1. U.S. Intervention and
Escalation in Vietnam

2. 1. French Indochina
France ruled Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos since the late 1800s.

3. 1. French Indochina
Nationalism (a desire for independence) spread through Vietnam.

4. 1. French Indochina
During WWII Japan took Indochina from France.

5. 2. Ho Chi Minh
Founded the Vietminh during WWII to defeat Japanese forces.

6. 2. Ho Chi Minh
The Vietminh used guerrilla tactics to defeat Japanese and then French troops.

7. 2. Ho Chi Minh
Guerrillas blend in with civilians and use hit-and-run tactics as well as ambushes.

8. 2. Ho Chi Minh
Guerrillas used booby traps and dug extensive tunnel networks to hide in.

9. 2. Ho Chi Minh

10. 3. Domino Theory
If Vietnam falls to communist rule, then so will its neighboring countries.

11. 3. Domino Theory
Truman and Eisenhower aid France after China falls to communism and North Korea invades South Korea.

12. 4. Geneva Accords
The French are defeated by the Viet Minh at Dien Bien Phu and leave Vietnam

13. 4. Geneva Accords
Geneva Accords split Indochina into Cambodia, Laos, North Vietnam and South Vietnam.

14. 4. Geneva Accords Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh control North Vietnam
Pro-Western govt. controlled South Vietnam.

15. 5. Ngo Dinh Diem
Installed as leader of South Vietnam by western powers, Diem, refuses to hold nationwide elections in 1956 as called for by Geneva Accords.

16. 5. Ngo Dinh Diem
Ho Chi Minh forms the Vietcong to overthrow the government of South Vietnam.

17. 6. Escalation Under Kennedy
Kennedy sends in the Green Berets to conduct counterinsurgency missions against the Vietcong.

18. 6. Escalation Under Kennedy
Kennedy increases aid and military advisors (from 900 to 16,000 by 1963).

19. 6. Escalation Under Kennedy
Ngo Dinh Diem was widely unpopular and Buddhist monks protest in summer 1963.

20. 6. Escalation Under Kennedy
Kennedy allows condones the assassination of Diem by Vietnamese generals.
Competing factions lead to social and political instability in South Vietnam

21. LBJ TAKES CHARGE
LBJ takes over after Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963.

22. 7. Escalation Under LBJ
President Johnson claims U.S. ships attacked in Gulf of Tonkin in summer of 1964.

23. 7. Escalation Under LBJ
Congress passes Gulf of Tonkin Resolution- handing the president a “blank check” for war.

24. 7. Escalation Under LBJ
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution authorizes Johnson to:
“Take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.”

25. 7. Escalation Under LBJ
LBJ wins 1964 presidential election by a landslide.

26. 7. Escalation Under LBJ
The draft is reinstated to increase troop levels
Yet most are still volunteers.

27. 7. Escalation under LBJ
Operation Rolling Thunder commences in dropping more bombs than in all of WWII.

28. 7. Escalation Under LBJ
U.S. soldiers went on “search and destroy” missions to find and defeat guerrilla forces.
What problems would there be with this tactic?