2. Essential Question # 3
How do the origins of the Vietnam War reflect the Cold War policies and strategies of the United States?

3. Where is Vietnam?

4. Before World War II Indochina = Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand
Former French colony
Rubber!
Japanese took over
during World War II

5. World War II and Post-War
Vietminh = League for the Independence of Vietnam
Leader = Ho Chi Minh
Helped the allies get the Japanese out
Wants a unified Vietnam, run by Vietnamese

6. HO CHI MINH

7. OSS AND HO CHI MINH

8. World War II and Post-War
1954 = French pushed out by Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh
Geneva Peace Accords
Discuss Vietnam’s future
Temporary partition along the 17th parallel

9. French and American Colonialism
Democratic elections in 1956 to reunify country (US prevents this)
North = Ho Chi Minh
(Communist, Soviet/China)
South = Ngo Ding Diem
(Democratic, US)

10. Ngo Ding Diem
Oppressive, corrupt, seen as puppet of imperialist US

11. Protests Against Diem

12. The National Liberation Front (“Viet Cong”)
Southern Vietnamese against Diem
Communists and non-Communists
Wanted to unify Vietnam, self-govern
Nicknamed the “Viet Cong” by U.S (derogatory term meaning Vietnamese Communists)

13. Kennedy’s Counter-Insurgency
Sends “advisors” to stabilize Diem regime
“Safe Hamlets” as counterinsurgency plan
Alienates peasants,
further destabilizes Diem regime

14. Coup d'état
Coup d'état =
1963: Diem’s generals approach U.S Embassy in Saigon
Kennedy approves takeover
Diem and his brother assassinated

15. Video Notes:
August 2, 1964
U.S.S Maddox is fired upon in the Gulf of Tonkin by Northern Vietnamese forces
We still aren’t sure what exactly happened

16. Video Notes:
August 7, 1964
Congress passes the “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution”
Authorized Johnson to “take all necessary steps” to secure Southeast Asia