Vietnam War

French Indochina War French Indochina War (1955) Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam (considered French Indochina) controlled by the French If Eisenhower would have prevented this uprising Vietnam War may have been prevented.

Geneva Convention 1954 (1) Divided at the 17th parallel (2) North Vietnam ruled by Ho Chi Minh (3) South Vietnam ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem (4) French troops withdraw from Vietnam (5) Vietminh withdraw from South Vietnam (6) the Vietnamese could choose where to live North or South (7) General Election for the Unity of Vietnam would be held under the supervision of an international commission.

John F. Kennedy JFK sends advisors to make sure there is not a communist take over.

Vietnam War (1960-1975) North Vietnam (supported by its communist allies) Viet Cong. Or the (National Liberation Front of South Vietnam) Americans called them VC’s/ Charlie's South Vietnam (Supported by the United States)

Ngo Dinh Diem Appointed president of South Vietnam at the Geneva Convention in 1954. Did not accept a United Vietnam. 1963- Buddhist protest Diem starts to ignore United States Result = death and Nguyen Van Thieu takes over the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of South Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh Started Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) After Diem would not support an election for a United ruler for Vietnam Minh supported the National Front for Liberation of South Vietnam

Gulf of Tonkin Incident: 1964 3 North Vietnamese PT boats fire torpedoes at the USS Maddox The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution is approved by Congress and authorizes President Lyndon Johnson to “Take all measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the USA and prevent further aggression” Johnson wages all out war against North Vietnam

America enters the War Operation Rolling Thunder: continuous air raids that last for over 3 years Napalm/ Agent Orange Johnson is President from 1963-1969

Operation Cedar Falls 30,000 US/ South Vietnam troops set out to destroy Vietcong operations and supply sites near Saigon. A massive system of tunnels is discovered in an area called the Iron Triangle, an apparent headquarters for Vietcong personnel. US/ South Vietnam take over capital Saigon. Tunnel Rats are discovered

TET Offensive:1968  North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces sweep down upon several key cities and provinces in South Vietnam, including its capital, Saigon. US forces regain Saigon but American’s view this as a loss, and pride on the battlefield and home front is tarnished. Americans see the end of the war far form over. (Spirits crushed)

My Lai Massacre Up to 504 civilians were raped, beaten and killed Only William Calley was convicted of committing 22 murders He served 3 months on house arrest

President Richard Nixon 1969-1974 “Vietnamization”:The objective of the policy is to shift the burden of defeating the Communists onto the South Vietnamese Army and away from the United States. Nixon started to pull troops out of Vietnam.

1975 Vietnam is finished Communists Take Aim at Saigon: The North Vietnamese reclaim the Vietnam Capital of Saigon and rename it Ho Chi Minh City. Ford Calls Vietnam War "Finished” Vietnamese President Duong Van Minh delivers an unconditional surrender to the Communists in the early hours of April 30.

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YBGeYATY4w&feature=related