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 (until 69) Le Duan (after 69)
Leaders
Ngo Dinh Diem (until 63), various Generals
Vietcong
Direct Ally
United States
Soviet Union, People’s Republic of China
Indirect Ally
None

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

4. II. Eisenhower Years (1953-1961)
A. 1954: Geneva Accords ends war but Vietnam is split at 17th parallel
1. Ho Chi Minh controls north, Ngo Dinh Diem controls south until nationwide elections are held in 1956
B. Diem & US fearful HCM will win election, cancel elections & declare independent South Vietnam
C. HCM forms North Vietnam, declares war on SV
D. Afraid SV will fall to Communists (Domino Theory) US sends Military Advisors to SV

5. Mekong R.
Delta

6. III. Kennedy Years (1961 to 11/22/63)
A. 1960: southern communists form a guerilla army called the Vietcong
B. 1962: Pres. Kennedy encourages Flexible Response, send more advisors, but Diem is very unpopular with S. Vietnamese people
: JFK okays removal of Diem in a coup de tat. Diem killed. After JFK is assassinated two ships allegedly fired upon in Tonkin Gulf

7. IV. Johnson Years (11-22-63 to 1969)
A. 1964: LBJ asks Congress to pass Tonkin Gulf Resolution
B. LBJ sends Gen Westmoreland to S. Vietnam, will “search & destroy” VC, while winning “hearts & minds” of villagers (Search & Destroy)
C. 1966: LBJ asks Congress for draft and $12.8 billion, they approve
D. Anti-war protests begin, refusing the draft sends you to prison
E. Dec ‘67: LBJ & Westmoreland assure US public that enemy is nearly defeated even though 500K troops are now in Vietnam
F. ’68: N. Vietnamese Army & Vietcong launch Tet Offensive (major attacks on U.S. forces throughout S. Vietnam)  reach Saigon (!)  proves LBJ was lying – LBJ won’t run for reelection in 1968
“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong”

8. Tunnels of VC

9. V. Nixon/Ford Years ( )
A. Former VP Richard Nixon wins election, promising “Peace w/ Honor”
1. Nixon’s Vietnamization plan will turn over ground fighting to S. Vietnam, bring home troops but expand bombing campaign
B. 1973: Paris Peace Accords - US, North Vietnam and South Vietnam sign a peace treaty ending the war
C : N. Vietnam invades S. Vietnam. President Ford asks Congress to help, Congress refuses. Saigon falls in April 1975