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Do Now: Take out Notes HW : Vietnam HW Sheet 1 due next class. The Escalation of American Presence in Vietnam. Review of Terms. Vietminh Vietcong Ho Chi Minh Ngo Dinh Diem. Americanization of Vietnam. Geneva Accords mandated election in 1956 Ho Chi Minh predicted to win
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Do Now: Take out Notes HW: Vietnam HW Sheet 1 due next class
Review of Terms • Vietminh • Vietcong • Ho Chi Minh • Ngo Dinh Diem
Americanization of Vietnam • Geneva Accords mandated election in 1956 • Ho Chi Minh predicted to win • Diem disliked greatly • Anti-Buddhism • Corrupt • Inefficient • US supported S. Vietnamese leader’s decision to cancel election, but must attempt to reform • Ngo Dinh Diem did not reform = uprising of Vietcong (communist group in South – later called National Liberation Front)
Vietcong vs. Ngo Dinh Diem • Vietcong began attacks on Ngo Dinh Diem gov. • Ho Chi Minh supported this group sent supplies through the Ho Chi Minh Trail • S. Vietnam very unstable, but US took little action
Kennedy feared being called “soft on communism” • Kennedy increased aid and thousands of military advisors to help Diem against Vietcong • End of 1963 – 16,000 US personnel • Diem – more and more unpopular
Execution of Ngo Dinh Diem • US feared Dinh Diem’s would cause communism to spread • US supported military coup to topple Dinh Diem. He was executed against JFK’s wishes. • Before JFK died – announced his intent to withdraw forces
Vietnam Situation Worsens • Military leaders in S. Vietnam only more unstable/inefficient than Diem • Vietcong influence increasing • Johnson did not want to be seen as an appeaser, did not want S. Vietnam to fall to Communism
Gulf of Tonkin • August ‘64 – N. Vietnamese attacked U.S.S. Maddox • Vietnam Reason: U.S. was conducting a naval raid, but denied the attack • Second attack on U.S.S. C. Turner Joy • Congress passed Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • allowed Johnson to conduct military operations in the region without declaration of war.
1964 to 1965 • 1964 Election • Promised no escalation, opposed sending troops, but was advised to send some. • February ’65 • Johnson launched bombing after 8 Americans killed • March ’65 • US aircraft began bombing targets • combat troops began arriving, 50,000 troops went to battle • By end of 1965 • 180,000 troops sent • General William Westmoreland continued to request more troops • 1965 poll - 61% Americans supported Vietnam policy Robert McNamara Secretary of Defense Dean Rusk Secretary of State
By 1967 - more than 500,000 US troops in Vietnam