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The Vietnam War: Overview. Southeast Asian Colonies "French Indochina" contained what today is Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea UK controlled what today is Malaysia,

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Presentation on theme: "The Vietnam War: Overview. Southeast Asian Colonies "French Indochina" contained what today is Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea UK controlled what today is Malaysia,"— Presentation transcript:

1 The Vietnam War: Overview

2 Southeast Asian Colonies "French Indochina" contained what today is Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea UK controlled what today is Malaysia, Singapore, Burma, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Netherlands controlled what today is Indonesia US controlled Philippines Japanese controlled Taiwan, parts of China, and Korea

3 Vietnam After WW2 Japanese occupation during war Vietminh: nationalist, communist resistance against Japanese, fought for independence Ho Chi-Minh: Marxist leader of Vietminh Vietminh declared independent Republic in 1945 1946 French returned to re-colonize Vietnam South-north split: Vietminh in north, French in South

4 French Leave Vietnam 1946-1954 Warfare unified nation behind Ho Chi Minh and Vietminh to force out French USA financially supported French: US chose to support colonialism over communism 1954: Battle of Dien Bien Phu 1954: French Withdrawal and Geneva Agreement

5 Key Issues for US in 1950s French departure came 1 year after end of Korean War –Domino Theory fear of spreading communism –US weariness after Korea –US wanted to prevent spread of communism, but opposed colonialism Diem Ngo-Dinh corrupt US- supported Prime Minister of South Buddhist non-violent campaign against oppression in South National Liberation Front (”Viet Cong”) Key question: was the war a "civil war" or "aggression from the north?"

6 1964: Gulf of Tonkin Kennedy increased US "adviser" commitment of troops 1963 Diem and Kennedy both assassinated 1964: Gulf of Tonkin –US ships in area to support air raids over North Vietnam –US ships claimed to have been attacked in fog by North Vietnamese torpedo boats (we know now that no attack occurred) –Johnson used incident to seek authorization for commitment –Led to massive troop commitment under Johnson US troops ceased "adviser" roles and took active combat role: escalating numbers

7 Summary of End of War 1968 Tet Offensive: VC attack failed to take Saigon, but showed VC strength and US futility 1968 election: Johnson declined to run, Nixon promised exit from war Bombing of North Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos failed to end war 1973 cease fire signed: US forces withdrew 1975 North Vietnamese offensive unified Vietnam under Communist control

8 Vietnam Statistics Average infantryman in the South Pacific during World War II saw about 40 days of combat in four years. Average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter. One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam was a casualty. 58,169 were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.59 million who served.


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