2. Vietnam War Another Cold War Conflict

3. Imperialism Strikes Again! Imperialist France controlled southeast Asia, called Indochina, from mid 1800s -WWII This map illustrates French Indochina in 1900, compared with the current size of Vietnam. France attacked portions of Vietnam in the mid-1800s. France seized southern Vietnam in the 1860s and northern Vietnam in 1883.

4. Fighting Imperialism Vietnamese forces fought against Japanese invaders in WWII and against France when it tried to reclaim control after WWII

5. Vietnam Split 1954 – France lost Indochina War International Congress “temporarily” split Vietnam until elections could be held (Here we go again….)

6. North Vietnam Communist control supported by… Soviet Union and China Ho Chi Minh – hero of WWII and leader of resistance against France, very popular Communist leader in North Vietnam Goal was to reunite Vietnam under communism, began war with South Communist troops = VietCong

7. South Vietnam Non-communist nation supported by the U.S. Ngo Dinh Diem – resisted communism -Absolute leader of the South, put down all political opposition, not popular with the people - Assassinated

8. Domino Theory U.S. did not want elections held in Vietnam Why? U.S. concerned that if Vietnam became communist, other struggling nations in Southeast Asia would follow the example

9. American Military Involvement At first, the U.S. just sending money, supplies and advisors to South Vietnam By 1964 – U.S. began bombing North Vietnam, (but not “officially” at war) 500, 000 American troops sent to fight

10. As war dragged on, US public support for war faded "You can kill ten of our men for every one we kill of yours. But even at those odds, you will lose and we will win." - Ho Chi Minh, referring to France and America in their wars in Vietnam.

11. Ho Chi Minh Trail -Supply line for VietCong fighting in South Vietnam - Ran from North Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia

12. Cambodia and the Ho Chi Minh Trail U.S. bombed Cambodia to cut off supplies from the North (communists) Cambodia dragged into conflict, left in ruins

13. Cambodian Genocide Cambodia fell under the control of communist dictator Pol Pot (exactly what the U.S. wanted to avoid!) Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge regime led a mass genocide of any political dissenters Over 2 million murdered in “killing fields”

14. Cease Fire Early 1970’s – Vietnam War very unpopular in U.S. and many saw U.S. as power hungry 1973 – Pres. Nixon began pulling out troops 1975 – With last American troops leaving, S. Vietnam’s capital of Saigon fell to the invading communist VietCong Many refugees fled communist Vietnam, US placed an embargo, restricting trade

15. Vietnam Today United, but still communist, so no political opposition allowed However, within the last 10 years, Vietnam has allowed some private business and tourism and the economy has improved Vietnam’s Economy Today GDP in U.S.$ = $45 billion (2004) GDP per capita (U.S.$) = $550 (2004) Monetary unit = 1 new dông (Ð), Number of workers = 43,119,575 (2004) Unemployment rate = 2.1 percent (2004)