1. Going to War in Vietnam Pgs. 654 - 661
Chapter 19.1
Going to War in Vietnam
Pgs

2. American Involvement in Vietnam
The Growth of Vietnamese Nationalism
Ho Chi Minh & the French
A little change thanks to WWII
America Aids the French
The French came back after the war
Anti-Colonization vs. Communism
The Domino Theory
China fell
Start of the Korean War

3. Cont. Defeat at Dien Bien Phu Geneva Accords
Remember, these are the French
The French lose and are forced to withdraw
Geneva Accords
2 Vietnams, elections to reunite in 1956
Ho Chi Minh in north
Ngo Dinh Diem in south
Elections are not held
Some claim the US helped block them

4. America Becomes Involved in Vietnam
Diem’s Actions
Went after communists
Creation of the Vietcong
Begins to weaken Diem, he needs help
Kennedy Takes Over
Supports Diem
Sent troops to Vietnam (from 2000 to 15,000)
Diem needs to make changes
Creates “strategic hamlets”

5. Cont. The Overthrow of Diem Diem is anti-Buddhist
The South’s military wants to get rid of Diem
We sort of say okay
How do you keep a guy from coming back?
Not cool
Things get worse, we get more involved
Then Kennedy is killed
Enter Lyndon Baines Johnson

6. Cont. Johnson and Vietnam Johnson feels he can’t “lose” Vietnam
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The north attacked us
We claimed it was unprovoked but…
“The American flag has been fired upon…”
August 7th, 1964 the “war” begins
Allowed to defend US troops & our allies
Only 2 Congressmen dissented

7. Cont. The United States Sends in Troops
The Viet Cong launch attacks we respond
In the court of public opinion
60% approval of Johnson
80% agree with intervention
Most of Johnsons advisors agree
There is some concern over an exit… sound familiar
Combat troops enter in March 1965

8. A Bloody Stalemate Early Action “Search and Destroy”
Sent in over 360,000 troops
Way more firepower
Vietcong relied on hit & run
It was an insurgency… hmmm
“Search and Destroy”
Find‘em & kill’em
Napalm & Agent Orange vs. tunnels & jungles
A war of attrition

9. Cont. The Ho Chi Minh Trail North Vietnam supports the Vietcong
A web of trails
Through other countries, we can’t bomb
China’s role in the war
Real losses
Vietnamese – 220,000
American – 6,700
Can we really win?