1. Vietnam Moving Toward Conflict

2. Bell Ringer List everything you can think of that has to do with Vietnam.

3. Back-story French rules Vietnam. Colonists create plantations and towns in Vietnam. 1924: Revolutionaries fled to China where they were lead by Ho Chi Minh. Minh creates Indochinese Communist Party and returns to Vietnam to form the Vietminh.

4. Vietminh Organization whose goal it was to free Vietnam from foreign rule. At the end of WWII, Minh declares Vietnam free, the French disagree. France keeps South, Minh holds north. By 1956, Minh runs out French.

5. The United States Steps In South Vietnam’s President Ngo Dinh Diem refuses to take part in the 1956 elections Vietcong: Communist opposition group in the South, began assassinating South Vietnamese Government officials. Kennedy increases financial aid to Diem, as well as help in training troops.

6. The United States Steps In Cont. Diem becomes increasingly unstable. U.S. supported Coup toppled Diem and his regime. Both Diem and Kennedy are assassinated.

7. Johnson Expands the Conflict Johnson takes a strong stance on communism. South Vietnam becomes even less stable after Diem dies.

8. Tonkin Gulf Resolution August 2, 1964: North Vietnam fired a torpedo at an American destroyer (Maddox) Johnson responds by pushing through the Tonkin Gulf Resolution: which granted Johnson broad military powers in Vietnam. Feb. 1965: In response to Vietcong killing of 8 U.S. troops, unleashed Operation Rolling Thunder.

9. Homework: Read Chapter 22, Section 1. Questions 1, 3, 5