vietnam. 1954 – france pulls out of indochina colony now has independence
TRANSCRIPT
1954 – France pulls out of 1954 – France pulls out of IndochinaIndochina
Colony now has independenceColony now has independence
Conference at Geneva
Divided Indochina into Four States
Laos, CambodiaCommunist-dominated North
Vietnam& pro-Western South Vietnam
Ngo Dinh Ngo Dinh DiemDiem – – anticommunistanticommunist leader in leader in South VietnamSouth Vietnam
Asked U.S. for helpAsked U.S. for help
Eisenhower and Kennedy Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations sent military administrations sent military equipmentequipment and and advisorsadvisors to to South VietnamSouth Vietnam
1963 – the 1963 – the Viet CongViet Cong ((Vietnamese CommunistsVietnamese Communists), ), controlled large sections of controlled large sections of South VietnamSouth Vietnam
1964-1965
• U.S. increased support to South Vietnamese government
• Set up supply bases guarded by U.S. troops
Began bombing Ho Chi Minh Trail Began bombing Ho Chi Minh Trail and southern section of North and southern section of North VietnamVietnam
North Vietnamese sent units into North Vietnamese sent units into South Vietnam to support Viet CongSouth Vietnam to support Viet Cong
Communist forces waged war of Communist forces waged war of attrition against U.S. and S. attrition against U.S. and S. VietnameseVietnamese
• Were willing to suffer heavy casualties
• Destruction from bombs
• Just to inflict casualties on Americans, so that U.S. would lose its will to continue