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The Vietnam War

This scenario explores the Truman administration's policy of containing communism and the domino theory during the Vietnam War. It covers key events, such as the division of Vietnam, U.S. involvement, the downfall of Diem, and the rise of the Viet Cong.

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The Vietnam War

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  1. The Vietnam War 1954-1975

  2. The scenario • Truman’s policy of containment- The U.S. must resist Soviet attempts to spread communism around the world. • The domino theory- the idea that if one Southeast Asian country fell to communism, the others would also fall. It is my guess that Mrs. Kelly will want you to know this.

  3. “You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly.” --Dwight D. Eisenhower

  4. Southeast Asia • What 4 countries were threatened by Communism if Vietnam fell? • Cambodia- Laos- Burma- Thailand Remember China has already fallen to the Communists!

  5. Background info • Vietnam has been fighting off attempts of takeover by the Chinese for hundreds of years. • 1800’s France is now the new colonial power in Vietnam. The Vietnamese hate it. Imperialism

  6. Ho Chi Minh • Sympathized with the Communists. • Fighting for Vietnam’s independence. • Head of the Vietminh- League for the Independence of Vietnam

  7. Ho Chi Minh • Aroused his people’s feelings of nationalism against the French. They don’t want to be under the French they want to be independent. (Remember India and Gandhi) • The French, in turn, form the Republic of Vietnam. Headed by Bao Dai. • War develops and ends in a defeat for the French.

  8. After the French are defeated Geneva Accords- • Vietnam is divided at the 17th parallel- 1954 • Ho Chi Minh is in charge of the Communist North Vietnam. The capital is Hanoi. • Ngo Dinh Diem is president of anti-communist South Vietnam. It’s capital is Saigon. • Elections are to be held to unify the country. But this never happens and it will remain divided.

  9. Results of the Geneva Accords

  10. U.S. Involvement • We were providing economic aid to the French, but after their defeat we now send our aid to South Vietnam (Diem) to help them combat the Communist north. • 1960- Eisenhower sends in 675 military advisors. • This is how it all begins!! Military advisors will help train the South Vietnamese army. They do not fight.

  11. Kennedy is now in control • He also wants to stop the spread of Communism. • Sends in VP Lyndon Johnson to see what is happening and talk to Diem. “we will need more aid to survive.”

  12. The response • U.S. will increase military advisors sent to South Vietnam. • 1963- U.S. under President Kennedy has increased its number to 16,000 advisors in South Vietnam.

  13. Unfortunately • Diem lacks support in his own country. • He imprisoned people who criticized his government. • Government positions given to his own family members. • U.S. aid went to corrupt officials.

  14. The Downfall of Diem • Uproots and sends peasants to “farming communities”. This is done to get them away from the communists. Peasants don’t want to be uprooted. • Diem, who is Catholic, wants everyone to obey Catholic laws. Very unpopular move in a Buddhist dominated country.

  15. This Buddhist monk burned himself to death in protest.

  16. What is JFK to do? • He knows he cannot win with Diem as the leader of the South. • Tells military leaders that the U.S. would not object to Diem’s overthrow.

  17. Then, • November 1963 • S. Vietnam Military leaders stage a coup or a takeover. • They seize control of the government. • Diem tries to flee and is assassinated. • A few weeks later JFK is assassinated.

  18. Robert McNamara • Secretary of Defense under JFK • One of the creators of our Vietnam policy. • Wants to cut costs and modernize the armed forces. • Later on (under LBJ) he will push for direct involvement in Vietnam.

  19. “I believe that we had done all the training we could. Whether the South Vietnamese were qualified or not to turn back the North Vietnamese, I was certain that if they weren’t, it wasn’t for lack of our training. More training would not strengthen them; therefore we should get out. The President agreed.” --Robert McNamara Unfortunately we did not.

  20. Johnson in Charge “You see, the Communists want to rule the world, and if we don’t stand up to them, they will do it. And we’ll be slaves. Now I’m not one of those folks seeing Communists under every bed. But I do know about the principles of power, and when one side is weak, the other side steps in.” --Lyndon Johnson

  21. What are the sides that LBJ is referring to? Communist North Vietnam, Russia and China Vs. Anti-Communist South Vietnam and USA

  22. So what is happening back in South Vietnam? • Under Diem’s successors they have a new military government that is unsuccessful and unpopular. • So Communist guerillas from the north called the Viet Cong and the National Liberation Front (political arm of the Viet Cong) gained control of some S. Vietnamese land and some of S. Vietnam’s people. • Ho Chi Minh and the North will give aide to the Viet Cong. This is not looking good for us.

  23. What is a President to do? • If the U.S. pulls out he feels the dominoes will begin to fall and he can’t let that happen. • He does not want S. Vietnam to fall to Communism like China did. (FAST) • Our authority will be damaged if we pull out.

  24. Johnson believes the only thing to do is ESCALATE the war! Put yourself in his shoes.

  25. Then… • North Vietnamese torpedo boats attack U.S. destroyers at the Gulf of Tonkin. (But the attacks really did not occur) • Johnson asks Congress for a resolution and he gets it. • The President can “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the U.S.”

  26. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • This gives the President nearly complete control over what the U.S. did in Vietnam. • This is why we say the Vietnam War was a military or police action. Congress must declare a war and they did not.

  27. Let us review • 1. Even though nobody ever wants us to get into a war, we have had 4 presidents (so far) that have put us into the Vietnam War. Who are they? • Now put them in order.

  28. Let’s try to understand • Vietnam is a small country in SE Asia. They have fought off China taking them over for hundreds of years. Then imperialism takes over and the French come in. The French are in charge for about 100 years.

  29. So the people of Vietnam fight the French for their independence. The Geneva Accords takes care of all the French land holdings after the French are pushed out.

  30. Let’s put the puzzle together • Laos • Cambodia • North Vietnam • South Vietnam • Ho Chi Minh • Diem • Saigon • Hanoi N. Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Hanoi Laos South Vietnam Diem Cambodia Saigon

  31. The sides U.S. and some of the South Vietnamese vs North Vietnamese Liberation Front Viet Cong Communist Russia and China and a good number of South Vietnamese civilians who were not for the war

  32. First we need to do a worksheet (use your notes and book) • Then I will give you a few minutes to look at your notes to prepare for your quiz. (you cannot use your notes and book) I have been told that it has 11 questions and is worth 18 points.

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