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The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War. Why did the United States get Involved?????. Vietnam is part of the old French colony of Indo China.

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The Vietnam War

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  1. The Vietnam War Why did the United States get Involved?????

  2. Vietnam is part of the old French colony of Indo China.

  3. When the Japanese captured it from the French during WWII, a communist Vietnamese resistance organization, the Viet Minh was formed. It’s leader was Ho Chi Minh. (He wanted independence. Remember, he had asked Wilson after WWI for self determination and had been denied.)

  4. When France regained control after WWII, the Vietminh begin a Guerrilla War for independence. In 1954, the French were defeated at DienBiehPhu and sign a peace treaty known as the Geneva Agreement.

  5. Geneva Agreement divides Indo- China into four countries. Loas Cambodia North Vietnam South Vietnam Vietnam was supposed to have elections in 1956 and become a unified country.

  6. So How did the U.S. Get Involved? The Truman Doctrine and “containment” • 1949 was a bad year • U.S.S.R. exploded an atomic bomb • China became communist despite $2 billion dollars given to anti communist forces” • When China began to support the Vietminh, the U.S. began to support the French (who then lose).

  7. President Eisenhower cites the Domino Theory • The Domino Theory was the idea that the countries of SE Asia were closely linked. • If one “fell” to communism, so would the next, and then the next. • South Vietnam Laos Cambodia Thailand Burma India

  8. Because of the Domino Theory, the United States support South Vietnam. • Ngo Dihn Diem was brutal dictator (but we didn’t care because he was also anti-communist. • In 1960, NLF (National Liberation Front) forms to overthrow Diem and reunite Vietnam. North Vietnam controlled by Ho Chi Minh South Vietnam controlled by Ngo Dinh Diem

  9. National Liberation Front Vietcong: Communist Vietnamese in SOUTH Vietnam Vietminh: Communist Vietnamese in NORTH Vietnam [it’s a geographical distinction] • On December 20, 1960, the National Liberation Front (NLF) was born. • It brought together Communists and non-Communists in an umbrella organization that had limited, but important goals • Anyone could join as long as they opposed Ngo Dinh Diem and wanted to unify Vietnam.

  10. North Vietnam • CAPITOL: HANOI • Supported by Communist China and Soviet Union. • Ho Chi Minh had hoped his ideals and freedom from foreign rule would bring US support. • South Vietnam • Supported by the United States. • CAPITOL: SAIGON • The United States saw the emergence of Communism under Ho Chi Minh in the North as a threat. (CONTAINMENT & DOMINO THEORY)

  11. Increasing U.S. Involvement • President Eisenhower • Supports Diem with troops, weapons, supplies • Sends in 100 Military Advisors to help strategize against the NLF • President Kennedy • Increases military advisors from 100 to 1600 • Begins “Strategic Hamlet” program – relocating peasants to “save” them from the Viet Cong • South Vietnamese oppose program – don’t want to be removed from land • Creates special forces for fighting guerilla war (Green Berets)

  12. The Draft The Draft had never gone away after WWII During the Kennedy Administration there were two main ways men avoided going to Vietnam. names of married men with children should occupy the very bottom of the draft list There were exemptions and deferments, especially for college and graduate students. This was the source of considerable resentment among poor and working class young men, who could not afford a college education.

  13. Vietnam Under Johnson • In 1963, Diem is so unpopular that he is assassinated by his own military. • Lack of political stability and abuse of peasants rights under the Strategic Hamlet Program lead to a growth of communism in the South.

  14. McNamara’s Secret TripJohnson’s Decision • LBJ sends Secretary of State Robert McNamara to Saigon on a secret trip • Claimed that the communists would win within 2-3 months • Urged immediate deployment of Large #’s of Troops. • Wanted to bomb North Vietnam ASAP • Johnson thought this was too drastic so he held off sending more “advisors and secretly planned to send troops to Southeast Asia soon.

  15. Gulf of Tonkin Incident Johnson doesn’t think the South is up for the fight against North Vietnam. Advisors say U.S. needs to be seen as victim in the event of a full scale war. In 1964, two U.S. ships patrolling international waters near North Vietnam are attacked. Congress responds with “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution” which gives Johnson the power to send armed support to help any country defending it’s Freedom.

  16. U.S. is now involved. • February 1965, U.S. begins bombing raids into N. Vietnam – called “Operation Rolling Thunder.” • March 1965, U.S. sends first ground troops By December 1965, there will be 150,000 U.S. soldiers in Vietnam.

  17. America is divided over Vietnam Americans who supported the war and the Johnson administration became known as hawks. Those who opposed the war became known as doves.

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