THE VIETNAM WAR STARTS

EARLY VIETNAM Long history of fighting (Mongols, Chinese) Long history of fighting (Mongols, Chinese) France colonizes Vietnam 1800’s France colonizes Vietnam 1800’s Vietnam’s revolt in the 1900’s Vietnam’s revolt in the 1900’s

Ho Chi Minh Rises out of French Colonization Rises out of French Colonization Educated in France Educated in France Plea’s for Vietnamese independence at Versailles Plea’s for Vietnamese independence at Versailles 1929 establishes the Vietnamese Communist Party 1929 establishes the Vietnamese Communist Party

Ho Chi Minh cont. During W.W.II. Vietminh help the U.S. fight the Japanese During W.W.II. Vietminh help the U.S. fight the Japanese Intelligence Intelligence U.S. train Vietminh to fight Japanese U.S. train Vietminh to fight Japanese At Potsdam we agree to let France re- occupy Vietnam At Potsdam we agree to let France re- occupy Vietnam Starts the French Vietminh War Starts the French Vietminh War

French Vietminh War Ho Chi Minh aided by China and Russia Ho Chi Minh aided by China and Russia French is aided by the U.S. French is aided by the U.S. By 1953 US supplies 80% of the war effort By 1953 US supplies 80% of the war effort France falls at Dien Bien Phu France falls at Dien Bien Phu The peace treaty creates North and South Vietnam The peace treaty creates North and South Vietnam

BATTLE OF DIEN BEIN PHU

Ngo Dinh Diem vs. Ho Chi Minh Ngo Dinh Diem is installed as governor of South Vietnam in a fraud election (Bao Dai) Ngo Dinh Diem is installed as governor of South Vietnam in a fraud election (Bao Dai) Ho Chi Minh controls the North Ho Chi Minh controls the North Ngo is catholic (Vietnam is 80% Buddhist) Ngo is catholic (Vietnam is 80% Buddhist) U.S. provides massive aid, spent on military not economic relief U.S. provides massive aid, spent on military not economic relief

Diem’s Policies Ngo would only let family advise him Ngo would only let family advise him Persecution of Buddhists (cancels the march on Buddha’s birthday) Persecution of Buddhists (cancels the march on Buddha’s birthday) 1957 cancels free elections in all of Vietnam 1957 cancels free elections in all of Vietnam NLF formed in S. Vietnam (Vietcong) NLF formed in S. Vietnam (Vietcong) Buddhist monks protest Buddhist monks protest

Deim cont. Kennedy plans to overthrow Deim Kennedy plans to overthrow Deim U.S. does not stop the military coup U.S. does not stop the military coup Diem was killed with his family Diem was killed with his family 3 weeks later Kennedy assassinated 3 weeks later Kennedy assassinated LBJ takes the presidency LBJ takes the presidency

U.S. INVOLVEMENT Under Kennedy U.S. involvement grows by over 10,000 Under Kennedy U.S. involvement grows by over 10,000 Over $500 million in aid Over $500 million in aid LBJ and the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution LBJ and the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution This allows LBJ to really widen the war This allows LBJ to really widen the war

U.S. OPERATIONS Operation Rolling Thunder Operation Rolling Thunder Bombs N. Vietnam daily Bombs N. Vietnam daily Look for the Ho Chi Minh Trail Look for the Ho Chi Minh Trail American troops in Vietnam swell American troops in Vietnam swell , , , , , ,000

The War We have a great deal of optimism (never lost a war) We have a great deal of optimism (never lost a war) Tried bombing instead of ground combat (lessen causalities) Tried bombing instead of ground combat (lessen causalities) These kill thousands of innocents (Vietnamese turn against us) These kill thousands of innocents (Vietnamese turn against us) Search and destroy missions Search and destroy missions

The War cont. Jungle fighting not our specialty (Guerrilla tactics) Jungle fighting not our specialty (Guerrilla tactics) Land mines (bouncing bettys) Land mines (bouncing bettys) Who are we fighting? Who are we fighting? Operation HAMLET Operation HAMLET Relocation of peasants hurts our relationship Relocation of peasants hurts our relationship By 1968 things aren’t going so well By 1968 things aren’t going so well