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The VIETNAM WAR 1954 - 1975

The VIETNAM WAR 1954 - 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.

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The VIETNAM WAR 1954 - 1975

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  1. TheVIETNAM WAR1954 - 1975

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

  3. Who controlled Vietnam during WWII

  4. First Indochina War • 1946 - 1954 • Vietminh fights the colonial French forces for control of Vietnam. • Vietminh– Vietnamesenationalist group led by Communist Ho Chi Minh.

  5. 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. goal is to strengthen South Vietnam & not let nation be unified under Ho Chi Minh $

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

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

  10. Ngo Dinh Diem • Authoritarian • 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 • North Vietnam supplies weapons. Weapons & Support

  12. 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 *

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

  14. 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.

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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. Buddhist Monks Protest

  20. 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

  21. 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

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

  23. Kennedy on Vietnam Kennedy on Vietnam situation shortly before his death. . . . “Their War . . . “ “Withdraw . . .”

  24. 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.”

  25. 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

  26. 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

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

  28. 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

  29. 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.”

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

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