VIETNAM Have you seen Charlie? 04/12/15 2 ORIGINS OF THE VIETNAM WAR 1800 s French establish control over Indochina - Southeast Asia Modern countries: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos Transplanted French laws into Vietnam Imposed high taxes Some more wealthy Vietnamese benefited, most were impoverished 1
ORIGINS OF THE VIETNAM WAR Colonialism was dying Ho Chi Minh wanted independence France struggled to hold onto its power After World War II the world is changing UNITED STATES PICKS A SIDE France: An ally against communism Vietnam: Support of decolonization FRANCE IT IS! United States sides with France President Truman sided with U.S. ally against communism President Truman sacrificed his own anticolonial beliefs 2
AND SO IT BEGINS President Truman gives aid to France France then will support United States in Cold War France will now work to get control back in Vietnam Between 1950 and 1954 U.S. spent $2.6 billion in helping France That s $2,600,000,000.00 FRANCE SURRENDERS. ITS OVER? France loses their fight to regain Vietnam Geneva conference May 8, 1954 France grants independence to Vietnam Vietnam is split on the 17 th parallel into North and South Vietnam AID TO SOUTH VIETNAM Ho Chi Minh communist rule North Vietnam Anticommunist gov t in South Vietnam SEATO- Southeast Asia Treaty Organization- 7other countries Ngo Dinh Diem leads South Vietnam gov t 3
VIETCONG 1957- Vietcong commit to overthrowing Diem Bring Vietnam together under communist flag Destroy roads and bridges Assassinate gov t leaders DIEM Policies weaken him Devote Catholic in a mostly Buddhist nation Diem signs anti-buddhist legislation Only U.S. support keeps Diem in power BUDDHIST MONK- PROTEST OF DIEM 4
DIEM DOESN T CUT IT Kennedy sends Advisers to Vietnam to help fight Diem continued to alienate South Vietnam Kennedy administration knew that Diem needed to go Working with anti-diem generals- Diem is overthrown November 1 st, 1963 GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION August 1964- North Vietnamese fire a torpedo at U.S. destroyer (Maddox) Off the Gulf of Tonkin President Johnson address congress Authorize use of force to defend American troops Gave President Johnson great war powers 04/12/15 15 5
PREDICTIONS How would have the situation in Vietnam looked different had President Truman sided with Ho Chi Minh? What about if the United States not got involved at all? What if President Kennedy had not been assassinated, do you think he would have made the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution? Make sure that you are explaining your responses and not just giving a one sentence response INCREASED AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT Johnson outlines plan Operation Rolling Thunder First bombing campaign Convince North Vietnamese to stop the Vietcong in South Vietnam Failed to have North Vietnam make peace INCREASED AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT United States committed more troops to Vietnam Felt that more bombings and troops on the ground would lead to peace talks 6
A NEW KIND OF ENEMY Vietnam was not about taking territory but capturing the enemy Ho Chi Minh s plan was fighting with assured victory Never fight on the opponents terms Plan was to wear American s down AMERICAN STRATEGY Between 1965 and 1973 America dropped more than 6 million tons of bombs 3 times as much in World War II More airstrikes along North Vietnam and Vietcong in South Vietnam NEW TACTICS Napalm Jellied gasoline Clung to everything it touched Hard to extinguish Agent Orange Herbicide meant to kill plan life Disrupt enemy food supply 7
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