1. Chapter 22 Section 1 Notes Origin of Problems in Vietnam

2. Brief History of SE Asia
Indochina = Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia
All South of (below) China
All colonized by France
(pre WWII)
Set up rice, coffee, and rubber plantations
Coal, Tin, Salt, and Zinc mined
Rice plantations (left) and
Coffee plantations (above)
are still major influences in
the economies of the region today

3. Resistance to foreign occupation grows in 1920s
Ho Chi Minh = Vietnamese Communist leader
Educated and lived in the West
France, England, and even U.S.
Tried to get independence peacefully
Didn’t work
Organized independence movement with Soviet help
Small scale at 1st, grew gradually
Unsuccessful in 1920s/1930s
France too strong
French
military in
the streets
of a city
(left) and
the fields
(right)
fully prepared
for any
problems
before WWII

4. Japan Invades Indochina during WWII
Most of French military gone
Tried to stop Hitler in France
U.S. stops trading with Japan (oil)
Leads to Pearl Harbor (remember!)
Vietminh = group formed by Ho Chi Minh to win Vietnam’s Independence.
Financed by U.S. and Soviets during WWII to fight Japan
Do a decent job
When war ends, they expect independence
The Viet Minh flag
Had roughly
500,000 members
During WWII

5. France wants Indochina back
Why? Ports, trade, religion
Viet Minh not happy
War occurs between the 2
U.S. backs France
$1 billion (no troops)
Why? = Containment
Against Communism
Marshall Plan, China, Korea
Soviets back Viet Minh
End = French surrender
Vietminh win
French soldiers marching to a POW camp after surrendering
The victorious Viet Minh
marching and waving
their flag in 1954

6. The Geneva Accords (1954) Peace settlement made in Switzerland
4 Independent Countries Created
Vietnam split in 2 (along 17th degree latitude)
Supposed to be temporary
Election in 2 years to unify the country

7. North Vietnam Communist Led by Ho Chi Minh
Supported by Soviet Union and China
Popular with peasants for 3 reasons
Evenly distributed most land to families
Considered a hero (fighting France & Japan)
Allowed religious freedom
1954
Time
Cover

8. South Vietnam Nationalist Led by Ngo Dinh Diem
Picked by the U.S. and France for the job
Unpopular with peasants for 2 reasons
Played favorites with land
Even forced people to move
Persecuted Buddhists
Burned temples
killed & imprisoned followers
Ngo shaking hands with Ike
1955
Time
Cover

9. 1956 Election that Never Happens
Ho would have won easily
Ngo refused to take part
U.S. agrees with this
Does not want Vietnam to become all Communist
All countries in region could become that way
DOMINO THEORY
Starts helping out Ngo’s Govt.
Military training and supplies
Ho is upset – North Vietnamese Army prepares

10. Vietcong formed (1957) Communist group of rebels in South Vietnam
supported by Ho Chi Minh
Many very young
Provided Supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail
Along the Border of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia
Gradually grew in size and frequency of attacks

11. Vietnam during JFK’s Presidency
U.S. increases financial aid and military training
16,000 U.S. troops in South to train South’s army by 1963
Ngo’s popularity decreases
Vietcong continues to grow
Lots of protests
especially religious
Highly publicized
U.S. wants a new leader in place
2 Requirements
People need to like him
Can’t be Communist

12. Ngo Dinh Diem is Assassinated (Nov 2nd, 1963)
3 weeks before JFK
U.S. and South Vietnamese military work together to do it
New leadership isn’t any better
Unstable, lots of assassinations
Ho Chi Minh’s quote about Diem’s death:
“I can scarcely believe the Americans would be so stupid”

13. LBJ’s Position on Vietnam
Bottom Line = Can’t Allow South Vietnam to become Communist
Need a reason to get more involved
No increase in troops while campaigning
More advisors

14. USS Maddox fired on (Aug. 1964)
Off coast of N. Vietnam by 3 N. Vietnamese ships
Supposedly happens twice
No damage
Given permission to fire back
1st offical engagement in Vietnam

15. Tonkin Gulf Resolution
LBJ gets power from Congress to use military force in Vietnam as he sees fit
Carefully worded to not declare war
U.S. was already using military force
Top secret special op stuff

16. Bombing and Troops Start to arrive after 1964 Election
Operation Rolling Thunder
1st major bombing of N Vietnam
Begins in Feb. 1965
U.S. Troop Levels
20,000 in Jan.
50,000 by June
180,000 by Dec.