War in Vietnam 17-3

Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh turned to Communism for independence from French

Dien Bien Phu Huge loss for French French done North and South divided at 17 th parallel

Domino Theory Pres. Eisenhower - like a row of domino’s, once one falls to Communism the rest would fall

Ngo Dinh Diem S. Vietnamese leader –Backed by U.S. –Corrupt – no free elections

Vietcong S. Vietnamese Communist guerrillas

U.S. involved Involved since late 1950’s –Tanks, planes, & equipment

Lyndon Johnson tells Congress that N. Vietnamese attacked 2 American destroyers in Golf of Tonkin –Congress ok’s sending troops in , ,00+

Lyndon Johnson

Problems U.S. has best equipped and most advanced army – can’t win 2 problems –Fighting guerilla war in unfamiliar jungle –S. Vietnamese govt. was unpopular making Vietcong grow

Bomb ‘em U.S. can’t win so turn to bombing –Strengthens peasant support against U.S.

Unpopular at Home Late 1960’s U.S. people unhappy with loss of life –Youth protests – colleges (Kent State)

Vietnamization Pres. Richard Nixon - slow withdraw of U.S. troops, gradually increasing S. Vietnamese involvement

U.S. Gone 1973 U.S. forces gone from Vietnam 2 yrs later N. Vietnam takes over the south 1.5 million Vietnamese dead 58,000 U.S. dead

Postwar Vietnam 1.5 million flee Vietnam 70,000 settle in U.S./Canada

Cambodia Khmer Rouge Slaughter 2 million under Pol Pot in 2yrs