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1955-1975. The Vietnam War. 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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1955-1975 The Vietnam War
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
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 US 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”
Escalation • 1965-25,000 • End 1965-184,00 • 1966-385,000 • 1967-485,000 • 1968-543,000 *Tet
Key Leaders Robert McNamara Sec. of Defense General Westmoreland (Until 1968)
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