2. VIETNAM Understanding both sides of the conflict
Similar to North and South Korea
Historical Background:
SOUTH
DEMOCRATIC
Supported By Democratic Countries
United States and Anti Communist allies
Modern Weapons
Chemical Weapons
NAPALM
Historical Background:
NORTH
COMMUNIST
Supported By Communist Countries
Soviet Union
China
Weapons were dated
Gorilla warfare

3. Vietnam freedom revolution breaks into 2 Groups
IMPERIALISM
Vietnam freedom revolution breaks into 2 Groups
North
The People's Republic of China
Soviet Union
recognized the Viet Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam as the legitimate government of Vietnam.
Capital in Hanoi
South
United States
Great Brittan
recognized the State of Vietnam as the legitimate Vietnamese
Capital in Saigon
a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
Colonized by:
French- 1850s
1950s- French Removed

5. Ho Chi Minh
Communist rebel leader against French and Japanese imperialism
Backed by Soviets and China
Leader of Viet Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Soon to be Leader of Communist North Vietnam

6. DOMINO THEORY
if one state in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect.

7. example of communist expansionism directed by the Soviet Union
Containment
Aggressive war broke out in between (Soviet and China) Communist North and (United States and Great Brittan) Democratic South
Containment was a United States policy to prevent the spread of communism abroad.
example of communist expansionism directed by the Soviet Union

9. Vietnam War
Viet Cong
South Vietnamese
Soviet trained and armed militants using Guerilla Warfare trying to defeat democratic south and unite Vietnam in Communism
Use of terrorism, explosives, car bombs, Punji sticks, land mines, poison, trip wires, etc..
United States backed, armed, and trained militants trying to defend democracy and overthrow the communist north to unite Vietnam in Democracy.
Use of artillery, helicopters, gunships, 50 Caliber machine guns, napalm

11. U.S. mindset on the war First Televised war
After images of the violence hit main land America, Vietnam war became HUGELY unpopular.

12. Where the fighting happened
Deep jungles & in the streets of villages
Terrorist actions
Human and car bombs in crowded areas

13. Many fisherman, shrimping industry workers, and port workers
Boat People
Vietnamese people Defecting from the country. Leaving on boats and landing along the U.S. coast line
Many fisherman, shrimping industry workers, and port workers
Brain Drain
Educated Vietnamese leaving the country before the fighting escalated.
Staying in their new country, unable to go back and help build on the education and economy

14. War ended in 1975 when Saigon fell to the North.
now known as Ho Chi Minh City

15. Total casualties of all countries involved reach close to 1,400,000.
Death Toll
Vietnamese Casualties
American Casualties
United States of America
58,286 killed and missing in action4
Democratic Republic of Vietnam & Viet Cong
1.1 million killed2
Total casualties of all countries involved reach close to 1,400,000.
1.4 million lives

17. Assignment Write a letter home
You are a US soldier
Write a letter home
Talk about the difficulty fighting against the North and guerilla warfare in this rough physical geography
Think about the difficulty RECONGNIZING who the bad guys are in a “nation state”
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