1. 30-1: Moving Toward Conflict

2. Background information The Players: Ho Chi Minh: Communist Leader of North Vietnam Vietminh: Communist group led by Ho Chi Minh Vietcong: Communist rebel group living in South Vietnam (non- communist controlled region) Ngo Dinh Diem: Leader of South Vietnam France controlled “Indochina” since the late 19th century Japan took control during World War II France attempted re- colonization in the post world-war II period and was able to conquer the southern half of Vietnam

3. 1941: What did the Vietminh declare as its main goal? Vietnam’s independence from foreign rule Vietminh’s Flag

4. 2. 1945: What did Ho Chi Minh declare after Japan was forced out? He vowed that Vietnam was an independent nation 3. 1946: How did Ho Chi Minh respond to the return of the French? He vowed to fight from North Vietnam to free South Vietnam from French control

5. 1950: Whom did the U.S. Support and what aid did the U.S. provide? 4. France5. Economic (military purposes) French Flag

6. 1950: Why did the U.S. get involved in the struggle? The U.S wanted to prevent another country from falling to communism The U.S. wanted to keep its ally, France, against the Soviet Union

7. 7. 1954: What did Eisenhower compare to a row of dominoes Eisenhower compared countries on the brink of communism to a row of dominoes ready to fall = Domino theory

8. 1954: What did the Vietminh victory at Dien Bien Phu cause the French to do? The French surrendered and pulled out of Vietnam

9. 1954:How did the Geneva Accords change Vietnam? The Geneva Accords, a peace agreement, divided the country along the 17 th parallel The peace agreement also called for an election to unify the country in 1956

10. 1956: Who canceled the Vietnamese elections? Why? Ngo Dinh Diem, with U.S. support cancels the elections because all felt that Ho Chi Minh would win the elections? Ngo Dinh Diem was a corrupt leader with a terrible human rights record – He did not have the support of his people.

11. 1964: What authority did the Tonkin Gulf Resolution grant to the U.S. president? Broad military powers to make war in Vietnam

12. 1965: What did Operation Rolling Thunder do in North Vietnam? Sustained Bombing raids of North Vietnam

13. Ho Chi Minh Trail Ho Chi Minh’s Trail, a network of paths running between North and South Vietnam, was North Vietnam’s main supply and troop route