The Vietnam war: An Introduction

1. The Vietnam war: An Introduction Mr DAO Anh Vu SKARBEK School ID Student 10901

2. Where is the Vietnam ???

3. Southest Asia Vietnam is in Southest Asia Near Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and parts of China

4. Vietnam Facts 83 Millions people Very Fertile Many ressources Hot and Wet Climate

5. Religion in Vietnam Most People are Buddhist Strong minority of Catholics

6. Early History of Vietnam • One of Few Asian Countries to Defeat the Mongols at the Time of Kublai and Genghis Khan • Victim of Chinese Colonisatism Vietnam and China have not had a good relationship

7. Vietnam and Resistance to Foreign Control • Vietnamese Resistance to the Chinese and Mongols is Typical to the History of Vietnam

8. Indochina and French Colonialism • Ultimately Vietnam Gained Independence from China • Vietnam’s independence ended in the mid-19th century, when the country was colonized by the French Empire. • Vietnam was part of the French Colonial Empire in the Southeast Asia/Indochina

9. France and Vietnam Exploited Vietnam’s Ressources and People Introduced Catholicsm Western Education French Language and Customs

10. Vietnam and Imperialism Vietnamese will Strongly Resist Imperialism from: • China • Mongols • French • Japanese Many American Military and Political Leaders were Ignorant of this

11. World War I and Vietnam At the end of World War 1 American President Woodrow Wilson Promised to end colonialism A Young Nguyen Ai Quoc showed up at Versailles conference Hoping to get Vietnamese independence from France

12. Nationalism Nationalism pride in my country Desire for an independence homeland for our people Viet Minh founded by Ho Chi Minh Communist/Nationalist group that opposed the French and later Japanese

13. Viet Minh and Ho Chi Minh At the start of World War 2, Vietnam and much of Southeast Asia was still controlled by France Ho Chi Minh leader of Viet Minh wants independence Vietnam. Opposes French, Japanese, American. Train in China and USSR. Communist or Nationalist

14. Declaring independence World Ward 2 ends and September 2, 1945 Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnamese Independence. Some See Ho Chi Minh’s declaration of independence as evidence of being a Nationalist over being a Communist

15. First Indo-China War France does not recognize Vietnamese independence France reclaims its colony 1945-1954 France vs. Viet Minh French try to keep Vietnam, Viet Minh fight for independence 70% of French costs are paid by US

16. Dien Bien Phu and Geneva Conference 1954 Final defeat of the French by Vietnamese French surrender and lose indochina 1954 Geneva conference temporarily devided Vietnam at 17th parallel until French leave Elections in 1956

17. South Vietnam • Instead of support Geneva Agreement and allowing unification elections and Communist victory the United States supports the creation of Non-Communist South Vietnam • American war in Vietnam is fought to keep South Vietnam Non-Communist • John F.Kennedy believed the best way to stop communists in Vietnam was to build south Vietnam into a Nation

18. Ngo Dinh Diem First leader of South Vietnam, nationalist but strongly anti-Communist catholic Support from Eisenhower and Kennedy Massive military and financial aid from US Brutal to Communist • Assassinated in November 1963 • Increased American Involvement in South Vietnam’s internal affairs

19. Some stats When EisenhowerLeft Office Less than 1,000 US soldiers in Vietnam. At Time of Kennedy Assassination over 16,000 soldiers in Vietnam. 1969- 543,000 Many of the soldiers under Kennedy were special Forces and under Johnson Regular Ground troops will be introduced.

20. Some terms Hanoi – refers to North Vietnames government NVA – North Vietnamese Army VC/Charlie – Vietcong – Communist rebels in South Vietnam ARVN – South Vietnam Army POW – Prisoner of War MIA – Missing in Action

21. North Vietnam North Vietnam wants a unified and Communist Vietnam Want Americans Out One Vietnam

22. Escalation Johnson attempts to limit the war while at the same time constantly increasing the number soldiers in Vietnam over 500,000 by 1969 Lyndon B. Johnson would attempt negotiation at the same time he would scale back offensive operations in Vietnam North Vietnamese Take Advantage Of This

23. TET offensive Tết, is the most important holiday in Vietnam. Tết - 1968 Viet Cong attack every major US base in South Vietnam North Vietnamese Army takes City of Hue and kills many inhabitants US Embassy Compound in Saigon is attacked

24. Effects of TET Major military victory for the US Viet Cong devastated American public turns against War Political, Psychological Victory for North Vietnam President Johnson will not seek re-election Strong Anti-War movement in the United States

25. Richard Nixon Elected in 1968 Claim to have an secret plan to end the Vietnam war

26. Nixon and Cambodia Cambodia was Neutral Viet Cong and North Vietnamese would Use Cambodia as a Sanctuary. US Troops could Not Enter Cambodian government is powerless to prevent communists from entering Bad History between Vietnam and Cambodia Nixon supports coup that puts strong anti-Communist government in charge Secret bombing and invasion of Cambodia Expands conflict

27. Cambodia Bombing and invasion fails to make significant difference in War Communists go deeper into Cambodia Vietnamese were using Cambodia to attack to kill Americans

28. Nixon doctrine/Vietnamization Nixon - uses combination of increased bombing of North Vietnam and secret negotiations Diplomacy with China and USSR Vietnamization-Nixon’s plan turn the War over the war South Vietnamese Train and equip South Vietnam to fight the North US troops withdraw. Last troops leave by 1973

29. South Vietnam Betrayed ??? South Vietnam is promised that the US would send troops, money, and supplies if North Vietnamese launch massive attack Nixon Resigns due to Watergate Congress and American people do not support the idea of further involvement

30. 1975 Unification North Vietnam takes over South Vietnam US does not prevent Vietnam is Unified Vietnam is a unique country that win France and United States

31. Results of Vietnam War 60,000 Americans Killed US reluctant to use military power American public is divided Americans don’t trust government Vietnam is unified country - Communist Cambodia falls to Khmer Rouge

32. Results in Cambodia Khmer Rouge in Cambodia take power Pol Pot is leader Killing Fields-Genocide of 1/3 of Cambodian population by killed.

33. Vietnam and China 1979 War between Vietnam and China China improved relations with US after Nixon’s Visit Vietnam moved closer to USSR China supports Khmer Rouge and is upset that Vietnam defeats. China attempts to invade Vietnam to “teach lesson” Chinese leave after 1 month Vietnamese put up much stronger fight than the Chinese expected

34. The end Thank for your attention !