2. The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975 Mr. Brink United States History 20.1 Mr. Brink United States History 20.1

3. Southeast Asia

4. Background to the War zFrance controlled “Indochina” since the late 19 th century zJapan took control during World War II zWith U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar period

5. The Pleas of Ho Chi Minh  Rebuked by Wilson after WWI  Rebuked by US after WWII –French serve as “bulwark against communism”

6. The Domino Theory

7. Background to the War zThe French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu zPresident Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France.

9. Background to the War zInternational Conference at Geneva P Vietnam was divided at 17 th parallel O Ho Chi Minh’s nationalist forces controlled the North O Ngo Dinh Diem, a French- educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the South

10. Ngo Dinh Diem  Corrupt US- Backed Dictator of South Vietnam  Persecutes Buddhist majority  Ho has support of peasants, so Ngo blocks election  Causes civil war in 1955

11. Background to the War zA date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnam zDiem backed out of the elections, leading to military conflict between North and South(US Doesn’t Want Them)

12. Civil War  North Vietnamese Army (NVA or Vietminh)  VietCong (VC) – guerrilla groups in South Vietnam

13. U.S. Military Involvement Begins zRepressive zRepressive dictatorial rule by Diem P Diem’s P Diem’s family holds all power P Wealth P Wealth is hoarded by the elite P Buddhist P Buddhist majority persecuted P Torture, P Torture, lack of political freedom prevail zThe zThe U.S. aided Diem’s government P Ike P Ike sent financial and military aid P 900 P 900 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.

14. U.S. Military Involvement Begins zKennedy elected 1960 zIncreases military “advisors” to 16,000 z1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese military coup d’etat – Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2) zKennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. 22)

15. Early Protests of Diem’s Government Self-Emolation by a Buddhist Monk

16. Johnson Sends Ground Forces zRemembers Truman’s “loss” of China  Domino Theory revived I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.

17. Johnson Sends Ground Forces zAdvised to rout the communists by Secretary of State, Robert S. McNamara zTonkin Gulf Incident  1964 (acc. to Johnson, the attacks were unprovoked) zTonkin Gulf Resolution P “The Blank Check” *

19. U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam