The United States and Vietnam Chapter 30 Section 1

Vietnamese Nationalism Vietnamese want to rule themselves Vietnamese want to rule themselves Nguyen Tat Thanh Nguyen Tat Thanh –One of the leaders of the nationalist –Better known as Ho Chi Minh – which means “Bringer of the Light” Ho Chi Minh was an advocate for communism Ho Chi Minh was an advocate for communism

Vietminh 1941 – during Japan’s rule over Vietnam 1941 – during Japan’s rule over Vietnam –Ho Chi Minh organized a nationalist group called the Vietminh –Vietminh  United Communists and non-Communists for the struggle to expel Japanese forces –The US b/g sending military aid to the Vietminh

The US Supports the French After WWII, Japan surrendered control over Vietnam After WWII, Japan surrendered control over Vietnam –Ho Chi Minh announced that Vietnam was an independent nation France however wanted to regain their colonial empire France however wanted to regain their colonial empire –1946 – French troops returned to Vietnam and drove the Vietminh forces into hiding in the countryside

The US Supports the French By 1949 – French officials had set up a new govt. in Vietnam By 1949 – French officials had set up a new govt. in Vietnam –The Vietminh fought back against the French –The Vietminh slowly increased their control over large areas of the countryside France appealed to the US for help France appealed to the US for help

The US Supports the French The US decided to support the French b/c the Vietminh independence movement was entangled w/ the Communism The US decided to support the French b/c the Vietminh independence movement was entangled w/ the Communism –US policy of Containment!!! –The US was against colonization, but didn’t want Vietnam to be Communist either Truman authorized a massive program of military aid to French forces fighting in Vietnam Truman authorized a massive program of military aid to French forces fighting in Vietnam

The US Supports the French Eisenhower defended the US policy in Vietnam by stressing what b/c known as the domino theory Eisenhower defended the US policy in Vietnam by stressing what b/c known as the domino theory –Domino theory – the b/l that if Vietnam fell to communism, so too would other nations of Southeast Asia

Driving out the French The Vietminh used the guerrilla tactics that the French could not fight against The Vietminh used the guerrilla tactics that the French could not fight against –Guerrillas – irregular troops who usually blend into the civilian population and are often difficult for regular armies to fight 1954 – turning point at Dien Bien Phu 1954 – turning point at Dien Bien Phu

Defeat at Dien Bien Phu 1954 – the French forces were ordered to occupy the mountain town of Dien Bien Phu 1954 – the French forces were ordered to occupy the mountain town of Dien Bien Phu –Seizing the town would interfere w/ the Vietminh’s supply lines and force them into open battle A huge Vietminh force surrounded Dien Bien Phu and b/g bombarding the town A huge Vietminh force surrounded Dien Bien Phu and b/g bombarding the town

Defeat at Dien Bien Phu May 7, 1954 – French forces fell to the Vietminh May 7, 1954 – French forces fell to the Vietminh The defeat convinced the French to make peace and w/draw from Indochina The defeat convinced the French to make peace and w/draw from Indochina

Geneva Accords Negotiations to end the conflict were held in Geneva, Switzerland Negotiations to end the conflict were held in Geneva, Switzerland The Geneva Accords The Geneva Accords –Temporarily divided Vietnam along the 17 th parallel –Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh were in charge of the North –A pro-Western regime was in control of the South –1956 – elections were to be held to reunite the country under a single govt.

Ngo Dinh Diem When the French left Vietnam, the US b/c the principal protector of the new govt. in the South When the French left Vietnam, the US b/c the principal protector of the new govt. in the South –Led by a nationalist leader named Ngo Dinh Diem Ngo Dinh Diem was… Ngo Dinh Diem was… –Pro-Western –Fiercely anti-Communist –A Catholic  He welcomed roughly 1 million N. Vietnamese Catholics who migrated south to escape Ho Chi Minh’s rule

Ngo Dinh Diem 1956 – the time came to hold elections 1956 – the time came to hold elections –Diem refused –Diem knew the communist north would not allow genuinely free elections  Diem knew Ho Chi Minh would almost certainly have won as a result Eisenhower supported Diem and increased US military and economic aid to South Vietnam Eisenhower supported Diem and increased US military and economic aid to South Vietnam Diem’s actions intensified tensions b/w North and South Vietnam Diem’s actions intensified tensions b/w North and South Vietnam