VIETNAM: A LOOK BACK

1890’s Indochina part of

French Empire Ho Chi Minh begins

to rebel

1930 Ho Chi Minh forms the Indochinese

Communist Party Don’t forget, he had been shut out at

Versailles

1941 Japan takes over Vietnam Ho Chi Minh and others form Vietminh

– Dedicated to the independence of Vietnam

– U.S. quietly supports Ho with money and arms

WHY?

1945 Japan is defeated and Ho Chi Minh

declares independence Vietnamese Declaration of

Independence is based on the United States’ Declaration

1946 French want colony back Regain control of south of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh wages war from North

1947 The Truman Doctrine

1950 Truman sends $15 million to French 1950-1954:$2 billion WHY IS U.S. SUPPORTING

FRENCH?

FEAR

What is U.S. afraid of? CONTAINMENT of Soviet expansionism China, Eastern Europe are already communist. Korean War

is about to begin-Korea will go communist Think about Cold War Mind Maps WHAT ARE BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING FRANCE? How does Ho Chi Minh view this?

1953 Eisenhower continues aid 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 quickly.”

Take a look at map-Why is region important geographically?

1954 Vietminh beat French at Dien Bien

Phu So what happens next?

1954 Contd. Major players meet in Geneva,

Switzerland to try to create a peace Create Geneva Accords

– Vietnam divided along 17th parallel North=Ho Chi Minh, South=Ngo Dinh Diem

– Election for unification to be held 1956

1956 Diem refuses to take part in elections U.S. supports cancellation Diem agrees to reform but does not

1957-1959 Communist opposition group is formed

in South=Viet Cong (National Liberation Front)

Ho Chi Minh Trail to supply- See Tunnels Guerrilla attacks begin against South

and ARVN (South Vietnamese Army) “Sink or Swim with Ngo Dinh Diem”

The Viet Cong Tunnel Complex: Rule s of

War

1961 Kennedy takes office, also decides to

sink or swim. “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or

ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty. We will do this and more.”-John F. Kennedy

1963 16,000 U.S. mililtary in

Vietnam Diem creates “strategic

hamlet program” Diem attacks Buddhists

November, 1963 Nov. 1: U.S. supports

coup against Diem, he is assassinated

Vietnam in chaos, VC takes more influence in South

Nov. 22: Kennedy is killed.

SO WHAT?

Lyndon Baines Johnson LBJ takes over. “If I…let the Communists take over South Vietnam,

then…my nation would be seen as an appeaser, and we would find it impossible to accomplish anything…anywhere on the globe.”

The Tonkin Gulf Incident

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