Most people know how long and brutal the Vietnam War was, and most know how much controversy and protest it caused at home, but how much do you know about how the United States became involved in Vietnam?

1. Read the following sections of your textbook:- Page 837, right-hand column (continues six lines on p. 838)- Begin with the last sentence on 841 and read the following two

paragraphs.- Read all of Page 881.

2. Based on your reading, decide what were the four most important events and the four most important people in bringing the U.S. into the war in Vietnam and in escalating our role in the war (don’t go past 1964). Focus on the people and events that you just could not explain the story without.

3. For each, write 25 words explaining why you chose to include that person or event in your list.

Ho Chi Minh

Leader of the Vietnamese independence movement. Declared independence for

Vietnam on Sept. 2, 1945. The U.S. had supported him during

World War II against the Japanese, but as it became

clear he intended to create an independent, Communist Vietnam, the U.S. turned

against their former ally. Ho led the North Vietnamese forces

until his death in 1969.

Ngo Dinh Diem

President of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem was an anti-

Communist Catholic who had spent time in the U.S. Sensing

that he would lose a nation-wide election to Ho Chi Minh in 1956, he refused to participate and tried to maintain power in

the South. His dictatorial regime was overthrown by a group with U.S. support in

1963.

John F. Kennedy

Became President in 1961 and continued Eisenhower’s policy of support for Ngo Dinh Diem’s government. Sent financial and

military aid to Diem, and had sent 16,000 U.S. military

“advisors” to South Vietnam by 1963.

Lyndon B. Johnson

Became President in 1963. Escalated the U.S. role in

Vietnam. Asked Congress for approval to increase America’s military role in Vietnam (Tonkin Gulf Resolution). By 1965, he

had sent 50,000 U.S. soldiers to battle the Vietcong in South

Vietnam. Eventually, he would send 500,000.

Who else could you have included?

Why?

French ColonizationFrance colonized the region,

which became known as French Indochina in the late 1800s. French colonists established

rice plantations and made great profits in both rice and rubber.

French missionaries spread Catholicism to the region. The French military cracked down on Vietnamese resistance to their rule. The French lost

Indochina to the Japanese in WWII and never truly regained control, although they fought

for it until 1954 against Vietnamese nationalists.

World War II

During World War II, the Japanese took control of French

Indochina. When Japan was defeated in 1945, Ho Chi Minh

and other Vietnamese nationalists had no intention of

returning to foreign rule. Although the French returned after the war and fought for

control of the region, they were ultimately defeated in 1954 by Vietnamese nationalists and

left.

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu

Despite massive U.S. aid, French forces were defeated by the Vietminh at Dien Bien Phu

in 1954. With the French surrender and evacuation of

Vietnam, the United States took the lead in trying to prevent Ho

Chi Minh and his Communist forces from taking control of

Vietnam.

The Geneva Accords

Vietnam temporarily divided at the 17th parallel

North: Communist under Ho Chi Minh

South: Ngo Dinh Diem

National Election scheduled to reunify Vietnam in 1956

NEVER HAPPENED

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

Aug 2, 1964 – U.S.S. Maddox fires upon 3 NV PT Boats – reports say the PT boats attacked first

Aug 4, 1964 – U.S.S. Maddox and U.S.S Turner Joy report being fired upon by NV PT Boats

Later discovered that attack probably never took place.

Congress authorized Johnson to take “all necessary measures…”

What other events could you have included?

Why?

Other terms to know:

Vietminh: North Vietnamese nationalist group led by Ho Chi Minh that fought against the French for independence. The Vietminh defeated the French in 1954.

Vietcong: Communist group in South Vietnam fighting against the Diem government. Continued to fight against U.S. forces in the South as the war escalated. (Slang: V.C., Charlie)