the vietnam war 1954 - 1975
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The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975. After gaining its independence from France, Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam. As part of the agreement they were to hold unification elections in 1956. Causes of the Vietnam War Division of the country into Communist North - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Vietnam War1954 - 1975
After gaining its independence from France, Vietnam was divided into North and South
Vietnam. As part of the agreement they were to hold unification elections in 1956.
North Vietnam South Vietnam• Communist government…• Lead by Ho Chi Minh• Supported by U.S.S.R. & China• North Vietnamese Army
• Non-Communist government… Republic of Vietnam• Lead by Ngo Dinh Diem• Supported by the U.S./NATO• Viet Cong guerrillas (communist) fought against the government
Causes of the Vietnam War• Division of the country into Communist North
Vietnam & Non-Communist South Vietnam
• Ho Chi Minh’s determination to bring communist
rule to S. Vietnam• Communist guerrillas (Viet Cong) in S. Vietnam• Diem’s refusal to hold elections to unify the country
Flag of N. Vietnam Flag of S. Vietnam
Many, especially those in the country opposed Diem’s government & favored communism
These people formed groups of guerrilla fighters
They were supported by North Vietnam The Viet Cong began fighting the South
Vietnamese Army in 1959
The Viet Cong
In 1968, the N. Vietnamese launched a series of attacks across S. Vietnam, showing the U.S. that the NVA was stronger than we thought.
Tet Offensive
In the early 1960’s, Presidents Eisenhower & Kennedy sent military advisors to help build up S. Vietnam’s army and air force
In 1965, the U.S. Air Force began bombing N. Vietnam and sent thousands of troops to help the S. Vietnamese Army (ARVN)
By 1967, the U.S. had over a half million troops in Vietnam
U.S. Involvement…
Domino Effect – President Johnson’s belief that if one country in S.E. Asia fell to communism, soon all the countries in the region would as well
In 1967, protests against the war began in the U.S. Vietnamization - Pres. Nixon’s plan to turn most of the
ground fighting over to the S. Vietnamese
U.S. Involvement Cont.…
U.S. Involvement Cont.… • In 1970, National Guard troops killed four students at an anti-war protest at Kent State University.• In the early 1970’s U.S. bombing of N. Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos continued• In 1975 the last U.S. troops left Vietnam
Vietnam was united under a communist government
The Domino Theory proved false Nearly 3.5 million Vietnamese died More than 58,000 Americans died Détente - a relaxation of tensions between
the U.S., U.S.S.R & China
Effects…