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The Vietnam Conflict:

The Vietnam Conflict:. A History. Map of Vietnam. History of Vietnam. Fought to remain independent of foreign conquerors Ruled by China for centuries France made Vietnam a colony in the mid 1800’s. French Colonialism. Used raw materials: rubber, rice, and lumber

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The Vietnam Conflict:

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  1. The Vietnam Conflict: A History

  2. Map of Vietnam

  3. History of Vietnam • Fought to remain independent of foreign conquerors • Ruled by China for centuries • France made Vietnam a colony in the mid 1800’s

  4. French Colonialism • Used raw materials: rubber, rice, and lumber • Exploited the population for cheap labor • People suffered under French rule • 1920: Vietnamese Communist Party under Ho Chi Minh is assembled…called the Viet Minh

  5. World War II • 1940-1944 Vietnam was occupied by Japan • Viet Minh fought guerilla war against the Japanese • 1945 End of WWII- French regain control of Vietnam from the British • French control is weak because of the war in Europe

  6. Ho Chi Minh • Revolt against French led by Minh • Studied Communism in China and USSR • “Barefoot Army” • French controlled cities, Minh controlled countryside (85% of population) • French defeated at Dienbienphu in May of 1954. • 16,500 French, only 3,000 survive

  7. American Influence • US financed 80% of war • US takes France’s place in Southeast Asia • US afraid of Communist Vietnam-“Domino Effect” • Cease fire agreement called for by international conference

  8. Vietnam Divided • Divided in half at 17th Parallel • North - Communist rule (Ho Chi Minh) • Capital - Hanoi • South - Government supported by US • Ngo Dinh Diem -President • More emperor than president • Capital - Saigon

  9. US Presence • 1961 – 700 -12,000 military advisors in country • Special Forces -Green Berets • Aerial spraying of herbicides over rural Vietnam • By 1963, 17,000 US troops

  10. South Vietnamese Government • Nov. 1, 1963 - Coup in SV, Diem killed • Nov. 22, 1963 -President Kennedy assassinated - Johnson becomes President • SV government extremely unstable • Changes leaders 8 times in 2 years

  11. Vietcong • 1964 - Communist soldiers in South Vietnam • Terrorists • Supplied by NV through the Ho Chi Minh Trail • Bombed public places where Americans congregated • Charlie, Cong, VC, Mr. Charles, Victor Charlie

  12. Gulf of Tonkin Incident • President Johnson wanted to bomb Hanoi • Congress had to approve bombing • Aug. 2, 1964 - Gulf of Tonkin (off NV coast) • Destroyer USS Maddox attacked by NV gun-boats • Sank 1, crippled other 2 • Maddox hit by 1 bullet • Fact or hoax? reason to bomb

  13. Operation Rolling Thunder • Air war begins over North Vietnam • Public backs President • Intimidate NV people and leaders • Bombing was not the answer

  14. Combat Troops

  15. Combat Troops Cont. • March 8, 1965 - 3,500 Marines land at DaNang • 1966 - 250,000 troops in country • 1967- 463,000 troops in country • Tour of duty - 1 year • Domestic opposition: Win the “hearts and minds” of the South Vietnamese people

  16. The Vietnamese • ARVN - Army of the Republic of South Vietnam - Not very dependable, over-matched by North • NVA - North Vietnamese Army - Battle-hardened troops, fighting Chinese, French, and Japanese. • VietCong - South Vietnamese Communists- ally to NVA

  17. How War Was Fought

  18. Cont.

  19. Booby Traps

  20. Tet Offensive: The Beginning of the End • 1968-Tet New Year- cease fire • US public thought war was going our way • NV and VC launch attacks against 100 towns and cities in SV and most military installations • Overrun the US Embassy in Saigon • Pictures shown on TV • Public learns that war is not as they thought • VC mostly destroyed as a fighting force.

  21. Final Years • 1972 - Most US troops withdraw • 1973 - Peace agreement signed in Paris • 1974 - Fighting erupts between North and South • 1975 Saigon is overrun and falls • US personnel evacuated • Saigon becomes Ho Chi Minh City

  22. Casualties

  23. Final Numbers • 10 million Vietnamese-1/2 population homeless • US cost of war- around $150 billion dollars

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