The Vietnam War Begins

The Vietnam War Begins

Essential Questions:1)What is Vietnam’s colonial history?2)What compromises were made at the Geneva conference?3)Why was President Diem unpopular? 4)How does President Kennedy and Johnson increase U.S. involvement in Vietnam?

Background to the WarBackground to the War

• France controlled France controlled Indochina since the late Indochina since the late 1919thth century century

• Japan took control during Japan took control during World War IIWorld War II

• Ho Chi Minh founds Ho Chi Minh founds Vietminh Vietminh

• Vietnam declares Vietnam declares independence independence once Japan once Japan is defeatedis defeated

• With U.S. aid, With U.S. aid, France France attempts re-colonization attempts re-colonization after WWIIafter WWII

First Indochina WarFirst Indochina War• Belief in domino theory Belief in domino theory

leads to leads to U.S. sending U.S. sending arms, ammunition, arms, ammunition, supplies and $ to supplies and $ to FrenchFrench

• The The French French surrendered surrendered to to Vietminh Vietminh in 1954 at in 1954 at Dien Bien PhuDien Bien Phu

• President Eisenhower President Eisenhower declined to aid French declined to aid French w/ additional soldiersw/ additional soldiers

Vietnam Temporarily Split

Vietnam Temporarily Split

• International Conference International Conference at Geneva 1954at Geneva 1954

• Geneva Accords: Geneva Accords: Vietnam divided at 17Vietnam divided at 17thth parallelparallel• Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh’’ss nationalist nationalist

forces controlled forces controlled the Norththe North• Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem, , Roman Roman

Catholic Catholic claimed control of the claimed control of the SouthSouth

• Reunification elections Reunification elections to be held in 1956to be held in 1956

Ngo Dinh Diem’s Troubled Leadership

Ngo Dinh Diem’s Troubled Leadership

• Diem backed out of the Diem backed out of the electionselections

• Repressive dictatorial rule by Repressive dictatorial rule by DiemDiem• Election corruptionElection corruption• Family holds powerFamily holds power• Persecution of BuddhistsPersecution of Buddhists• Favoritism of wealthy Favoritism of wealthy

landownerslandowners• Torture and imprisonment Torture and imprisonment

of political opponentsof political opponents• National Liberation Front National Liberation Front

founded – Vietcong: soldiersfounded – Vietcong: soldiers

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Self-Emolation by a Buddhist MonkSelf-Emolation by a Buddhist Monk

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

• KennedyKennedy elected 1960 elected 1960• Increases military Increases military

““advisorsadvisors”” to 9,000 by to 9,000 by 19621962

• 1963: JFK supports a 1963: JFK supports a South Vietnamese South Vietnamese military military coup dcoup d’’etat etat – – Diem and his brother Diem and his brother are murdered are murdered

• Kennedy was Kennedy was assassinated 3 weeks assassinated 3 weeks laterlater

Johnson Inherits the Vietnam Problem

Johnson Inherits the Vietnam Problem

• During his presidential campaign: “We are not about to send American boys nine or ten thousand miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves.”

• As the war escalates: “IAs the war escalates: “I’’m not going to be m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.”way China went.”

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

• Johnson approves covert Johnson approves covert attacks attacks on radar stations along on radar stations along Northern CoastNorthern Coast

• North fires torpedoes and North fires torpedoes and machine guns at U.S. destroyermachine guns at U.S. destroyer

• Second attack? Second attack? • Tonkin Gulf Resolution passed Tonkin Gulf Resolution passed

by Congress (The Blank Check) by Congress (The Blank Check)

U.S. Troop Deployments

in Vietnam

U.S. Troop Deployments

in Vietnam

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968

U.S. Troops

Essential Questions:1)What is Vietnam’s colonial history?2)What compromises were made at the Geneva conference?3)Why was President Diem so unpopular? 4)How does President Kennedy and Johnson increase U.S. involvement in Vietnam?