Review The Truman Doctrine: The United States will help defend any country that is under the threat of a communist takeover. The United States will help defend any country that is under the threat of a communist takeover. Domino Theory: If one country falls to communism, so will its neighboring countries. If one country falls to communism, so will its neighboring countries. Truman giving his Truman Doctrine speech

Review The Marshall Plan: The United States would offer economic aid for the rebuilding of European countries after WWII.

Review Eisenhower Doctrine: The United States would help any Middle Eastern country that is under communist threat. Eisenhower

Vietnam War Vietnam was divided into two nations in July Often called the Vietnam Conflict, and, in Vietnam, the American War, occurred from 1959 to 1975.

Vietnam War The war was fought between the communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) and its communist allies and the US-supported Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam).

Vietnam War There were several different American Presidents during this war. This war began at the end of the Eisenhower presidency, into JFK, Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon took our troops home. JFK & LBJ Richard Nixon

US Foreign Policy President Eisenhower pledged to support the South Vietnamese Government led by Ngo Dinh Diem. He provided military advisors against to work against the North.

Foreign Policy When Kennedy took office, he did more. He wanted to prevent the spread of communism at all costs. –Kennedy sent Vice President Lyndon Johnson to Vietnam to assess the situation. –It was evaluated that if South Vietnam would survive, they would need more aid. –Kennedy sent more military advisors and by 1963, there were more then 16,000.

Vietnam War Diem was an unpopular official. He lacked support in his own country. He imprisoned political opponents and filled government positions with members of his own family. He used American aid for the military and for corrupt officials instead of economic reform.

Vietnam War Diem was a Catholic in a largely Buddhist country. When he insisted that everyone obey Catholic religion law, there was serious opposition. In June 1963, a Buddhist monk burned himself to death. Other monks followed this example but this did not change the ideas of Diem.

Vietnam War After this, Kennedy realized that Diem would not reform. US officials told South Vietnamese military leaders that they would not object to Diems overthrow. Shortly after Diem’s assassination, Kennedy befell the same fate.

Vietnam War Communist guerrilla in the south, the Viet Cong, gained control of more territory and loyalty of the South Vietnamese. Ho Chi Minh and the North aided the Viet Cong. Johnson was suspicious of Ho and believed in the need for Containment.

Vietnam War For Johnson's Presidential campaign (1964), he tried to keep the war from becoming an issue. After winning the election, he started an escalation of the war. By 1965, the Viet Cong had attacked Americans, as a response, LBJ authorized a bombing of North Vietnam. When the American were sent to Vietnam, although they had new weaponry and tactics, they failed to drive out the Viet Cong who used guerrilla warfare.

Vietnam War Fighting efforts reached an all time high in 1968, when the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese launched an offensive. The Tet Offensive, included surprise attacks on major cities and towns as well as American military bases in South Vietnam. The Viet Cong had won a ‘psychological” victory. It demonstrated that they could launch a massive attack throughout South Vietnam.

The Numbers In the end, it is important to remember the numbers. –More than 58,000 Americans died. –More than 300,000 Americans were wounded. –More that 2,500,000 Americans served. ALL of the Americans who served honorably in the war are HEROES.

Vietnam War

Vietnam Memorial

US v. USSR Although there was no direct fig fighting between the United States and the United Soviet Socialist Republic, there was indirect fighting. Although there was no direct fig fighting between the United States and the United Soviet Socialist Republic, there was indirect fighting. In both Korea and Vietnam, the two superpowers chose a side to support and fought against the other. This animosity would not politically be resolved until 1991 politically be resolved until 1991 with the collapse of the with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Soviet Union.