1. VIETNAM

2. President Truman  Situation in Indochina was part of Cold War struggle against communism  Decided to support France in an effort to block communist expansion in Europe

3. PRESIDENT EISENHOWER  Domino Theory: the belief that communism would spread to neighboring countries  US sent arms, ammunition, supplies and money to French forces in Vietnam

4. THE GENEVA CONFERENCE  Goal was to work out a peace agreement and arrange for Indochina’s future  Meeting of representatives from France, Vietnam, Cambodia, Great Britain, Laos, China, Soviet Union and US gathered in Geneva, Switzerland  Geneva Accords were signed in July 1954  Vietnam was temporarily divided at the 17 th parallel

5. GENEVA ACCORDS  Vietminh would control the northern part of Vietnam  French would withdraw from the country  A demilitarized zone along the 17 th parallel would act as a buffer zone to prevent fighting between the north and the south

6. CONFLICT IN VIETNAM  civil war breaks out  In 1960, Vietminh in South Vietnam formed the National Liberation Front Their military forces were called the Vietcong—, meaning Vietnamese communists; guerilla force in the South; supported by North Vietnamese army  Pres. Eisenhower decides to intervene  US began supplying South Vietnam with money and supplies

7. PRESIDENT KENNEDY  Believed in the domino theory  Wanted to show off American power  Hesitated to send troops so he sent more military advisors  Increased financial aid to Diem Diem becoming more and more unpopular Instability in S. Vietnam U.S. backs coup to overthrow Diem who is assassinated

8. THE TONKIN GULF RESOLUTION  President Johnson became convinced that only expanded US military involvement would prevent a Communist victory  The Tonkin Gulf Resolution Enabled the President to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the US Approved by Congress on Aug. 7, 1964

9. PRESIDENT JOHNSON  Did not want to appear “soft” on communism  Tonkin Gulf: granted Johnson broad military powers  Operation Rolling Thunder  Escalation—more troops to Vietnam  Determination despite unpopularity

10. AIR WAR  Operation Rolling Thunder (March 1965) Main target: Ho Chi Minh Trail  Pres. Johnson wanted to weaken the enemy’s ability and will to fight and wanted to assure South Vietnam of his commitment to its independence  This bombing campaign led many South Vietnamese to join the Vietcong

11. GROUND WAR  In response to guerilla tactics, US ground troops in South Vietnam undertook search and destroy missions to drive enemy forces out of their hideouts  US troops inflicted enormous casualties on Communist forces  Pacification

12. THE DRAFT  As the American force in Vietnam increased, US government depended on the draft  1969 lottery system implemented for the draft Men were drafted based on birth dates drawn at random  Draft ended in 1973

13. 1968: THE TET OFFENSIVE  A series of coordinated attacks throughout South Vietnam  The Vietcong assault on the US Embassy marked the start  Showed that no part of South Vietnam was safe from attack  Shattered American beliefs that Communist forces were weakening and that the US would soon win the war

14. PRESIDENT NIXON END OF THE WAR  President Nixon pledged he would end the war if elected  Vietnamization- process of turning over more of the fighting in Vietnam to the South Vietnamese while gradually bringing home US ground troops My Lai Massacre Invasion of Cambodia  Nixon agreed to remove all US troops and help rebuild