Origins of the Vietnam Conflict

Abbreviations of the War ARVN = Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South) NVA = North Vietnamese Army Viet Minh = Communist Govt. / Organization (North) Viet Cong (VC) = Southern Insurgents NLF = National Liberation Front (Leadership of VC) CINCPAC = Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Command

Vietnamese History French Colony (1885) Indochina: Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam Occupied by Japanese in WWII (1941) Viet Minh founded by Ho Chi Minh (1941) Communist, nationalist organization Oppose Japanese, remove French Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam’s independence (1945) France refuses, declares war on Viet Minh U.S. refuses to recognize this because he is a Communist

First Indochinese War (1946-1954) Ho Chi Minh: leader of Viet Minh, communist/nationalist group in Vietnam French vs. Vietnamese Independence Movement (U.S. supports French) Vietnamese outnumbered and under-equipped Guerrilla Warfare: hit and run tactics, usually used by small force against large Both sides sustain heavy losses (Viet Minh: 800,000; French: 200,000)

Battle of Dien Bien Phu (March-May 1954) 20,000 French trapped by 100,000 Viet Minh French cannot re-supply or relieve, siege begins French run out of food and ammunition 17,000 French captured; leads to peace settlement

Geneva Peace Accords (1954) Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, France, U.S., USSR, China, and Britain Terms of the peace: Divided Vietnam into North (communist) and South (democratic) North Leader = Ho Chi Minh, South Leader = Bao Dai and Ngo Dinh Diem Elections to held in 1956 to unify the country 1955 rolls around: Diem deposes Bao and becomes president

“Sink or swim with No Dinh Diem” U.S. Begins Involvement Domino Theory: if Vietnam falls to communists, other Asian nations will follow 1956: Elections never happen, Diem would have lost badly North declares war on South Eisenhower sends 675 military advisors to help (1956) Kennedy: increases aid, sends 15,000 more advisors (1963) Eisenhower and Diem, 1955 “Sink or swim with No Dinh Diem”

Over 75% of Vietnamese were Buddhists The End of Diem Diem lacks support because he is a tyrant: Corrupt officials, family members in power Declares other political parties illegal Secret police terrorizes people Forces the nation to obey Catholic laws Kennedy decides the war cannot be won with Diem. Nov. 1963: Overthrow and assassination of Diem Kennedy assassinated on Nov. 22 Over 75% of Vietnamese were Buddhists

Escalation: Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Aug. 1964) Aug. 2-4: “peaceful” U.S. vessels attacked by North PT Boats in Gulf of Tonkin The Truth? U.S. was spying on North U.S. Navy was covering ARVN operations Pres. Johnson launches retaliatory strikes on North Vietnam

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Aug. 7, 1964) President may take necessary steps to ensure freedom of SE Asian nations Expires when the President says so, or by act of Congress “Blank Check” for Johnson and Nixon LBJ and Nixon: justification for escalation

U.S. Troop Levels in Vietnam