The Vietnam War, 1954-1975

LESSON #1USII.20

Early American Involvement in Vietnam

Class Objectives

By the end of class, you will be able to… Explain how Truman, Eisenhower (Ike), and JFK

contributed to increased US involvement in Vietnam. Explain the domino theory.

Where is Vietnam?

Vietnam

The Growth of Vietnamese Nationalism

During World War II, the Japanese invaded and controlled Vietnam, removing France from power.

Ho Chi Minh led the nationalist movement in Vietnam and supported communism created the nationalist group Vietminh

Ho Chi Minh saw an opportunity to expel the Japanese, freeing Vietnam.

Ho allied himself with the U.S. working alongside American Office of Strategic Service (OSS) agents.

On September 2, 1945, Ho declared Vietnam independent.

Ho Chi Minh

A Long History

Vietnam battled the Chinese for 2,000 years over its independence (fertile land).

French comes in during the 17th century.Between 1945-1954 both the French and

Vietnamese suffered huge losses.The French took back Vietnam after World

War II.

Truman’s Problem

With Roosevelt dead, Truman sided with the European coalition to balance Communist Russia.

Truman saw a coalition with Russia, China, and Vietnam, rather than looking at the history and discovering that none of these nations wanted anything to do with one another. China and Vietnam hated each other!

The French Surrender

In the 1940’s the U.S. assumed 1/3 of the cost for the French in Vietnam. Between 1950 – 1954 ($2.6 billion of U.S. money).

Yet France could not defeat Ho’s Vietnam.In 1954, the French moved to Dien Bien

Phu (remote outpost), and were surrounded by the Vietnamese who cut of French supplies.

On May 7, 1954, the French surrendered.

French Prisoners at Diem Bien Phu

The Domino Theory

Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel.Ike supported Ngo Dinh Diem in South Vietnam.Diem spent years in the U.S. and was an

anticommunist and a nationalist.Was a Catholic in a Buddhist country.In a fixed election Diem received 98.2% of the votes. 605,000 votes, although 405,000 people were

registered.The United States believed in the domino theory –

the belief that as Vietnam fell to communism, so too would other nations of Southeast Asia.

Ngo Dihn Diem and Eisenhower

Vietcong

In the South, guerrillas (irregular troops who usually blend into the civilian population and are difficult for regular armies to fight) were in open revolt.

These guerilla troops became known as the Vietcong.

The U.S. increased its aid to the South Vietnamese government (not to help the people but to extract communism).

By the time Ike left office the U.S. was committed to Diem and South Vietnam.

Kennedy Escalates The War

John F. Kennedy supported Diem and South Vietnam.

He wanted to prove the resolve and will of the U.S.

Kennedy used his flexible response strategy to increase U.S. involvement.

Kennedy escalated troops from 2,500 to 10,000 soldiers.

Kennedy called these troops “advisers” who were killing Vietcong and anyone else who was in their way.

Counterinsurgency (water torture)

Kennedy Escalates The War

Kennedy increased forces in 1962 to 11,300 and in 1963 to 16,300.

Kennedy remained determine to “SAVE” Vietnam.

Kennedy’s Body Count:Monthly body counts were given to the

American people to justify the war. These numbers were fabricated.

For instance if a finger was here and a head there and a foot there and a leg there; that would count as 4 people dead!

Resistance to Diem

As American troops (advisers) escalated, the Vietnamese revolted.

Diem and his pro-Catholic policies upset Buddhists, causing some to burn themselves in protest.

Diem’s sister-in-law laughed at what she called “barbecues.”

More deaths followed as Diem had little influence outside Saigon (the capitol of South Vietnam).

Buddhist Monk Protests

Diem Overthrown

Kennedy came to the conclusion that the Diem government would not work and supported Vietnamese generals to overthrow Diem.

On November 1, 1963, Diem was assassinated and Kennedy quickly aided the new government.

On November 23, 1963 Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

His close advisers said that Kennedy was about to withdraw troops from Vietnam, all evidence to the contrary

South Vietnam in Turmoil

By the time Kennedy was assassinated, the Vietcong had control of the fertile Mekong Delta and most of the people were living in the rural countryside.

They saw Saigon as a government of heavy taxes, no services, and military destruction.

They aligned this government with the United States.

Mekong Delta