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Colonial Vietnam

Colonial Vietnam. 1883 – France makes Vietnam a colony Rich agricultural area in Asia. Many Vietnamese driven to poverty under French Rule Raised taxes and no civil rights. This would fuel a nationalist movement in Vietnam Led by Ho Chi Minh – studied communism. Southeastern Asia.

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Colonial Vietnam

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  1. Colonial Vietnam • 1883 – France makes Vietnam a colony • Rich agricultural area in Asia. • Many Vietnamese driven to poverty under French Rule • Raised taxes and no civil rights. • This would fuel a nationalist movement in Vietnam • Led by Ho Chi Minh – studied communism

  2. Southeastern Asia

  3. Changing Rulers • WWII – Japan invades Vietnam • Ho Chi Minh led resistance against Japanese invaders. • Group called the Vietminh – communist and gained power. • Thought U.S. would support Vietnam breaking from France after the war. • They thought their revolution was similar to the U.S. Revolution

  4. Vietnam after WWII • French reclaimed Vietnam • 1946- Battles occurred against the French. • US supported France – thought it was a fight against communism. • France also was a key ally to block communism in Europe.

  5. Domino Theory • 1953 – President Eisenhower thought if Vietnam fell to communists. • Other Southeastern Asian countries would follow. • The spread of communism to neighboring countries was called the domino theory. • US sent arms, supplies, and money to French forces in Vietnam. • 1954 – US was paying 75% of the French cost of war. • France was losing in Vietnam even with American aide. • Ho Chi Minh forces were using guerrilla warfare.

  6. France is defeated • Dien Bien Phu – 40,000 Vietnamese troops surrounded 15,000 French Troops. • French thought US would send support • US did not – people would not support another war in Asia right after Korea. • Vietnamese gained valuable experience fighting a superior country with guerilla warfare.

  7. Geneva Conference • France, Vietnam, Cambodia, U.K., Laos, China, U.S.S.R., and US met in Geneva. • Work out peace and discuss Indochina's future. • Geneva Accords – 1954 – cease fire • Vietnam split at the 17th parallel • Ho Chi Minh and Vietminh will control the north • France would withdraw from the country • 17th parallel would be demilitarized – prevent fighting • General elections would occur in 1956 to unify entire country under one government. • US did not fully support the peace agreement – thought Ho Chi Minh would win the elections in 1956.

  8. South: Ngo Dinh Diem – controlled South Vietnam with U.S. support Ho Chi Minh will ask Diem to become Communist Diem refuses Diem was a very brutal leader Showed favorites to Catholics over Buddhists Land policies favored the wealthy. Tortured political opponents Diem feared Minh would win 1956 election and banned the election process in the south North: Ho Chi Minh – became a dictator Gave land to peasant – made him extremely popular Growing Conflict in Vietnam

  9. Civil War in Vietnam • 1959 – North started to supply Diem’s southern opponents. • The Vietminh in the south formed the Vietcong – Vietnamese Communists • One goal – overthrow Diem’s government. • 1960 – Minh expanded his effort to reunify the country. • North Vietnamese Army began coming into South Vietnam and fighting with the Vietcong. • 1955 – President Eisenhower decided to intervene. • US started to supply South Vietnam with money and weapons. • Sent over military advisors to start to train South Vietnamese soldiers. • By the end of Eisenhower’s Presidency there will be 1000 military advisors in South Vietnam.

  10. Increasing U.S. Involvement • 1960 – President Kennedy – big believer of the Domino effect. • Wanted to show US strength in Vietnam, to show communist countries that US is the world power. • Kennedy was hesitant to send armed forces over to Vietnam. • Sent over more advisors and special armed forces. • 1961 – 3,000 advisors in South Vietnam • 1963 – 16,000 advisors in South Vietnam. • Advisors were not to take part in combat – some did. • Fly helicopters, fired rockets and guns at Vietcong targets • As Vietcong stepped up attacks in South Vietnam – Kennedy will allow for US personnel to take part in direct combat. • 1961 – 14 Americans killed • 1963 – 500 Americans killed.

  11. Diem’s overthrow • Diem’s government became more unpopular. • Buddhists opposed his rule – he arrested and killed Buddhist protesters. • To bring attention to the situation – several Buddhist monks set themselves on fire. • Photographed – images shocked the world. • Public opinion of Diem turned against him. • American officials threatened to withdraw support if Diem did not change his policies. • Diem refused to change. • US secretly started to support a plot to overthrow Diem’s government in South Vietnam • 1963 – Diem was murdered • Kennedy claimed he would withdraw forces and avoid war in Vietnam – he was assassinated.

  12. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • President Johnson took over a very bad situation in Vietnam. • South Vietnam had 300,000 troops but the South Vietnamese government was on the brink of collapse. • 1964 – Vietcong controlled 40% of Vietnam. • Johnson was convinced the only way to save South Vietnam is with US expanded military involvement. • Johnson needed support from the Congress to send troops over to Vietnam.

  13. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • April 4, 1964 – Johnson on national TV told the American public. • On April 2, 1964 – North Vietnamese attacked a US ship in the Tonkin Gulf with torpedoes. • He called for a swift military response. • He used this tactic because he was in the middle of his re election campaign and did not want to seem soft on communism. • Truth: The boat in the Tonkin Gulf was a US spy boat and fired first and that the attacks by the North Vietnamese could be radar static. • Congress did not know the entire facts about the incident. • The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was approved by Congress on August 7th,1964. • This allowed the President to take any means necessary to repel any armed attacks against US forces. • This allowed Johnson to expand the war.

  14. Causes of the Vietnam War • 1. Vietnam’s desire for freedom from colonial rule • 2. U.S. fears of the spread of communism – the domino Theory. • 3. South Vietnam’s failure to comply with the Geneva Accords – Diem refused to have the elections in 1956. • 4. Efforts by North Vietnam to reunite the nation under communist rule • 5. U.S. support for the anti – communist government of South Vietnam.

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