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America and Vietnam

America and Vietnam. The Early Years. Background. Long history of foreign powers ruling Vietnam : Chinese, Japanese, French French Indochina= Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Background. Vietnamese Nationalism Attempts to fight for independence against colonial governments Ho Chi Minh

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America and Vietnam

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  1. America and Vietnam The Early Years

  2. Background • Long history of foreign powers ruling Vietnam: Chinese, Japanese, French • French Indochina= Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam

  3. Background • Vietnamese Nationalism • Attempts to fight for independence against colonial governments • Ho Chi Minh • Presented petition for independence to Versailles Peace Conference in 1919- denied • Visited USSR, became communist • Set up Indochinese Communist Party in Southeast Asia • Vietminh (1941)- nationalist group to expel Japanese • US sent aid to Vietminh

  4. Supporting the French • Japanese surrender in 1945 • Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent • French troops return to reclaim colony- fight the Vietminh • Fighting escalates French ask US for help • US opposes colonialism + communism= difficult position • China falls to Communism + Korean War= Truman sends aid to French in Vietnam • Containment • Domino Theory- if Vietnam falls to Communism, the rest of Southeast Asia will fall

  5. Dien Bien Phu • French troops frustrated by guerrillas • Guerrilla warfare- hit-and-run and ambush tactics by troop who blend in to the civilian population • French attempt to take-over mountain town of Dien Bien Phu • Cut off Vietminh supply lines • Vietminh forces surround Dien Bien Phu • May 7, 1954, French are defeated, withdraw from Indochina

  6. Geneva Accords • Peace negotiations • Vietnam divided along 17th Parallel • Ho Chi Minh and Vietminh control North Vietnam (Communist) • US as protector of new government, led by Ngo Dinh Diem (anti-Communist) • Plans for 1956 election to reunite Vietnam • Cambodia and Laos independent

  7. Geneva Accords • French troops leave Indochina • Diem becomes president of Republic of South Vietnam • Refused to permit 1956 election due to fear of Ho Chi Minh winning • Eisenhower approves, increases aid to South Vietnam (SEATO)

  8. Vietcong Ngo Dinh Diem refuses to hold elections and cracks down on communist groups in South Vietnam Ho Chi Minh + nationalists begin armed struggle to reunify Vietnam Vietcong- guerrilla army of South Vietnamese Communists

  9. Vietcong • Fighting between Vietcong and South Vietnamese troops • Eisenhower sends “military advisers” to train South Vietnam’s army • Vietcong grows  many Vietnamese oppose Diem • Vietcong Terrorism • Assassinate thousands of government officials • Control countryside • Diem needed more help from US

  10. Kennedy and Vietnam • During his presidency, Kennedy increased troops in Vietnam • 2,000 15,000 • Diem failed to take US suggestions to create democracy • Diem unpopular and corrupt • Introduced some reforms • Strategic Hamlets- villages protected by machine guns, bunkers, trenches, and barbed wire • Extremely unpopular

  11. Opposition to Diem • Diem (Catholic) discriminated against Buddhists • Banned traditional religious flags • Protests  9 protestors killed, 14 injured • Buddhist monks poured gasoline on himself and lit themselves on fire • Horrified Americans • Demonstrated extreme opposition to Diem

  12. Opposition to Diem • Military coup to overthrow Diem (November 1, 1963) • Executed him • Made South Vietnam’s government weak and unstable • America has to take heavier role in order to maintain stability • Three weeks later Kennedy is assassinated

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