1. Vietnam

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

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

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

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

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

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

12. Guided US foreign policy for years

13. Supposed to hold elections to reunify the country

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

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

16. Eisenhower Sent military advisors & $ to S. Vietnam

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

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

19. 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

20. What were the major sides of the war?

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

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

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

24. Viet Cong National Liberation Front Communist South Vietnamese Guerrilla warfare

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

26. 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

27. 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