1. 30.1 Moving Towards Conflict

2. Quiz /17
The 1. _______ was the Vietnamese nationalist force that drove out the French after the battle of 2. __________.
The 3.__________ were also known as the National Liberation Front a communist guerilla force in South Vietnam.
4___________ was the leader of North Vietnam.
The 5 _______________ gave LBJ authorization to send in U.S. troops.

3. Lesson Objectives
Students will explain the steps which led the U.S. into involvement in the Vietnam War

4. French Indochina
From the 1800s to WW II France had ruled Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia aka Indochina
French colonists had set up plantations, exporting rice and rubber
Vietnamese peasants resented French rule
French officials brutally dealt with their opposition
Vietnamese nationalist movement begins in 1900s
French crush Vietnamese revolts and strikes during the 1930s
Indochinese Communist Party is founded in 1930 under leadership of Ho Chi Minh

5. French Indochina

6. Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh
Japan conquers Vietnam during WWII
Vietnamese fight against Japanese occupation
Ho Chi Minh returns from France in 1941
Unifies Communist Party with other nationalist groups to resist occupation
Form Vietminh
Allies defeat Japan
On September 2nd Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam an independent nation

7. Ho Chi Minh

8. IMPORTANT DATES 1941: JAPAN CONQUERS INDOCHINA
1946: FRANCE RETAKES INDOCHINA
MAY, 1954: BATTLE OF DIEN BIEN PHU
JULY, 1954:
THE GENEVA ACCORDS
VIETNAM DIVIDED INTO NORTH & SOUTH
1957: VIETCONG BEGIN OPERATIONS
1963: DIEM ASSASSINATED
AUGUST, 1964:
THE TONKIN GULF INCIDENT
THE TONKIN GULF RESOLUTION
1965: OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER

9. Roots of American Involvement
After the end of WWII France tried to retake its colonial possession
France takes control of cities and South Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh controls most of northern Vietnam
United States gives financial aid to the French
2.6 Billion Dollars- How is this ironic?
Ho Chi Minh fought with the Allies in WWII
Eisenhower “Domino Theory”

10. “You have a row of dominoes set up… You knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly.”

11. “THE DOMINO THEORY”

12. Dien Bien Phu Vietminh surround French outpost in northwestern Vietnam
Led by General Vo Nguyen Giap
Bombard position for over two months
Result?
French forces surrender
8,000 Vietnamese; 2,500 French casualties
French begin to pull out of Vietnam

13. Dien Bien Phu
Valley, Vietnam
1954

14. French Army
Positions & Dispersal,
Dien Bien Phu, 1954

15. Dien Bien Phu

17. French Army Funeral, Dien Bien Phu

18. FRENCH TROOPS IN SLIT TRENCH, DIEN BIEN PHU

19. VIETMINH SOLDIERS IN ASSAULT TRENCHES PREPARE FOR ATTACK ON FRENCH POSITIONS, DIEN BIEN PHU, 1954

20. Bottom Left: General Vo Ngyuen Giap
Top Right: Vietminh celebrating victory at Dien Bien Phu
Bottom Right: Map

21. FRENCH PRISONERS ON MARCH TO CAPTIVITY, DIEN BIEN PHU,1954

22. VIETMINH VICTORY POSTER, 1954

23. Geneva Accords
When:1954
Who: US, USSR, China, Vietminh, and anti-communist South Vietnam
What: Temporarily divides Vietnam into North and South
North: Ho Chi Minh, Capitol Hanoi, Communist
South: Ngo Dinh Diem, Capitol Saigon, anti-communist
National elections scheduled for 1956

24. Diem cancels the elections in 1956
Why?
Ho Chi Minh very popular probably would have won
US and Eisenhower support Diem
Not Communist
Promised financial and military aid in return for reform of South Vietnamese government

25. Diem Government Failed to live up to his promises of reform to US
Ran corrupt government / oppressed his opponents
Diem was devout Catholic
Persecuted Buddhists- majority of population
Opposed land reform
1957 -Vietcong begin to attack Diem government
Supplied by North Vietnam by Ho Chi Minh Trail
Vietcong also called NLF- National Liberation Front
Eisenhower decides to “sink or swim with Diem”

26. Ho Chi Minh Trail
How could the route of this trail escalate the conflict?

27. Kennedy on Vietnam
1961- Democrats frequently attacked as being soft on Communism
Kennedy boosts aid and sends thousands of US military advisors to Vietnam
16,000 troops by 1963
Diem become increasingly unpopular
Why?
Increased oppression of Buddhism, forced relocation of villagers, corruption
November US supported coup ousts Diem
Diem is executed

28. Buddhists monks and nuns burned themselves in protest to Diem regime

29. Johnson Escalates the Conflict
Kennedy was planning on pulling troops out
“In the final analysis, it’s their war.”
After Kennedy assassination, Johnson decides to increase US participation
Why?
Does not want to seem weak:
To Republicans
On world stage

30. Tonkin Gulf Incident When: August 4, 1964 Who: President Johnson
What: Announced US Destroyers Maddox and C. Turner Joy attacked by North Vietnamese Torpedo boats
Exact details unknown, North Vietnamese denied attack on US ships
Result:
Congress overwhelmingly passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution
House votes and Senate 88-2
Does what?
Not declaration of war, but authorizes Johnson to use Military force in Vietnam
February Operation Rolling Thunder
June ,000 US troops were on the ground

31. LBJ’s TONKIN GULF TELEVISION ADDRESS, AUGUST 4, 1964

32. ROBERT McNAMARA, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

34. Vietnam Escalation

35. Timeline
1954-
1956-
1957-
1963-
8/4/1964-
8/7/1964-
Feb’ 65-
June ’65-

36. Vietnam Escalation Review
Why did France want to Re-establish their Control over Indochina after WWII?
Why did the US support France in their Desire to re-establish their colony in Indochina after WWII?
What were Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh’s goals?
Why did they believe the US would support them?