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Vietnam

Vietnam. 7. What were the causes of the Vietnam War?. Vietnam had been dominated by foreign powers for centuries… 1 st the Chinese for over 1000 years Then colonized by the French in 1860s. Built roads, RR, rice & rubber plantations Catholicism French – 2 nd language.

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Vietnam

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  1. Vietnam

  2. 7. What were the causes of the Vietnam War?

  3. Vietnam had been dominated by foreign powers for centuries… • 1st the Chinese for over 1000 years • Then colonized by the French in 1860s

  4. Built roads, RR, rice & rubber plantations • Catholicism • French – 2nd language

  5. Post—WWII, Nationalist leader Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam to lead an independence revolt against the French

  6. Ho Chi Minh • Long exile – some in USSR • Returned in ’40s • Fought Japanese

  7. After WWII, fought France • “barefoot army” known as Viet Minh

  8. Defeated the French in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu, N. Vietnam—Communist control

  9. Geneva Accords • Peace conference • Vietnam was divided at 17th parallel • temporary dividing line

  10. Domino Theory • US feared if Vietnam “fell” to communism, the rest of SE would too

  11. Guided US foreign policy for years

  12. Supposed to hold elections to reunify the country

  13. N. Vietnam- Communist, led by Ho Chi Minh • Elections never happened

  14. Truman • His “doctrine” = support any non-Comm. Country • Sent $ to France • Containment

  15. Eisenhower • Sent military advisors & $ to S. Vietnam

  16. Kennedy • More military advisors • Sent LBJ to S. Vietnam to assure US support

  17. Johnson • Policy of escalation • US took over major role of fighting N.V.

  18. Gulf of Tonkin • U.S. ships off the coast of N. Vietnam reported being fired on…LBJ launched air raids on North Vietnam; technically a declaration of war, furthered our commitment to South Vietnam

  19. What were the major sides of the war?

  20. US & South Vietnam • US allied with S.V. • Led by Ngo Dinh Diem

  21. Diem • Educated in NJ; Catholic (>90% of Vietnam was Buddhist) • Harsh, autocratic, unpopular

  22. North Vietnam & Viet Cong • Led by Ho Chi Minh • National hero • Nationalist, Communist

  23. Viet Cong • National Liberation Front • Communist South Vietnamese • Guerrilla warfare

  24. USSR & China were also providing military & economic aid to N.V.

  25. Tet Offensive—1/68; Vietnamese New Year; Viet Cong caught the S. Vietnamese by surprise; targeted and invaded every major city and military center in S. Vietnam—technically failed, but it changed the public opinion in the U.S.; citizens watched this on TV—had been told we were winning the war

  26. What were the results of the Vietnam War? • Peace agreement = 1973—U.S. agreed to withdraw, a year later, the war resumed & the Communists defeated the S., reunifying the country • U.S. lost 58,000 men & women; spent >$200 billion • Millions of Vietnamese were killed, homeless, entire generations were wiped out • Major changes in U.S. foreign policy…much more cautious when entering conflicts • Recognized the limits of military power—have a cause & support of the people

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