3. It began with the French sending Priests to the area The priests wanted people to convert and go to their churches. This happened during the 1600s…

4. This went on for a long time… that is, until the rulers of the area decided they wanted the French GONE! GET OUT!

5. The French decided they were not going anywhere- They decided to bring in warships to protect their priests In 1862 the emperor was forced to sign an agreement with France. This agreement protected the priests and allowed the French to trade in the area! Sounds fishy to me!

6. This began the era of French colonialism in the area. The area was rich in natural resource like gold, silver, coal, tin, silk and so much more

7. SO- How did this war begin? By 1893 France had control of Indochina! What is Indochina you say? Well, it’s a place between India AND China

8. Indochina Included the states of: Cambodia Laos Tonkin, Annam Cochin-China

9. war In 1930 & 1931 the local people, (who were by now pretty tired of the French and the way they were being treated) decided to rise up against the French.

10. The results… were not good

11. Luckily (or not) World War II broke out in Europe in 1939 Germany took over France in 1940 So the French had to leave Indochina to go defend their country.

12. 1945: Japan takes over Indochina! Dude… Imperialism Rocks!

13. That MIGHT have worked except that Japan had other things to worry about… The Atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima And a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki That put an end to WWII

14. What does that have to do with the United States and Vietnam?

15. France Returns! No, that is not a misprint… France was back and they wanted to regain control of the area. Enter-- I’m baaaaack

16. Ho Chi Minh “He who Enlightens” A young communist who declared himself president of Vietnam in 1945 He wanted Vietnam to be controlled by the Vietnamese people Later that year the French landed in the south and quickly took control back Ho Chi Minh controlled the north

17. The French control the south and Ho Chi Minh controls the communist north? …ok, sounds like a plan… But NOOOOOOO Each side wanted control of the WHOLE of Vietnam

18. French vs. Ho… Round 3 1946

19. This time the French get their berets knocked off ( after 8 years of fighting )! 1954

20. Here it is… the moment you have been waiting for… What does this have to do with the UNITED STATES?

21. May 1954- Americans send troops to support the south after the French forces find themselves surrounded in North Vietnam at a place called Dien Bien Phu Here we come to save the day!

22. July 1954, a peace conference in Geneva temporarily divides Vietnam in two: a pro-communist North and an anti-communist South. President Truman Premier Stalin Prime Minister Churchill These were the leaders at that conference:

23. 1956- The North wants Vietnam to be unified and begin fighting with the south Hey, that sounds really familiar… where have I heard that before?

24. The United States sends advisors to help South Vietnam because they do not want the communists to take over the area.

25. 1961 President John F. Kennedy says the US will do all it can to keep South Vietnam from going to the Communist North I will send troops to help South Vietnam

26. 1963 President Kennedy is assassinated President Johnson pledges to continue supporting South Vietnam I will keep the status quo

27. 1964 North Vietnamese torpedo USS Maddox is in the Gulf of Tonkin

28. Our ships will take whatever steps are necessary that are appropriate for their defense. President Johnson states:

29. 1965 Operation “Rolling Thunder” begins (air attacks against the North) Chinese government warns that they will enter the war if American troops invade North Vietnam US offers North Vietnam $1 billion aid package to develop Mekong Delta region in SE Asia if they DON’T take over South Vietnam North Vietnam says, “No thanks, we can win this war”

30. The American Experience 1965-1975 58,000 Dead 304,000 wounded

31. 1968 Richard Nixon elected President Policy of Vietnamization- transferring combat roles to South Vietnamese troops Tet offensive begins (N Vietnam launches attacks all over S Vietnam)

32. 1973 US, North Vietnam, South Vietnam sign Paris Peace Accords Cease-fire goes into effect US troops begin to withdraw

33. 1975 South Vietnam surrenders to North Vietnam The country is unified under communist rule United States imposes embargo on ALL of Vietnam