1. Aim: Summarize the Causes of the Vietnam War and Describe its Aftermath

2. War Breaks Out in Vietnam
Involvement of the US in Vietnam stemmed from its Cold War containment policy
Nationalist independence movements had begun to develop
Vietnamese nationalist, Ho Chi Minh turned to the Communists for help in his struggle against the French
French jailed Vietnamese protestors
Sentenced Ho to death but fled into exile
Returned to Vietnam in 1941
Ho founded the Vietminh (Independence) League 2

3. The Fighting Begins
Vietnamese Nationalists & Communists joined together to fight the French
Vietminh had widespread support on countryside
Vietminh used hit-and-run tactics to confine French to the cities
1954: French suffered major military defeat at Dien Bien Phu
Surrendered to Ho
US supported France & saw threat to Asia
Pres. Eisenhower described threat as Domino Theory
SE Asian nations were like rows of dominos
Fall of one to communism would lead to fall of its neighbors 3

4. Vietnam-A Country Divided
After France’s defeat, international peace conference met in Geneva
Discussed the future of Indochina
Vietnam was divided at 17 degrees north latitude
North was Ho Chi Minh’s Communist forces
South, US & France set up anti-Communist govnt under leadership of Ngo Dinh Diem
Diem ruled the south as a dictator
Communist guerrillas called Vietcong began to gain strength in the south
1963: group of South Vietnamese generals had diem assassinated 4