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The Vietnam War. 1955-1975. Early Years. Cambodia & Vietnam ruled by France as French Indochina During WWII when France feel to the Germans it became part of Vichy France & run by the Japanese Fell into famine When Japan is defeated in 1945, Ho Chi Minh & the Viet Minh declare Vietnam free
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The Vietnam War 1955-1975
Early Years • Cambodia & Vietnam ruled by France as French Indochina • During WWII when France feel to the Germans it became part of Vichy France & run by the Japanese • Fell into famine • When Japan is defeated in 1945, Ho Chi Minh & the Viet Minh declare Vietnam free • With the help of the British however, Vietnam is returned to the French • A guerilla war begins
Battle of Dien Bien Phu • March-May 1954 • French fight Viet Minh & lose • Vietnam becomes divided by 17th Parallel at Geneva Conference • Eisenhower sends 675 as military advisors • North communist & South looked over by French • Capital North: Hanoi • Capital South: Saigon • Elections to be held 1956
Ngo Dinh Diem • Put in power as Prime Minister in South • In 1955 in rigged the elections to become president of South • His brother Nhu becomes his 2nd in command and Madame Nhu is stand in 1st lady • Vietnam against the Emperor • Catholic • He cancels the elections in 1956 knowing Ho Chi Minh would win
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Problems Under Diem • Hamlets: US helps Diem relocate citizens to protective hamlet communities -Failed Religious Tension: -Places Catholic minority in power -Restricts practice of Buddhism -June 1963 Monk burns himself in protest -US begins to question Diem as leader
Diem’s Death • November 2, 1963 • Diem and his brother are assassinated by a coup • JFK assures the coup the US will not stop the assassination • JFK increases # of troops to 16,000 • (JFK killed a few weeks later)
War Intensifies • By the end of Eisenhower’s term 900 advisors • JFK increases troops to 16,000 by 1963 • Gulf Of Tonkin Incident August 1964: Claim that U.S. destroyer Maddox had been attacked by NVA torpedoes off coast N. Vietnam • Gulf of Tonkin resolution: Congress gave the president ability to “take any measures necessary repel any armed attacks against US”
Why is the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Important? Raises the Military Commander in Chief Declares War President PP President has more Power During War Why is this bad? Repealed in 1973 by War Powers Resolution-President must consult with Congress Congress Supreme Court
Escalation • 1965-25,000 • End 1965-184,000 • 1966-385,000 • 1967-485,000 • 1968-543,000 *Tet
Key Leaders General Westmoreland (Until 1968) Robert McNamara Sec. of Defense
The Draft • December 1, 1969 • Lottery by Birth date • 18-26 yr olds born between Jan. 1, 1944 & Dec. 31, 1950 • Where would you have fallen? • http://www.landscaper.net/draft.htm • *The Average age of a soldier will be 19