The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

1. The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

2. Background to the War • France controlled “Indochina” since the late 19th century • Indochina consists of Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia • Tried to regain control after WWII; Vietnamese fight a guerrilla war against reoccupation

3. Background to the War • Vietnam divided at 17th parallel • Ho Chi Minh’s nationalist forces controlled the North • Ngo Dinh Diem, “democracy” in South • France & U.S. establish the Anti-communist government In S.V. *Diem ruled the south as a dictator.

5. Early Protests of Diem’s Government Self-Emolation by a Buddhist Monk

6. WHY did the USSupport the corrupt South? • US Gov’t feels Vietnam is important to America. • Domino Theory-if SV falls to communism, other countries will quickly follow (mainly in SE Asia) • Containment-larger US policy against communism; prevent it from expanding its territory or spreading its influence

7. Gulf of Tonkin • August 1964- U.S. President Lyndon Johnson sends more troops b/c two U.S. destroyers were attacked by N. patrol boats in Gulf of Tonkin. • ½ million soldiers by 1968.

8. Who Is the Enemy? • Vietcong: • Farmers by day; guerillas at night; willing to accept many casualties • American sends more troops to avoid Vietcong takeover. The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- Mao Zedong

9. Vietcong • Supported by many people in both South and North Vietnam. • South supports because gov’t unpopular • U.S. has trouble fighting on unfamiliar territory. • Late 1960’s- US bombed farmland and forest (civilian targets)- U.S. protests.

10. Vietnamization • 1969- U.S. begins to withdraw troops • South Vietnam increases its military role • Last U.S. forces leave in 1973 • N. Vietnam overruns the South.

11. The Fall of Saigon South Vietnamese Attempt to Flee the Country

12. The Fall of Saigon April 30, 1975 America Abandons Its Embassy

13. The Fall of Saigon North Vietnamese at the Presidential Palace

14. A United Vietnam Formerly Saigon