1. Origins of the Vietnam War
Chapter 16, Section 1

2. Indochina 1800s French acquired Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
Controlled all aspects of life in Vietnam
Impoverished by colonialism
Ho Chi Minh – demanded independence for Vietnam
Communist

3. Decolonization Support decolonization or France? Why?
Needed France if we had to fight Soviets
Increased aid after communists won in China

4. Domino Theory Containing the spread of communism
Vietminh – communist supporters for independence
Trapped French at Dien Bien Phu (1954)
May 7 – French surrender
Geneva Accords
Granted independence to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

5. 17th Parallel Communist North US Supported South
Free elections to unify Vietnam in 1956

6. US Aids South Vietnam Ike – would give $ not troops SEATO
Supported Diem through poor leadership
Anti-Buddhist
Only the US kept him in power

7. Vietcong Rebel communist group in South National Liberation Front
Insurgencies
Kennedy Steps in
1961 special forces sent to train ARVN
,000 “advisers” in Vietnam
Nov. 1, 1963, Diem removed and assassinated

8. Johnson NV fire on the USS Maddox Johnson orders an airstrike
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
“to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States to prevent further aggression.”
Allowed him to commit troops to South
Never asked for a declaration of war!