. Gradual wearing down of enemy Body counts To the U.S. soldier it was just a military battle, to the Vietcong it was a battle for their existence. War of Attrition

Nasty Warfare Napalm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbEhsqStPTM Agent Orange http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1r8Jn07Oxg Nasty Warfare

Sinking moral of U.S. soldiers and citizens Brutal warfare took its toll on soldiers Many resorted to drugs and alcohol U.S. economy began to falter Increased protests Sinking moral of U.S. soldiers and citizens

The Living Room War Casualties and statistics every night on the news Between 1961-67 16,000 U.S. soldiers died No end in sight The Living Room War