1. America and Vietnam
The Early Years

2. Background Long history of foreign powers ruling
Vietnam: Chinese, Japanese, French
French Indochina= Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam

4. Background Vietnamese Nationalism
Attempts to fight for independence against colonial governments
Ho Chi Minh
Presented petition for independence to Versailles Peace Conference in denied
Visited USSR, became communist
Set up Indochinese Communist Party in Southeast Asia
Vietminh (1941)- nationalist group to expel Japanese
US sent aid to Vietminh

5. Supporting the French Japanese surrender in 1945
Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent
French troops return to reclaim colony- fight the Vietminh
Fighting escalates French ask US for help
US opposes colonialism + communism= difficult position
China falls to Communism + Korean War= Truman sends aid to French in Vietnam
Containment
Domino Theory- if Vietnam falls to Communism, the rest of Southeast Asia will fall

6. Dien Bien Phu French troops frustrated by guerrillas
Guerrilla warfare- hit-and-run and ambush tactics by troop who blend in to the civilian population
French attempt to take-over mountain town of Dien Bien Phu
Cut off Vietminh supply lines
Vietminh forces surround Dien Bien Phu
May 7, 1954, French are defeated, withdraw from Indochina

7. Geneva Accords Peace negotiations Vietnam divided along 17th Parallel
Ho Chi Minh and Vietminh control North Vietnam (Communist)
US as protector of new government, led by Ngo Dinh Diem (anti-Communist)
Plans for 1956 election to reunite Vietnam
Cambodia and Laos independent

8. Geneva Accords French troops leave Indochina
Diem becomes president of Republic of South Vietnam
Refused to permit 1956 election due to fear of Ho Chi Minh winning
Eisenhower approves, increases aid to South Vietnam (SEATO)

9. Vietcong
Ngo Dinh Diem refuses to hold elections and cracks down on communist groups in South Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh + nationalists begin armed struggle to reunify Vietnam
Vietcong- guerrilla army of South Vietnamese Communists

10. Vietcong Fighting between Vietcong and South Vietnamese troops
Eisenhower sends “military advisers” to train South Vietnam’s army
Vietcong grows  many Vietnamese oppose Diem
Vietcong Terrorism
Assassinate thousands of government
officials
Control countryside
Diem needed more help from US

11. Kennedy and Vietnam During his presidency,
Kennedy increased troops in Vietnam
2,000 15,000
Diem failed to take US suggestions to create democracy
Diem unpopular and corrupt
Introduced some reforms
Strategic Hamlets- villages protected by machine guns, bunkers, trenches, and barbed wire
Extremely unpopular

12. Opposition to Diem Diem (Catholic) discriminated against Buddhists
Banned traditional religious flags
Protests  9 protestors killed, 14 injured
Buddhist monks poured gasoline on himself and lit themselves on fire
Horrified Americans
Demonstrated extreme opposition to Diem

13. Opposition to Diem Military coup to overthrow Diem (November 1, 1963)
Executed him
Made South Vietnam’s government weak and unstable
America has to take heavier role in order to maintain stability
Three weeks later Kennedy is assassinated