2. US involvement in Vietnam: THREE STAGES Financial assistance to the French (1946-54) Financial assistance to the French (1946-54) US Puppet regime in So. Vietnam and Covert Action (1954-1964) US Puppet regime in So. Vietnam and Covert Action (1954-1964) Direct Military Engagement (1964-1973) Direct Military Engagement (1964-1973)

3. US views the Vietnam situation… Through a COLD WAR lens Through a COLD WAR lens DOMINO THEORY DOMINO THEORY

4. The Vietnamese view the situation … As a struggle for INDEPENDENCE As a struggle for INDEPENDENCE Imperialism in Vietnam means that Vietnamese are likely to view any interference by US as an attempt to colonize and control the country, as the French had for the past 80 years. Imperialism in Vietnam means that Vietnamese are likely to view any interference by US as an attempt to colonize and control the country, as the French had for the past 80 years.

5. First Indochinese War 1946-1954 A Preview of Things to Come

6. General Vo Nguyen Giap Chief of the Viet Minh forces fighting French colonial rule and later the Americans – Architect of Vietnamese strategy and tactics Chief of the Viet Minh forces fighting French colonial rule and later the Americans – Architect of Vietnamese strategy and tactics

7. Giaps Three Stages of Struggle 1. Building the Base 2. Guerilla Warfare 3. Mobile Warfare

8. First Stage: Tactics for establishing the base Situate headquarters in mountainous, difficult terrain for meetings, supplies and refuge Situate headquarters in mountainous, difficult terrain for meetings, supplies and refuge Viet Minh win hearts and minds of peasantry Viet Minh win hearts and minds of peasantry Beat/Assassinate landlords/tax collecters Beat/Assassinate landlords/tax collecters Redistribute land holdings Redistribute land holdings Education/literacy campaigns Education/literacy campaigns Help with farming Help with farming Viet Minh gain Viet Minh gain Taxes Taxes Supplies Supplies Intelligence Intelligence Porters Porters

9. Second Stage: Tactics of Guerilla Warfare Pin-prick attacks meant to frustrate the enemy into dispersal and low morale, inciting reprisals Pin-prick attacks meant to frustrate the enemy into dispersal and low morale, inciting reprisals Reprisals drive civilians to VM for support and guidance, increasing their popularity and strength Reprisals drive civilians to VM for support and guidance, increasing their popularity and strength Guerilla Pin-Prick tactics Guerilla Pin-Prick tactics Sabotage (road cutting, damage to vehicles, poison) Sabotage (road cutting, damage to vehicles, poison) Traps (homemade bombs, trip wires, pungi sticks, pit traps) Traps (homemade bombs, trip wires, pungi sticks, pit traps) Terrorism (attacks on civilian targets, R&R sites) Terrorism (attacks on civilian targets, R&R sites) Camouflage (local vegetation, holes, tunnels) Camouflage (local vegetation, holes, tunnels)

11. The biggest tunnel systems were in the Iron Triangle and the Cu Chi District, only 20 miles from Saigon. This map gives an idea of the extent of the tunnel system at Cu Chi--the orange lines represent major tunnels. The base area at Cu Chi was a vast network, with nearly 200 miles of tunnels

13. Third Stage: Tactics of Mobile Warfare By 1949, China had begun to equip the Viet Minh with automatic weapons, mortars, howitzers, trucks By 1949, China had begun to equip the Viet Minh with automatic weapons, mortars, howitzers, trucks Guerilla infrastructure allows for Viet Minh to move more quickly and more stealthily to carry out open warfare Guerilla infrastructure allows for Viet Minh to move more quickly and more stealthily to carry out open warfare

14. The Geneva Peace Conference: Ending the French War in Vietnam Viet Minh, France, United States, Britain, USSR, China

15. Outcomes France has lost the war and Vietnam will be an independent country France has lost the war and Vietnam will be an independent country Partition of Vietnam into North and South along 17 th parallel Partition of Vietnam into North and South along 17 th parallel Ho Chi Minhs government will continue to rule in the North Ho Chi Minhs government will continue to rule in the North French-friendly govt will rule in South as French slowly pack up and move out French-friendly govt will rule in South as French slowly pack up and move out General, democratic elections will be held in two years, July of 1956, to reunify the country into a single, sovereign state General, democratic elections will be held in two years, July of 1956, to reunify the country into a single, sovereign state

16. Vietminh United States US fearful of such a victory US fearful of such a victory Refuses to sign agreement Refuses to sign agreement If communists win, then US loses. What? If communists win, then US loses. What? Confident of electoral victory

17. 1954 to 1963 United States supports the anti-Communist Ngo Nguyen Diem as the president of South Vietnam. US gives over $1.5 billion in aid to South Vietnam. 80% of these dollars go to the military. S. Vietnam is essentially a creation of the US US defending the independence of the South Vietnamese government.