1. Was it the right decision for the US to fight in Vietnam?
The Vietnam War
Was it the right decision for the US to fight in Vietnam?

2. War in Vietnam vs. Democratic Republic of Vietnam Republic of Vietnam
North Vietnam
Common Name
South Vietnam
Hanoi
Capital City
Saigon
Ho Chi Minh (55-69) Le Duan (after 69)
Leaders
Ngo Dinh Diem (55-63), Nguyen Thieu (65-74)
Vietcong
Direct Ally
United States
Soviet Union, People’s Republic of China
Indirect Ally
None

3. 1919-1954: Ho Chi Minh vs. Imperialism
1919:Ho Chi Minh travels to Paris to meet Pres. Wilson
HCM rejected by Wilson, joins the Communist Party
1941: Japan invades French Indochina, HCM forms the Vietminh to fight Japan
1945: Vietminh drive Japanese out, HCM declares an independent Vietnam
French want their colony back, go to war w/ Vietminh, French lose in 1954

4. Eisenhower Years ( )
1954: Geneva Accords ends war but Vietnam is split at 17th parallel
Ho Chi Minh controls north, Ngo Dinh Diem controls south until nationwide elections are held in 1956
Fearful HCM will win election, US & Diem cancel elections & declare independent South Vietnam
HCM creates North Vietnam & declares war on SV
Afraid SV will fall to Communists (Domino Theory) US sends Military Advisors to SV

5. Southeast Asia Map In Key:
North Vietnam & Laos are influenced by Soviet Union
South Vietnam & Thailand are influenced by the United States
Cambodia is influenced by the United States & Communist Rebels

6. Kennedy Years ( )
1960: southern communists form a guerilla army called the Vietcong
1962: Pres. Kennedy encourages Flexible Response, send more advisors, but Diem is very unpopular with S. Vietnamese people
1963: JFK okays removal of Diem in a coup. JFK re-thinking US involvement in Vietnam but is assassinated
1964: Two US ships allegedly fired upon in Gulf of Tonkin

7. “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong”
Johnson Years ( )
LBJ asks Congress to pass Tonkin Gulf Resolution
US strategy is to root out & demoralize VC w/ search & destroy missions, while winning hearts/minds of villagers
1966: LBJ asks Congress for draft and $12.8 billion
Anti-war protests begin, many refuse draft, face prison
Unlimited Power!
Dec 67: LBJ & Gen. Westmoreland assures public we’re winning & enemy is nearly defeated
Jan ‘68: N. Vietnamese & Vietcong launch Tet Offensive, reach Saigon, proves LBJ was lying – LBJ won’t run for reelection
“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong”

8. Nixon/Ford Years ( )
Former VP Richard Nixon wins election, promising “Peace /w Honor”
Nixon’s Vietnamization plan will turn over ground fighting to S. Vietnam, bring home troops but expand bombing campaign
1973: Paris Peace Accords - US, North Vietnam and South Vietnam sign a peace treaty ending the war (Kissinger negotiates treaty)
: N. Vietnam invades S. Vietnam. President Ford asks Congress to help, Congress refuses. Saigon falls in April1975