1. Vietnam War
American History

2. Indochina Southeast Asia
France colonized this region for many years prior to World War II
WWII very difficult for France

3. World War II in Indochina
Japan pushes France out of Indochina (tension between USA and Japan) during WWII
1945 Japan is forced to leave Indochina

4. Declaration of Independence
After Japan leaves, Ho Chi Minh (Communist) leads a celebration in Hanoi
There they issued a Dec. of Ind. ( ) from all countries with an interest in Vietnam

5. Ho Chi Minh
The founder and President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (Communist North)
Told the French that he could lose 10 men to their 1 and he would still win
Communist that studied in Europe and in the United States

6. Post WWII ( )
France goes back to try and regain power in Vietnam / Indochina
War breaks out
We help France, USSR and China help Ho Chi Minh

7. Dien Bien Phu (1954)
French generals make one last stand at Dien Bien Phu, a valley surrounded by Vietnamese artillery.
The United States guarantees American air support, but domestic political concerns prevent Eisenhower from fulfilling this promise.

9. 1954 France decides that it can’t win the war and leaves Indochina
They could not win Vietnamese popular support

10. Parallels to Korean War
At a meeting in Geneva, Switz. Vietnam was split at the 17th Parallel
North to be Communist / South not
North led by Ho
South led by Allies

11. Ngo Dinh Diem Led the American puppet government in South Vietnam
We would not let the elections take place that were supposed to take place in 1956
We knew that Communism would win
June 1963: Monks burn themselves in protest of Diem’s regime

12. Diem (cont.)
Diem is assassinated in Nov during a coup… just weeks before JFK
We no longer supported him and let the military generals take over

13. NLF NLF stands for National Liberation Front Official name of Vietcong
South Vietnamese opposed to Diem
Before combat U.S. sends “advisors”

14. Gulf of Tonkin
USS Maddox and Turner Joy pretend to be attacked by North Vietnamese
Gives power to LBJ to go to war
Used to start a full scale war
1964

15. Tet Offensive
North Vietnam & Vietcong launch attack against USA targets (1968)
Proved that the North Vietnamese still had strength

16. 1968 Presidential Election
President Johnson decides not to run
Many Democrats enter the race including RFK
RFK assassinated after winning the CA primary

17. Richard Nixon
Wins the 1968 Election after promising to get the USA out of Vietnam
1969: Nixon announces his Vietnamization Policy
Trade our troops with South Vietnam

18. 1969 First Moon Landing JFK promised this in 1961 July 20, 1969 on TV
Nixon had more than one speech in case bad things happen
Neil Armstrong

19. End of Vietnam 1973: Cease-fire signed
April 29, 1975: USA evacuates Saigon
April 30, 1975: N. Vietnamese force S. Vietnamese gov. to surrender