1. The Vietnam War
Cold War Hot Spot!

2. French Indochina

3. French Indochina

4. Indochina after WWII
After the Japanese surrendered, France tried to reestablish control in Indochina
Remember Japan conquered the area during WWII
Huge resistance
Started 30 year conflict with TWO phases

5. Phase 1: 1946-1954 1946: French tried to regain control
Ho Chi Minh led resistance forces
He was Nationalist and Communist
French left in 1954 after Vietnamese victory
Laos and Cambodia gained independence separately

6. During the Cold War, what often happened after decolonization?
Discuss
During the Cold War, what often happened after decolonization?

7. Phase 2: 1954-1975 Vietnamese Civil War
Western and Communist powers split Vietnam
North-Communist
South-non-communist led by Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngo Dinh Diem
Dictator backed by the US

8. Communists in the North
1960: Guerrilla fighters in South Vietnam
Saw the Civil War in Vietnam as a struggle to liberate the country from foreign domination
Guerrilla
Impromptu fighting against organized forces
Fighters knew countryside very well

9. Considering the Cold War, why might the United States be in Vietnam?
Discuss
Considering the Cold War, why might the United States be in Vietnam?

10. The Domino Theory

11. The Domino Theory

12. U.S. in Vietnam
Domino Theory—The view that a communist victory in South Vietnam would cause non- communist governments across Southeast Asia to fall to communism

13. U.S. in Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh and Vietcong (communist army) wanted to overthrow South Vietnam’s government
August 1, 1964: South Vietnam held raids against North Vietnam
North Vietnam retaliated attacking US Navy Destroyer the Maddox
Led to US direct involvement

14. U.S. in Vietnam Aug 7, 1964: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Authorized U.S. President to take all necessary measures to prevent further communist aggression
50,000 drafted at that time

15. U.S. in Vietnam South Vietnam failed Tet Offensive
1968: Guerrilla forces came out of the jungles and attacked Americans
Changed U.S. public opinion as well as televised broadcasts
Many POW and MIA

16. Missing in Action 1,643 (as of 2014)
U.S. in Vietnam
Missing in Action 1,643 (as of 2014)
47,500 US combat casualties
153,000 total US deaths

17. Has the United States ever lost a war?
U.S. in Vietnam
Has the United States ever lost a war?

18. U.S. in Vietnam

19. U.S. in Vietnam

20. U.S. in Vietnam

21. U.S. in Vietnam

22. U.S. in Vietnam

23. America Withdraws

24. America Withdraws
New president (Nixon) negotiated peace in January 1973
Established cease-fire
US removed troops
North Vietnamese would not send more troops to the south
South Vietnam determined own future

25. North Vietnam Wins North Vietnam beat South Vietnam two years later
DOMINOS FELL
Vietnam fell to communism
US embargo
Poverty
Cambodia fell to communism
Thousands of South Vietnamese fled country in boats
Many drowned
Survivors in refugee camps in neighboring countries
Some in the United States