vietnam

9
The Vietnam War Mr. Mintzer 20th Century II Studies Spring 2011

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Page 1: Vietnam

The Vietnam War

Mr. Mintzer

20th Century II Studies

Spring 2011

Page 2: Vietnam

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

Page 3: Vietnam

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.

Page 4: Vietnam

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

Page 5: Vietnam

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

Page 6: Vietnam

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

Page 7: Vietnam

Domino Theory

• Domino Theory refers to the fear that if one Southeast Asian nation fell to the Communists, the others would also fall.

Page 8: Vietnam

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)

Page 9: Vietnam

U.S. Military Involvement

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100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968

U.S. Troops