1. Chapter19: The Vietnam War

2. 19.1: Going to War in Vietnam
The United States tries to control the spread of communism in Vietnam

4. A. American Involvement in Vietnam
Rulers of Vietnam
a. before WWII?
France
b. during WWII?
Japan
c. after WWII?
i. Ho Chi Minh/North
ii. Ngo Dinh Diem/South

5. 2. In w/Ho Chi Minh a. communist leader of Northern Vietnam
b. What did he want?
Independence for Vietnam
Who were the Vietminh?
Northern Communist Vietnamese who wanted independence
How does he relate to containment?
He was supported by SU and China

6. 3. France vs. Vietminh France reclaims Vietnam after WWII (1946)
Why should the U.S. help?
fighting against communism
Fall of China’s & Korea
Truman decides to aid France
: U.S. spends $2.6 billion supporting France = domino theory…
VS.

7. d. Domino Theory (Pres. Eisenhower’s)
If Vietnam fell to communism others would follow, so the U.S. must help.

8. 4. Defeat at Dien Bien Phu
Vietminh defeat French at Dien Bien Phu post (1954) -guerilla tactics used
July 1954:Geneva Accords (peace agreement) = temporary divide at 17th parallel
Diem, southern leader, agreed to countrywide elections for 1956 – never happens

9. 5. French out = U.S. Stepping In
elections cancelled
Ho Chi Minh supported by the people
Diem corrupt & suppressed opposition
Repressed Buddhist practices; he’s Catholic
Ngo Dinh Diem (South V.)
Nationalist

10. **************

11. B. America Becomes Involved in Vietnam
1. Vietcong:
South Vietnamese communists organize after cancelled elections
begin to kill SV gov’t officials
Eisenhower sends in military advisers to train SV army

12. 2. Kennedy and Vietnam 1960: supports Diem
Diem continues with corruption
Nationalist Vietnamese executes Diem/JFK assassinated (’63)
LBJ now president and does not want to appear “soft” on communism

13. e. Strategic Hamlets
plan to protect SV from communist by relocating them
Made things worse for Diem

14. 3. Pres. Johnson expands the conflict
Gulf Tonkin Incident
i. US naval ships fired upon
ii. Second attack unclear if it happened
iii. US spying on NV

15. 3. Pres. Johnson expands the conflict
b. Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964): Granted Johnson military powers in Vietnam without officially declaring war
c. Operation Rolling Thunder (’65)
First prolonged bombing of North Vietnam
Attempt to avoid sending in troops
d. First combat troops sent in

16. C. A Bloody Stalemate 1. Tricks of the Vietcong
Guerilla tactics: irregular warfare such as hit and run and ambush tactics
Hiding within civilian population
Booby traps/land mines
Terrain and tunnels

17. Vietcong Tunnels

19. “Search and Destroy” US Strategies
War of Attrition: wearing down the enemy by continuous harassment; progress measured by the # dead
Body count
c. Napalm/agent orange
d. Search and destroy missions

21. Agent Orange

23. Napalm(gasoline-base bomb) attack
                                               

27. 3. Ho Chi Minh Trail SU and China supplied N. Vietnam
No full-scale invasion of NV; US concerned China will enter war