The Vietnam War 1954-1975

Who France-Tried to colonize Vietnam in the 1800’s The United States Split into two parts (north and south) by the Geneva Accords North Vietnam is communist (Led by Ho Chi Minh) Ho Chi Minh’s Supporters are called Vietminh Viet Cong-Southern Vietnamese who supported Ho Chi Minh South Vietnam is capitalist and supported by the U.S. It’s leader is Ngo Dinh Diem

What Military conflict in Vietnam France tries to colonize Vietnam starting in 1800 Vietnam resists, led by Ho Chi Minh Vietnam kicks out the French in 1954 Geneva Accords-Agree to split Vietnam in two parts. Vietnam War War between the Capitalist South Vietnamese(Supported by the U.S.) and the Communist North Vietnamese(Supported secretley by the Chinese and the U.S.S.R)

Where

Where

Where

Where

When 1862-France captures Saigon 1950-U.S starts giving money to the French to help them fight the communist Vietminh 1951-U.S. Institutes the Draft 1954/May- Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh defeat the French. The French leave. 1954/April- Geneva Accords split Vietnam in two 1960- 675 Military advisors are in South Vietnam to try and help the Capitalists(sent by Eisenhower)

When 1961-1963-JFK sends 16,000 more troops to South Vietnam 1963- South Vietnamese military leaders overthrow Diem (Coup d'état) 1963/Nov-JFK assasinated 1964-August-LBJ claims that N. Vietnam attacked the U.S. Navy in the gulf of Tonkin 1964-August 7-Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that authorizes the president authority to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the U.S. and to prevent further aggression.”

When 1964-November-LBJ starts to escalate the war by sending in more U.S. troops (this time they weren’t sent to advise) 1966- U.S. starts bombing N. Vietnam by airplane 1967-Troop levels in S. Vietnam reach almost 500,000 1968-Jan 30- Tet Offensive (Surprise attack on the Vietnamese new year by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese)

When 1968-May-Paris Peace Talks begin to try to end the conflict 1968-Nov-Nixon is elected president 1969-June-Vietnamization begins (U.S. troops slowly replaced by S. Vietnamese troops) 1970-Nixon announces that troops had entered Cambodia to root out the communists 1970-May 4-Kent State Shooting (4 student protesters are shot by Ohio National Guardsmen) 1973-Jan-U.S., S. Vietnam, N. Vietnam, and the Vietcong sign a peace treaty 1973-U.S. removes combat troops from Vietnam 1975- North Vietnam attacks and defeats the South.

When 1975- Cambodia falls to the communists (led by dictator Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge) (Kill 1.5 Million Cambodians) 1982-Vietnam Veterans Memorial opens

Why did the U.S. fight in Vietnam? To stop communism! The war in Vietnam was an extension of the Cold War Truman believed in the Containment Policy (the belief that we should try to stop communism from spreading) Eisenhower talked about the Domino Theory (the belief that if one country fell to communism, it would cause its neighbors to fall)

How The war escalated over time, first we sent money, then advisors, then actual troops Guerilla war- Hit and run and hide fighting technique Allows an inferior force to inflict serious damage Very effective when defending your homeland against a uniformed enemy Ambush-Sneak attack on an enemy (lying in wait for the enemy to come to you)

How Jungle warfare-fighting in the jungle (very hot, humid and generally miserable Tunnel Systems-Used by the enemy to evade capture and to attack U.S. Troops Saturation bombing- Bombing by the U.S. that hit every inch of a given area Agent Orange-Herbicide used to kill all the plants in a given area Napalm-Jelly like flammable substance used to burn jungle flora