1. Chapter 29 Section 1 The Vietnam War Riddlebarger
The War Develops
Chapter 29
Section 1
The Vietnam War
Riddlebarger

3. Colonial Vietnam
Bordered by Laos & Cambodia to the West; China to the North
Vietnam’s agricultural resources have attracted invaders for centuries.
China 200 B.C. to 1400’s
France 1883 to 1954
French Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia)

4. Ho Chi Minh A Nationalist Leader
Many Vietnamese driven into poverty under French control
Nationalist movement emerges under Ho Chi Minh
He sees communism as a way for Vietnamese to gain freedom.
“It was patriotism not communism that inspired me.”

5. Changing Rulers Japanese occupy Vietnam during WW2.
Ho Chi Minh leads resistance effort.
Vietminh (League for the Independence of Vietnam)
Led by Communists but open to all who want Vietnamese independence.
After Japanese surrender to Allies, Vietminh declare Vietnam an independent country
Ho sees Vietnamese fight as similar to American colonies vs. Britain.

6. “All men are created equal
“All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. .. The whole Vietnamese people, animated (driven to action) by a common purpose, are determined to fight to the bitter end against any attempt by French colonialists to reconquer their country.”
Why does he reference our Declaration?
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese Declaration of Independence, 1945

7. Vietnam after World War II
As Ho feared, French reclaim Vietnam as colony after World War II
Dec. 1946: Vietminh begin fighting French rule

8. The First Indochina War
Ho disappointed by Pres. Truman after WW2
Truman supported France
Truman concerned about spread of communism
China becoming Communist & North Korea invading South Korea follow.
U.S. resolves to contain communism in SE Asia

9. Ho Chi Minh on French control of Vietnam:
“ If they force us into a war, we will fight. The struggle will be atrocious, but the Vietnamese people will suffer anything rather than renounce their freedom.”

10. Domino Theory
Pres. Eisenhower warned that if Vietnam went Communist, other Southeast Asian countries would quickly follow.
Domino Theory- belief that communism would spread to neighboring countries.
U.S. sends weapons & money to aid French forces.

11. Vietminh use guerrilla tactics to fight the French
-attack without warning & then disappear into the jungle.
“If the tiger ever stands still, the elephant will crush him with his mighty tusks. But the tiger does not stand still…He will leap upon the back of the elephant, tearing huge chunks from his hide, and then the tiger will leap back into the dark jungle. And slowly the elephant will bleed to death. That will be the war of [Vietnam].”
Ho Chi Minh

12. France is defeated French make their last stand at Dien Bien Phu.
40,000 Vietnamese troops surround 15,000 French
French hoped for American rescue but Ike has no intention of putting U.S. troops back into Asia so soon after Korean War
French surrender on May 7, 1954
Vietnamese learned valuable lessons about fighting war against enemy with superior firepower & technology
Will use this later against USA

13. The Geneva Conference
After the French surrender, representatives from 8 countries meet in Geneva, Switzerland
France, Vietnam, Cambodia, Britain, Laos, China, USSR & USA
Goal was to work out peace for SE Asia
Geneva Accords signed in July 1954

14. Results of Geneva Accords
Vietnam will be temporarily divided at the 17th parallel.
Vietminh control the North
French will withdraw from the country
Elections to be held in to re-unify the country
U.S. concern over Communists winning elections

15. Ngo Dinh Diem

16. Diem’s Government
US hopes in South Vietnam (of containing communist expansion) are pinned to Diem
Soon, US will be disappointed in his corrupt & brutal leadership
Diem policies lead to his unpopularity
Favors Catholics over Buddhists
Favors rich land-owners over peasants
Torture & imprisonment of political opponents.
US still sees him as better option over Communist take-over

17. A Civil War
Diem did not allow 1956 election to re-unify country to take place
He feared he would lose to Communists
Increasingly, his opponents in the South begin to revolt against him
1959: Communists in the North begin supplying weapons to rebels in the South.

18. Vietcong
The rebel forces in the South form the National Liberation Front (NLF)
Its military forces are called Vietcong (Vietnamese Communists)
While not all NLF are communists, they all agree Diem must go.
Vietcong assassinates thousands of government officials in the South
Soon, much of the countryside is under Vietcong (VC) control
North Vietnamese Army (NVA) begins assisting Vietcong.

19. Increasing U.S. Involvement
Pres. Kennedy (elected in 1960) was a firm believer in the domino theory.
JFK sees Vietnam as a place where U.S. can show strength
He hesitates to send in troops though
Instead, he increases the number of U.S. military advisors & special forces (Green Berets).
Their numbers grow in early 60’s
Eventually, they begin taking part in combat
Result: American casualties grow in Vietnam

21. Buddhist Protests Diem grows in unpopularity
Begins arresting & killing Buddhist protesters.
Some protest by publicly setting fire to themselves.
Images shock the world & lead to America withdrawing support for Diem.

23. “We are launched on a course from which there is no respectable turning back: the overthrow of the Diem government. There is no turning back because there is no possibility, in my view, that the war can be won under a Diem [government].”
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, Aug. 29, 1963

24. Diem’s Overthrow Nov. 1963: South Vietnamese generals kill Diem.
US supported overthrow but not death.
Pres. Kennedy still very concerned about Vietnam situation.
JFK is killed shortly after Diem
Would he have changed things?

25. What Johnson Inherited
Pres. Johnson inherits a rapidly deteriorating situation in Vietnam
South Vietnamese Army is on the brink of collapse
North Vietnamese Army is coming into the South at an increasing rate.
March 1964: Vietcong control about 40% of South Vietnam.

27. Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Johnson believes U.S. needs to expand involvement in Vietnam to prevent Communist victory.
Needs Congress to approve.
1964: Incident off coast of North Vietnam is told in a way to make it seem U.S. Naval boat was attacked.
LBJ’s account to American people wasn’t exactly accurate

28. “I believe we have made a great mistake.”
Wayne Morse
One of only 2 Senators to vote against the Tonkin Resolution
Senate: 88-2
House 416-0

29. Tonkin Resolution
At the time, Congress didn’t know the facts about the incident
So, they approve Gulf of Tonkin Resolution on Aug. 7th.
Gave the President the power to take all necessary actions to repel any attack against U.S. forces.
Johnson now has the authority to expand war in Vietnam.