1. THE VIETNAM WAR UNIT: 7 Section 1

2. THE ROOTS OF AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT  Late 1800’s-WWII, France ruled Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia)  Ho Chi Minh organizes rebellions, creates Vietminh  September 2, 1945, Vietnam declares itself independent.  France refuses to recognize it and they go to war.  U.S. finances France’s war for 4 years – $2.6 billion.

3. ROOTS, CONT.  U.S. supports France to keep an ally in Europe and prevent spread of communism in Asia.  President Eisenhower’s Domino Theory  May, 1954, Vietminh defeat France –Fall of Dien Bien Phu  Geneva Accords  Ho Chi Minh and communists control N. Vietnam  Anti-communist nationalists controlled S. Vietnam

4. U.S. STEPS IN  South Vietnam’s president, Ngo Dinh Diem, refuses to take part in a countrywide election and creates corrupt government.  Restricted Buddhist practices  Offered little or no land distribution to peasants  Vietcong – a Communist militant group started targeting Diem’s government  Ho Chi Minh Trail  November 1, 1963, Diem’s regime was brought down with U.S. military support.

5. PRESIDENT JOHNSON EXPANDS THE CONFLICT  November 22, 1963, Kennedy is assassinated.  President Johnson increases American presence in Vietnam.  Tonkin Gulf Resolution  Operation Rolling Thunder  By June, 1965, 50,000 American soldiers were fighting the Vietcong.