THE VIETNAM WAR The Fight to stop the spread of Communism

Learning Target:  Describe the causes, events, and effects of the Vietnam War  Analyze the American use of the Containment Policy in Southeast Asia

Background  Southeast Asia was a “battleground” during the Cold War – why?  Before Japan conquered much of Southeast Asia during WWII, these territories were under the control of the French.  When Japanese troops withdrew – France was determined to regain its territory

The Battle for Vietnam  Vietnamese Nationalists wanted Independence…  North Vietnam – Leader = Ho Chi Minh – leader of the Communist Party  Followers – The Vietminh  Created the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945  Supported by the USSR and China  South Vietnam – Leader = Diem – anti-communist  Supported by the US and France

North VS South  The US supported the South and France = feared if Ho Chi Minh won, Communism would spread through all of Vietnam  US gave $$  France lost – 1954 – lost at Dien Bien Phu  World Countries met to discuss a settlement – Geneva, Switzerland  Agreed to divide Vietnam at the 17 th Parallel – Communism in the North, Pro-Western South Vietnam

The Domino Theory  The belief that if Vietnam falls to Communism, then the rest of Southeast Asia will become communist When/WhereWho is involved What Happened What was the outcome - Southeast Asia - Starts with the conflict in Vietnam -The US -France -North Vietnam -South Vietnam -- All of southeast Asia becomes a battleground - US fears that if the North Vietnamese defeat the French, South Vietnam will fall to communism. If Vietnam falls to communism - the rest of Southeast Asia has the potential to fall - US increases its investment in Vietnam -Once the French lose, the US steps in to aid South Vietnam -- Turns into a 10 year long war fighting the North Vietnamese and Vietcong

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Background = - The US claims the North Vietnamese attacked their naval ships in the Gulf of Tonkin. -Johnson asks for increased military to Vietnam. What it allowed= - Leads to Operation Rolling Thunder – where the US bombs the north for three years – target military bases North Vietnamese Response = - Send military supplies along the Ho Chi Minh trail to the Vietcong in the South.

What Americans were hearing…  November 21, 1967 – Wesmoreland, leader of US Army in Vietnam, reassured the people that America had the lead – the Vietcong and North Vietnam was losing…

The TET OFFENSIVE  January 30, 1968 – the first day of the Vietnamese New Year – communist forces launched an attack on civilian and military targets in South Vietnam without warning

The TET OFFENSIVE  Targeted 100 South Vietnamese cities and towns, a dozen US military bases, and the US Embassy in Saigon  The US and South Vietnamese retook most of the targets within hours and days, battle at Hue raged for 3 weeks – the city was completely destroyed

The TET OFFENSIVE  OUTCOME  The Cost – 1,100 American Soldiers, 2300 Vietnamese troops, 12,500 Vietnamese civilians, 1 million Vietnamese refuges = High Casualties  For the North – the goal of the Tet offensive was to spur uprising in the South against the government and US – this failed.  For the South and the US – no place in South Vietnam was safe, and American confidence was shattered.

TET OFFENSIVE Summary  On January 30, 1968, the real Tet Offensive began. Early in the morning, North Vietnamese troops and Viet Cong forces attacked both towns and cities in South Vietnam, breaking the ceasefire that had been called for the Vietnamese holiday of Tet (the lunar new year).

TET OFFENSIVE Summary  The Communists attacked around 100 major cities and towns in South Vietnam. The size and ferocity of the attack surprised both the Americans and the South Vietnamese, but they fought back. The Communists, who had hoped for an uprising from the populous in support of their actions, met heavy resistance instead.

Outcome of the Vietnam WAR:  Nixon began removing troops in 1970 from Vietnam as opposition in the US continued to grow  1973 – South Vietnam, the US, and the Communists agreed to a cease-fire – remaining US troops left Vietnam  1975 – North Vietnamese and Vietcong once again invaded South Vietnam – South Vietnam fell to communism

Vietnam’s Relation with the West  In recent years, relations between Vietnam and the US have improved  1995 the US and Vietnam established diplomatic ties  Vietnams poor economy led Vietnam to improve its relations and trade with the industrialized nations of Western Europe