1. Chapter 23.1 Background to Conflict in Vietnam
Before the US got involved in Vietnam
China and France both fought for it.

2. Chinese Occupation of Vietnam
200 BC – 939 AD
China controlled Vietnam
Wanted their farm land
Could grow lots of rice!!!

3. Vietnam Rice Paddies

4. French Colonization 1883 France takes control of Vietnam
Expanded there during European Imperialism
Combined 3 countries to become French Indochina
Vietnam
Laos
Cambodia

5. Vietnamese Independence
Though controlled by French
Vietnam hated France!
Wanted independence!
1920s
Ho Chi Minh
Vietnamese leader who is willing to fight for independence
Problem
He’s Communist!!

6. Ho Chi Minh has a Chance 1940’s
Ho Chi Minh wanted to start a revolution against French!
Didn’t have too!
Japanese had expanded into Vietnam during WWII!
Defeated French for them!
1945
Japanese surrender in WWII
Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam an independent nation!

7. Small Problem…..
1946
France doesn’t want to give Vietnam up!
They want their rice!
Have USA political support.
Ho Chi Minh starts his resistance movement called Vietminh.
Based on Communist principles.
This is bad…

8. What should the USA do? Nothing….so things change in Asia. 1949 1950
Mao makes China Communist!
1950
USA invades N. Korea to stop Communism from spreading!
Communism already spread to
Indonesia
Philippines

9. America has to make a choice.
1954
USA is fighting to a stalemate in Korea
Cease fire called at 38th Parallel
France is losing to Ho Chi Minh’s Vietminh
Just lost major battle at Dien Bien Phu
City in northern Vietnam
May 7, 1954
France surrenders to Vietminh
Domino theory
If one country falls to Communism, they will all fall like dominoes!
What do we do???

10. The Geneva Convention May 8, 1945
International conference called for in Geneva, Switzerland
Need to settle conflict in Indochina.
Meeting led by China, USSR, USA, and Great Britain
China, USSR
Wanted Communism to rule.
USA, Great Britain
Wanted capitalism to rule.
What do you think happens?

11. Vietnam, 1956 Divided at 17th Parallel