Chapter 22:Chapter 22:The Vietnam War The Vietnam War

YearsYears

Section 1:Section 1:Moving Toward Moving Toward

ConflictConflict

CCalifornia alifornia AAcademic cademic SStandardstandards:: 11.9.311.9.3

11.9 Students analyze U.S. 11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World foreign policy since World War II. War II.

.3.3 Trace the origins and Trace the origins and geopolitical consequences geopolitical consequences (foreign and domestic) of the (foreign and domestic) of the Cold War and containment Cold War and containment policy, including the policy, including the following: following: The Vietnam War The Vietnam War

Objectives:Objectives:Following lecture and reading Following lecture and reading

of this section, of this section, students will students will be able to:be able to:

Summarize Vietnam’s history Summarize Vietnam’s history as a French colony and its as a French colony and its struggle for independencestruggle for independence

Examine how the U.S. became Examine how the U.S. became involved in the Vietnam conflictinvolved in the Vietnam conflict

Describe the expansion of U.S. Describe the expansion of U.S. military involvement under military involvement under President JohnsonPresident Johnson

Overview:Overview:Tell me and the class about Tell me and the class about a time when you tried to a time when you tried to solve a problem, but instead solve a problem, but instead of getting better, the of getting better, the problem got worseproblem got worse

America slowly involved America slowly involved itself in the war in Vietnam itself in the war in Vietnam as it tried to contain spread as it tried to contain spread of communismof communismThe Roots of American The Roots of American InvolvementInvolvement

Involvement began in 1950, Involvement began in 1950, during French Indochina War.during French Indochina War.

France ruled IndochinaFrance ruled Indochina (Vietnam, (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia) Laos, and Cambodia) from the from the late 1800s until World War II.late 1800s until World War II.

The French took a large amount The French took a large amount of rice and rubber, and took over of rice and rubber, and took over Vietnamese peasant’s farmsVietnamese peasant’s farms

Also the French, in response to Also the French, in response to opposition by the peasants, took opposition by the peasants, took away free speech and assembly away free speech and assembly rights as wellrights as well

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh, , leader of the leader of the Indochinese Communist PartyIndochinese Communist Party founded in 1930, founded in 1930, organized organized uprisings by peasantsuprisings by peasants, even after , even after he fled in 1930 he organized he fled in 1930 he organized uprisings in exile from the Soviet uprisings in exile from the Soviet Union and later on China.Union and later on China.

In 1941, a year after the In 1941, a year after the Japanese took control of Japanese took control of Vietnam, the Vietminh formed Vietnam, the Vietminh formed (organization of communists and (organization of communists and nationalists that wanted nationalists that wanted Vietnamese independence, Ho Vietnamese independence, Ho Chi Minh returned.Chi Minh returned.

In 1945 declared Vietnam In 1945 declared Vietnam independentindependent, after Japan was , after Japan was defeated in WWII.defeated in WWII.

France moved back into Vietnam in France moved back into Vietnam in 1946 to regain its colony, but was 1946 to regain its colony, but was eventually driven out by the Vietminh eventually driven out by the Vietminh

Truman and Eisenhower support Truman and Eisenhower support France’s war against Vietnam, France’s war against Vietnam, because Vietnam was Communistbecause Vietnam was Communist

U.S. provided economic and military U.S. provided economic and military support to France to keep France as an support to France to keep France as an ally against the Soviet Union in Europe ally against the Soviet Union in Europe and to keep communism from spreading and to keep communism from spreading to another Asian country, as per the to another Asian country, as per the domino theory.domino theory.

The Geneva Accords of 1954 The Geneva Accords of 1954 temporarily divide Vietnam temporarily divide Vietnam (along the 17th parallel)(along the 17th parallel) into into North Vietnam and South North Vietnam and South Vietnam until an election to Vietnam until an election to unify the country could be unify the country could be held in 1956.held in 1956.The United States Steps InThe United States Steps In

The U.S. continued to supply The U.S. continued to supply economic and military aid to economic and military aid to South Vietnam’s non-South Vietnam’s non-communist regimecommunist regime

South Vietnamese President Ngo South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem canceled the unifying Dinh Diem canceled the unifying elections because Ho Chi Minh elections because Ho Chi Minh because of his popularity because of his popularity was sure was sure to winto win

Ho Chi Minh was popular because Ho Chi Minh was popular because he was a national hero for his he was a national hero for his years of fighting the Japanese and years of fighting the Japanese and French and had broken up large French and had broken up large estates in the north and estates in the north and distributed land to peasants.distributed land to peasants.

Eisenhower promised U.S. support Eisenhower promised U.S. support if Diem would house a reform if Diem would house a reform government in South Vietnam. government in South Vietnam.

Corruption and repressive policies Corruption and repressive policies are a constant Diem’s regime are a constant Diem’s regime though.though.

By By 1957 the Vietcong1957 the Vietcong [National [National Liberation Front (NLF)], a Liberation Front (NLF)], a Communist group, Communist group, began began attacking Diem’s government.attacking Diem’s government.

JFK initially strongly supported JFK initially strongly supported Diem providing 16,000 military Diem providing 16,000 military personnel by the end of 1963personnel by the end of 1963

In 1963, JFK backed plans to In 1963, JFK backed plans to overthrow Diem,overthrow Diem, who also ends up who also ends up assassinated after he was assassinated after he was overthrownoverthrown

President Johnson President Johnson expands the conflictexpands the conflict

Diem’s successors fail to stop the Diem’s successors fail to stop the Vietcong’s influence in South Vietcong’s influence in South VietnamVietnam bringing more chaos to bringing more chaos to the region and the Vietcong the region and the Vietcong influence began to growinfluence began to grow

The Tonkin Gulf Resolution of 1964 The Tonkin Gulf Resolution of 1964 granted president Johnson broad granted president Johnson broad military powers in Vietnam.military powers in Vietnam.

In February 1965, President Johnson In February 1965, President Johnson escalateed U.S. involvement in escalateed U.S. involvement in Vietnam Vietnam with Operation Rolling with Operation Rolling ThunderThunder

CloseCloseAfter France’s withdrawal After France’s withdrawal from Vietnam, the country from Vietnam, the country was temporarily divided into was temporarily divided into the Communist controlled the Communist controlled North and the Nationalist North and the Nationalist controlled South.controlled South.

U.S. military involvement U.S. military involvement escalated in 1965, when escalated in 1965, when President Johnson unleashed President Johnson unleashed the first sustained bombing of the first sustained bombing of North Vietnam.North Vietnam.