Vietnam

 1954 – France pulls out of Indochina  Colony now has independence

Conference at Geneva Divided Indochina into Four States Laos, Cambodia Communist-dominated North Vietnam & pro-Western South Vietnam

Ngo Dinh Diem – anticommunist leader in South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem – anticommunist leader in South Vietnam Asked U.S. for help Asked U.S. for help

Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations sent military equipment and advisors to South Vietnam Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations sent military equipment and advisors to South Vietnam

 1963 – the Viet Cong (Vietnamese Communists), controlled large sections of South Vietnam

U.S. increased support to South Vietnamese government Set up supply bases guarded by U.S. troops

 Began bombing Ho Chi Minh Trail and southern section of North Vietnam

North Vietnamese sent units into South Vietnam to support Viet Cong North Vietnamese sent units into South Vietnam to support Viet Cong

Communist forces waged war of attrition against U.S. and S. Vietnamese Communist forces waged war of attrition against U.S. and S. Vietnamese

Were willing to suffer heavy casualties Destruction from bombs Just to inflict casualties on Americans, so that U.S. would lose its will to continue