1. What we learned from the Korean War
The USA would contain Communism-
Anywhere in the world
The USA would support people who fight Communism
China and the USSR would support Communist governments

2. Background on the Vietnam Conflict
Background
on the
Vietnam Conflict

3. Background on Vietnam FRENCH CONTROL:
Colonized Vietnam as part of their Southeast Asian Empire
Controlled Vietnam until World War II
JAPANESE CONTROL:
During WWII took over control of Vietnam
When Japanese surrendered to the Allies, Vietnam fell under French control again
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA:
Colonies in Southeast Asia (ie: Philippines)
Region provided U.S. with 90% of rubber and 75% of tin

4. Vietnamese are fighting for independence from the French
French Indo-China War
Vietnamese are fighting for independence from the French
Ho Chi Minh leads fight for independence
Communist China provides direct aid to the Vietnamese
Truman decides he needs to extend “containment” to South East Asia
- Results in American aid to France – military and economic assistance ($133 million)

5. French Indo-China War In 1950 1945 - 1954
U.S. adopts the “domino theory”
Ho Chi Minh controls 2/3 of countryside with hundreds of thousands of Vietminh
Korean War solidifies American belief in containment

6. Indo-China War

7. 1950 – 1952
U.S. sent $50 million worth of economic and technical assistance to French
By 1952 U.S. paying for 1/3 of cost of war
French attempt to recruit Vietnamese to fight failed (shows lack of Vietnamese support for French/American effort)
French had lost 90,000 soldiers – clear they would be defeated

8. Dien Bien Phu Remote village in Northwest corner of Vietnam
Both Vietminh and French had amassed troops there in 1954
General Giap of Vietminh led an attack on the village in March of ’54
U.S. debates an air strike, but decide against it – without U.S. help French doomed and surrender on May 7th

9. Dien Bien Phu

10. Dien Bien Phu

11. Geneva Accords
July 20th, 1954
Vietnam is split at the 17th parallel
French withdraw from North Vietnam
Elections set for 1956 to reunify country
Ho Chi Minh is in power in North
Ngo Dinh Diem is in power in South