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Vietnam

Vietnam. Vietnam War. Vietnam History. France France rules Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) Late 1800s until WWII (Japanese take-over) Land from peasants, build large plantations Extract large portions of rice and rubber for own profit Several revolts from Vietnamese

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Vietnam

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  1. Vietnam

  2. Vietnam War

  3. Vietnam History • France • France rules Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) • Late 1800s until WWII (Japanese take-over) • Land from peasants, build large plantations • Extract large portions of rice and rubber for own profit • Several revolts from Vietnamese • Most revolts organized by Indochinese Communist Party • Party Leader, Ho Chi Minh

  4. Ho Chi Minh(1890-1969) • Flees Vietnam in 1930 • Condemned to Death by French for rebellious activity • Returns to Vietnam after Japanese Takeover 1941 • Communist and Nationalist groups combine to form Vietminh • Seek Vietnam’s independence from foreign rule • With Japanese defeat in 1945, Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam an independent nation

  5. French troops move back into Vietnam, 1946 • Drive Vietminh out of southern half • Ho Chi Minh vows to liberate southern half from French control

  6. Ho Chi Minh • “If ever the tiger pauses, the elephant will impale him on his mighty tusks. But the tiger will not pause, and the elephant will die of exhaustion and loss of blood.” • -Ho Chi Minh

  7. 1950 • Cold War • Communism • Eastern Europe • China • Korea likely • Vietnam • Ho Chi Minh; “Independence” • United States; “Communist aggressor” • Response, $$ to France

  8. 1953 • Korea ends in stalemate (North as communist) • 1954 • Eisenhower and Domino Theory • Dien Bien Phu • French surrender, remove troops

  9. North and South Vietnam Left in Wake • North = Communist • South = Anti-Communist Nationalists • Geneva Accords • Temporarily divide Vietnam along 17th parallel • Elections to be held in 1956 to settle

  10. Vietnam goes into Chaos • Diem Cancels Election • US supports cancellation • President Kennedy continues aid to South/Diem • Ho Chi Mihn seen as hero • Years fighting Japanese and French • Redistributes land to peasants • Diem • Corrupt government • Harsh on Buddhists • Opposition grows in South (Vietcong)

  11. 1963 - Diem regime toppled 1963- Pres. Kennedy assassinated Pres. Lyndon Johnson takes over Democrats “Soft on Communism”… ?… Johnson escalates the situation…

  12. Gulf of Tonkin • Gulf of Tonkin attack Aug 2, 1964 • Tonkin Gulf Resolution Aug 7, 1964 • Feb 1965, Operation Rolling Thunder -The war becomes “Americanized”…

  13. Strong Support for Containment • Tonkin Gulf Resolution • “All necessary measures to… prevent further aggression.” -Johnson • Vote in Congress • 98-2; Senators approval

  14. Guerilla vs. Conventional Warfare • United States • Superior Weaponry • Heavy Machinery (tanks, bombers, etc.) • Vietcong • Ambush tactics • Terrain familiarity

  15. Guerrilla Warfare When enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we attack; the enemy retreats, we pursue -Mao Tse-Tung (China)

  16. Anything Suspicious??

  17. Vietcong Tunnel Systems

  18. Underground Tunnels • Effectiveness of bombings… • “The more Americans tried to drive us away from our land, the more we burrowed into it.” -Major Nguyen Quot, Vietcong Army

  19. Tunnels • Avoid Bombings • Surprise attacks on US troops, then disappear quickly

  20. Guerilla Warfare • V.C. move in and out of general population • Attack US troops in cities and countryside • Increasingly difficult US troops to discern ‘friend from foe’

  21. Guerilla Warfare • Booby Traps • Land mines • Tripwire with grenades • Trap doors with wooden spears • Explosives-rigged decoys

  22. Tiger vs. Elephant?

  23. Will to Fight • “You can kill ten men for every one I kill of yours, but even at those odds, you will lose ad I will win.” -Ho Chi Minh(Speaking to French occupation) Military Struggle vs. Battle for National Independence

  24. Troop Morale • Sweltering Heat • Leeches, Insects • Disease • Friend from Foe • Support of villagers/rural Vietnamese in S. • Government

  25. National Morale • Government • Credibility Gap • Growing Doubts • “The Living-Room War” • High costs • Growing Doubts about Victory • Youth Movement

  26. Tiger vs. Elephant • “If ever the tiger pauses, the elephant will impale him on his mighty tusks. But the tiger will not pause, and the elephant will die of exhaustion and loss of blood.” -Ho Chi Minh

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