Vietnam By Andrew South

Start of U.S Involvement World War II French wanted Vietnam back after WWII. United States pay for the French. French lose and United States Steps in.

United States wants to stop Communism Believes that if Vietnam falls rest of Asia will fall So United States most support any one that is anti-communist

Why did North Vietnam want South Vietnam North Vietnam wanted foreign powers out Had not been free since 1664 With French lose to Viet Minh in 1954 –Battle of Dien Bien Phu –French leave Vietnam Saw United States as no different –wanted to free South from U.S.

Map of Dien Bien Phu

Dien Bien Phu Located in Valley of Nam Yum River General Navarre’s Idea Based was divided into 5 sections –Named after French Commanders ex-girl friends Based was not protected against Artillery

Dien Bien Phu Viet Minh were able to bring in Artillery French could not stop the Viet Minh Artillery The French were slowly blown apart. –Fell on May

President of the United States that really gets United States in to the War

LBJ

United States real involvement U.S. after 1954 supports Diem 1963 JFK and Diem assassinated LBJ becomes president 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident 1965 first marines arrive in Da Nang –Reach 100,000 soldiers in country by the end of the year

Who is the Leader of North Vietnam?

Ho Chi Minh

Viet Cong Led by Giap Trained by Unites States in WWII Started out as the Viet Minh –fought against French and Japanese Guerilla Army

Viet Cong Soldier

Viet Cong These soldiers tended to be peasants Would farm during the day and fight at night This was a problem for French and America –Could not tell the differences between enemy and friend

NVA Also led by Giap Not true that all of North Vietnamese were Guerilla soldiers NVA were regular soldiers trained in NV –did most of the fighting after 1968

The U.S. wins everything,but nothing 1968 over 500,000 troops in South Vietnam –Army wants more Wins all battles –but cannot control the countryside Tet Offensive –Public loses faith –more protests in the United States

Who promised to get the United States out of the War

Nixon

Nixon starts and ends Starts war in Laos and Cambodia Starts secret Peace Talks Starts to turn over War to South Vietnamese Stops build up in S.V. Ends troop involvement in Vietnam Ends Support of South Vietnam

The End of the War 1975 South Vietnam falls to North Vietnam –due to the fact the U.S. does not support S.V. Vietnam rule their whole country for the first time since 1664.