1. Conflict in Vietnam

2. Vietnam as a colony 1800’s becomes colony of France
French colonists make most money
Much unrest with French peasants

3. During WWII Japan occupies Vietnam Ho Chi Minh & Vietminh
Growing independence movement
US supported
Post war, Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent

4. French Fight France not willing to let Vietnam go Go to war
US offers French economic & military aid
See Ho Chi Minh as “communist aggressor”
Eisenhower fears “domino theory”

5. French Surrender May 1954 French surrender
Geneva Accords -peace agreement
Divide Vietnam at 17th parallel
1956 election to unite two sides
Cancelled elections - Ho Chi Minh too popular

6. US Gets More Directly Involved
US supports south
Ngo Dinh Diem - corrupt, but anti-communist
Increase in Vietcong
Kennedy - sends advisors, then troops

7. Change in Leadership Nov. 1, 1963 - US military coup to oust Diem
Diem executed
Soon after, Kennedy assassinated
Kenendy - withdraw
Johnson - escalates

8. Go to War or Not? Aug. 2, 1964 - North Vietnamese fire on US destroyer
Says it happens again
Johnson asks for extended powers from Congress
Tonkin Gulf Resolution adopted

9. How to Win the War General Westmoreland wants more troops
US has superior weapons
Wear down through attrition
North starts guerrilla tactics

10. US Needs Support
Villager support
Stop Vietcong
Morale is low

11. Fighting the War in Vietnam
The goal of U.S. military was to defeat the Vietcong & support democracy in South Vietnam:
But, the Vietcong lived among the civilians in Vietnamese in cities & villages (who is the enemy?)
The Vietcong used guerilla tactics to combat U.S. military superiority
Jungles made fighting difficult

13. The air force bombed villages & supply lines (Ho Chi Minh Trail)
The U.S. military used a variety of tactics to fight the war in Vietnam
The air force bombed villages & supply lines (Ho Chi Minh Trail)

14. The U.S. military used a variety of tactics to fight the war in Vietnam
The military used napalm to destroy villages & pesticides (Agent Orange) to destroy crops

15. The U.S. military used a variety of tactics to fight the war in Vietnam
Soldiers were sent on deadly “search & destroy” missions into the jungles to find the Vietcong

16. War Turns Jan. 1968 Tet Offensive During week-long truce
Vietcong used to their advantage
Multiple attacks at once
Month long

17. 1968 Election Hubert Humphrey (Democrat) Richard Nixon (Republican)
Difficult election
Nixon wins - promise to get out

18. Change in Leadership Nixon announces troop withdrawal
By down to 25,000 troops
Vietnamization
Still bombing Cambodia & Laos

19. Peace? Nixon tries to broker peace No agreement
Nixon unleashes “Christmas Bombings”
All want to end war
Jan 27, US signed “Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam.”
Mar 29, combat troops left

20. Fall of Saigon North & South cease-fire ended
March North invades South
US won’t help
April 30, South surrenders