1. The VIETNAM WAR

2. Roots of the Vietnam War
Indochina – Ruled by the French since 1893

3. Who controlled Vietnam during WWII?

4. What was the First Indochina War?
1946 – 1954: Vietminh fights the
colonial French forces for control of Vietnam.
Who were the Vietminh?
Vietminh – French nationalist group led by Communist Ho Chi Minh that fought Japanese
& French rule.
Mixture of Communists &
Vietnamese nationalists.

5. What was the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?
March – May 1954
25,000 French troops
surrounded by Vietminh forces
French surrender.
KEY POINT:
French retreat
from Vietnam

6. Geneva Conference 1954 Granted Vietnam independence from France
France divided into two zones along the 17th Parallel.
North governed by the Vietminh under Ho Chi Minh
South governed by former pro-French faction led by Ngo Dinh Diem
Called for elections to reunify Vietnam in 1956
17th Parallel

7. Eisenhower & Diem blocks elections in 1956 U. S
Eisenhower & Diem blocks elections in 1956 U.S. goal is to strengthen South Vietnam & not let nation be unified under Ho Chi Minh $

8. U.S. Goal
17th Parallel
Contain Communism in Southeast Asia

9. U.S. Policy Toward Vietnam Based on what theory?
THE DOMINO THEORY
If one Asian country falls to communism, others will.

10. Ngo Dinh Diem Authoritarian Nepotism: Gave government jobs to
his family members.
Anti-Buddhist
Restricts Buddhist practices
Tortured/Imprisoned
Political opponents
Denies elections

11. Civil War in South Vietman
Anti-Diem south Vietnamese in late
1950’s (remnants of Vietminh)
North Vietnam
supplies weapons.
Weapons & Support

12. Who were the VIETCONG?
1957: The National Liberation Front formed in South Vietnam. Nicknamed the VIETCONG (Vietnam Communists) Group of anti-Diem/anti-U.S. communists and peasants with the goal of overthrowing Diem * Used Guerilla Warfare *

14. What is Guerrilla Warfare?
Definition: Military operations conducted by irregular forces in enemy-controlled territory
Wore no uniforms/blended into landscape/villages
Hit-and-run tactics
Armed with Chinese AK-47’s
Rigged booby traps & “punji traps”
Travelled & attacked from under- ground tunnel systems.

15. Ho Chi Minh 1960: Increases support of Vietcong.
Sends supplies & N. Vietnamese troops to the south on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

16. What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
Complex network of roads, paths , & river transport systems from N. Vietnam to S. Vietnam
Used to provide manpower & supplies from North Vietnam to the Vietcong.

17. $ The Situation U.S. increases support to Diem.
1960: 900 U.S. military advisors in S. Vietnam $

18. Eisenhower on the Situation
“The loss of South Vietnam would set in motion a crumbling process that could, as it progressed, have grave consequences for us and for freedom.”
- April 4, 1959

19. Kennedy takes over… Also believes in domino theory
Tries to show strength in Vietnam after Bay of Pigs failure Make U.S. a credible power in the world.
Increases military advisors in Vietnam
16,000 by 1963

20. Diem Becomes More Unpopular
Diem continues to get more repressive
Continued restricting Buddhists rights
Arrested & killed Buddhist protestors
Unable to unite factions of South Vietnam

21. Buddhist Monks Protest

22. JFK Approves Military Coup
Kennedy embarrassed of Diem’s rule. Convinced N. Vietnam cannot be defeated under Diem.
Kennedy secretly authorizes a coup d'état of Diem’s government
South Vietnamese Generals surround Saigon and eventually capture Ngo Dinh Diem

23. Nov. 2, 1963: Diem Murdered By Generals
“There is no possibility, in my view, that the war can be won under a Diem administration.” - Henry Cabot Lodge U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam

24. Three weeks after approving Diem’s Assassination . . .
Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, Texas

25. Kennedy on Vietnam
Kennedy on Vietnam situation shortly before his death. . .

26. Johnson Takes Over Lyndon B. Johnson becomes President
Under LBJ, U.S. fully engages in a War in Vietnam
Said U.S. had to help S.
Vietnam win in its “con-
test against the externally
directed and supported
Communist conspiracy.”

27. LBJ’s Determination
I am not going to lose Vietnam. I am not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.” - Lyndon B. Johnson

28. Situation worsens from winter ‘63 – Spring ‘64
South Vietnam close to complete collapse
North Vietnamese infiltration into South increasing
By March 1964: Vietcong controls 40% of South Vietnam
Johnson realizes that South Vietnam cannot win without increased U.S. presence and help

29. Gulf of Tonkin Incident
USS Maddox fired on by North Vietnamese torpedo boats

30. Johnson’s Response to Gulf of Tonkin Attack
Johnson accuse North Vietnam of “open aggression on the high seas.”
Johnson orders strike on N. Vietnamese bases.
Uses attack on USS Maddox as basis for increasing American involvement in Vietnam

31. Tonkin Gulf Resolution
Johnson submits resolution to Congress giving him authority to wage war in Vietnam using attack on USS Maddox as pretext.
August 7, 1964, Congress passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution.
“Congress approves and supports the determination of the President to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the U.S. and to prevent further aggression.”

32. Without a Declaration of War . . .
AMERICA WAS AT WAR