France and Indochina

ContainmentMao Ze-dong, communist leader, succeeds

in taking over China in 1949 –People’s Republic of China (PRC)

US believes China to be puppets of USSR

Refuses to acknowledge new govt

France Post WWIIReasserts colonial holdings in Indochina

(Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos)Anti-colonial movement led by Ho Chi Minh

in Vietnam has taken rootDeclare independence a month after WWII

ends France refuses to accept it

Insurgent CampaignHo Chi Minh and forces called the

Vietminh in full-blown fight against French French try to set up a government with

Bao Dai as leaderJan 1950 Vietminh proclaim control as

Democratic Republic of VietnamUS ignores

US Opinion - shiftsAt start of French-Vietminh conflict US

sympathizes with VietnamOwn struggle with G.B.

Korean War causes shift in US opinionSee Vietnam as chance to contain Communism1950 US signs Mutual Defense Assistance

Agreement with France

Geneva Conference British, Soviets, US,

France, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos,

China, and Ho Chi Minh reps from Dem.

Rep. of Vietnam Tentative peace: Vietnam in 2 regions

North controlled by VietminhSouth controlled by State of Vietnam

Many Vietminh from South “regroup” into

Vietcong in North to continue communist

cause post Geneva conference

1961-1973

Leaders of North VietnamHo Chi Mihn - 1949 until his death in 1969Le Duan – leader 1969-74Pham Van Dong – led reunified Vietnam

1975-1986

Leaders of South VietnamBao Dai: 1950-1954

French supported leader ousted by DiemNgo Dinh Diem: 1954-1963

Leader until killed by own generals in coupNguyen Van Thieu: 1967-1975

president of S. Vietnam until the fall of capital, Saigon.

Presidential TimelineEisenhower: 1953-1961

provided military aid to the French in Indochina, but refused to commit U.S. troops

JFK: 1961-1963 (assassinated)tripled the amount of American aid to Vietnam and

increased the number of U.S. military advisors there

LBJ: 1963-1969won a second term, but then increased U.S. involvement

in Vietnam, and his popularity plummeted

Timeline Continued…Nixon: 1969-1977

policy of "Vietnamization," whereby many U.S. troops were withdrawn and replaced by South Vietnamese army

continued to provide supplies and air support for the Vietnamese, and expanded the war into Laos and Cambodia

cease-fire agreement signed that, "brings peace with honor in Vietnam and Southeast Asia," -Nixon

last American forces left Vietnam during Nixon's second term

Timeline Continued…Carter: Jan 21, 1977

proclaimed a blanket pardon for nearly all those who had evaded the military draft.

The End1973:

End of Military Draft AnnouncedLast American Troops Leave Vietnam

1975: North Vietnam takes control of South and reunifies the nation of Vietnam

1976: Socialist Republic of Vietnam Joins United Nations

Tet Offensive1968:

U.S. military caught off guard, North Vietnamese and Vietcong attack several key cities in South Vietnam.

Within days, US forces recapture most areas. Military point of view, Tet is a huge defeat for

the Communists, but becomes a psychological victory.

U.S. military's assessment of the war is questioned and further opposition builds.

My Lai Massacre

March 1968:On March 16, the angry and frustrated US

soldiers of 11th Brigade, enter the village of My Lai.

"This is what you've been waiting for -- search and destroy -- and you've got it," say their superior officers.

A short time later the killing begins. Sends shockwaves through the U.S.

Change in Tactics1959: Weapons Moving Along Ho Chi

Minh Trail

1962: U.S. Military Employs Agent Orange

Gulf of Tonkin1964: Incident

August 2, N.Vietnamese boats allegedly fire torpedoes at U.S.S. Maddox, a destroyer in the Tonkin Gulf (off coast of N. Vietnam)

Alleged second attack August 4. Attack after 6 months of covert U.S. and S.V. naval

operations.

ResolutionApproved by Congress on August 7 and authorizes

President LBJ to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the United States."

Resolution allows LBJ to wage all out war against North Vietnam without a formal Declaration of War from Congress.

Cambodia1969: Nixon Begins Secret Bombing of

CambodiaTo destroy Communist supply routes and base

camps in Cambodiasecret from Congress and public for 14

months. 1973: Hearings on Secret Bombings Begin

Allegations: Nixon allowed secret bombing raids when Cambodia's neutrality was officially recognized.

Result: Congress orders bombing in Cambodia cease