TheVIETNAM WAR1954 - 1975

Roots of the Vietnam War

Indochina – Ruled by the French since 1893

Who controlled Vietnam during WWII

First Indochina War

1946 - 1954 Vietminh fights the colonial

French forces for control of Vietnam.

Vietminh – Vietnamese nationalist group led by Communist Ho Chi Minh.

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

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

Eisenhower & Diem blocks elections in 1956

U.S. goal is to strengthen South Vietnam & not let nation be unified under Ho Chi

Minh

$

U.S. Goal

Contain Communism

in Southeast Asia

17th Parallel

U.S. Policy Toward Vietnam Based on…

THE DOMINO THEORYIf one Asian country falls to

communism, others will.

Ngo Dinh DiemAuthoritarianGave government jobs to his family members.Anti-Buddhist

Restricts Buddhist practicesTortured/Imprisoned Political opponentsDenies elections

Civil War in South Vietman Anti-Diem south

Vietnamese in late 1950’s North Vietnam supplies weapons.

Weapons &

Support

VIETCONG1957: 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 *

Ho Chi Minh1960: Increases

support of Vietcong.

Sends supplies & N. Vietnamese troops to the south on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

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.

The Situatio

n

U.S. increases support to Diem.

1960: 900 U.S. military advisors in S. Vietnam $

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

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

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

Buddhist Monks Protest

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

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 LodgeU.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam

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

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

“Their War . . . “

“Withdraw . . .”

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.”

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

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

Gulf of Tonkin IncidentUSS Maddox fired on by North Vietnamese torpedo boats

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

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.”

Without a Declaration of War . . .AMERICA WAS AT

WAR