Beginning of Vietnam War The war that couldn’t be won.

The Old Days of Imperialism 1883 – French take over Vietnam and run the country along with its neighbors Cambodia and Laos. Became known as French Indochina. Ho Chi Minh – Vietnamese leader who studied communism by example from China and the Soviet Union. He was ready to set up this government in Vietnam, but he needed to beat the French. WWII – Ho Chi Minh organized a group of fighters called the Vietminh to fight against the French during and after WWII. They tried to declare their independence after WWII, but needed help to beat the French. Domino Theory – A belief that if one of these small Asian countries fell to communism, all would, like a set of dominoes.

Guerrilla Warfare Battle tactic used by the Vietminh to fight a superior enemy. The Vietminh received little help while fighting for their independence. The U.S. backed France, but did little more than loan money to them. Eisenhower did not want another Korea so soon. The Vietminh would hide in the jungles and cities and plan coordinated attacks on the French, many times when they least expected it. They appear, attack relentlessly, and then flee back into hiding, making it almost impossible to defend or defeat. Classroom Example…

Vietminh Defeat the French Other world powers see this and don’t want Vietnam to become something they don’t want. In other words, the U.S., Britain, France, Soviets, and Chinese all wanted different things to occur. The country is temporarily split up and the south gains a new leader. Ngo Dinh Diem – Leader of South Vietnam. He was an anti-communist and Roman Catholic. Didn’t treat the Buddhists in Vietnam well. Peasants hated his land policies. In short, most South Vietnam citizens didn’t like him. Some Vietminh from the North stayed in South Vietnam after the battle with France. Because they hated Diem, they joined the Vietminh communists, but called themselves the Vietcong.

A Prelude to War Trying to improve America’s image to the world, JFK sends more military advisers to South Vietnam to train soldiers and help their new government. Shortly after that in November 1963, Diem is overthrown and killed along with his brother. Weeks after that, JFK is assassinated in Dallas. Tensions rise all over the region and in South Vietnam. The Vietcong are constantly attacking Southern Vietnamese cities. The only way to fix this and contain communism, is to go to war!