vietnam
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The Vietnam War
Mr. Mintzer
20th Century II Studies
Spring 2011
Background to the WarBackground to the War
France controlled “Indochina” since the late 19th century
Japan took control during World War II
With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar period
Background to the War
Background to the War
The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu
President Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France.
Background to the War
Background to the War
International Conference at Geneva
Vietnam was divided at 17th parallelO Ho Chi Minh’s nationalist
forces controlled the NorthOHe turned Communist
O Ngo Dinh Diem, a French-educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the South
Background to the WarBackground to the War
A date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnam
Diem backed out of the elections, leading to military conflict between North and South
U.S. Involvement
Domino Theory
• “You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly”
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
Domino Theory
• Domino Theory refers to the fear that if one Southeast Asian nation fell to the Communists, the others would also fall.
U.S. Involvement
• Kennedy increases the number of American military advisors. By the end of 1962 the number had grown to 16,000.
• JFK supports a military coup, Diem and his brother are killed.(11/2/1963
• JFK assassinated just weeks later (11/22/1963)
U.S. Military Involvement
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
U.S. Troops