1. The Vietnam War Was it the right decision for the US to fight in Vietnam?

2. War in Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam Republic of Vietnam North Vietnam Common Name South Vietnam Hanoi Capital City Saigon Ho Chi Minh (until 69) Le Duan (after 69)LeadersNgo Dinh Diem (until 63), various Generals Vietcong Direct Ally United States Soviet Union, People’s Republic of China Indirect Ally None

3. 1919-1954: Ho Chi Minh vs. Imperialism 1919:Ho Chi Minh travels to Versailles to meet Pres. Wilson HCM rejected by Wilson, joins the Communist Party 1941: Ho Chi Minh forms an army called the Vietminh when Japan invades French Indochina 1945: Vietminh drive Japanese out, HCM declares an independent Vietnam French want their colony back, go to war w/ Vietminh

4. Eisenhower Years (1954-1959) French are defeated at Dien Bien Phu 1954: Geneva Accords ends war but Vietnam is split at 17th parallel Eisenhower fears HCM will win election, supports Diem declaring independent South Vietnam Election cancelled, HCM forms North Vietnam & goes to war w/ S. Vietnam Afraid S. Vietnam will fall to Communists (Domino Theory) US sends Military Advisors to S.V. Ho Chi Minh controls north, Ngo Dinh Diem controls south until nationwide elections are held in 1956

5. Southeast Asia Map Label all 5 countries in key (Thailand is west of Laos/North of Cambodia) North Vietnam & Laos are influenced by Soviet Union South Vietnam & Thailand are influenced by the United States Cambodia is influenced by the United States & Communist Rebels Label Saigon, Da Nang, Hue, Haiphong, Hanoi, Gulf of Tonkin, Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh Trail Color all countries for homework Turn to page 545 add this info to your map

6. Kennedy Years (1960-1964) 1960: southern communists form a guerilla army called the Vietcong 1961: Pres. Kennedy begins to send more “advisors” to S. Vietnam, JFK & Def Secy McNamara encourage Flexible Response Diem is very unpopular with the S. Vietnamese people – JFK unsure 1963: US okays removal of Diem in November during a coup de tat. Diem assassinated. JFK is assassinated a few days later in Dallas

7. Johnson Years (1964-1968) Johnson expands the bombing of N. Vietnam After two ships are allegedly fired at LBJ asks Congress to pass Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which gives LBJ authority to wage war LBJ sends Gen Westmoreland to S. Vietnam. He wants a large American force to inflict many casualties (Search & Destroy) 1966: LBJ asks Congress for draft and $12.8 billion Anti-war protests begin, boxing champ Muhammad Ali refuses the draft and is sent to prison “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong” Dec 67: LBJ & Westmoreland assure US public that enemy is nearly defeated even though 500K troops are now in Vietnam

8. Vietnam Protest Movement 1.What do you think the group mean by “There’s something happening here…what it is ain’t exactly clear”? 2.How does the group describe youth & the protest movement? 3.What does the group say about the government? 4.What does the group want young people to do? For What its Worth by Buffalo Springfield

9. Nixon/Ford Years (1969-1975) Former VP Richard Nixon wins election, promising “Peace /w Honor” Nixon’s plan Vietnamization brings home American troops but expands bombing campaign Nixon further expands the war by invading neighboring Cambodia 1973: Paris Peace Accords - US, North Vietnam and South Vietnam sign a peace treaty ending the war (Kissinger negotiates treaty) 1974-75: N. Vietnam invades S. Vietnam. President Ford asks Congress to help, Congress refuses. Saigon falls in April1975 N. Vietnamese Army & Vietcong launch a massive campaign known as Tet Offensive, reach Saigon – LBJ won’t run for reelection

10. Containment Policy US Cold War Foreign Policy Arms Race Domino Theory/ Flexible Response Search & Destroy - Vietnam Advisors in Vietnam