The Vietnam war: An Introduction

Mr DAO Anh VuSKARBEK SchoolID Student 10901

Where is the Vietnam ???

Southest Asia

Vietnam is in Southest AsiaNear Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and partsof China

Vietnam Facts

83 Millions people

Very Fertile

Many ressources

Hot and Wet

Climate

Religion in Vietnam

Most People

are Buddhist

Strong minority of

Catholics

Early History of Vietnam

One of Few Asian Countries to Defeat the Mongols at the Time of Kublai and Genghis Khan

Victim of Chinese Colonisatism Vietnam and China have not had a good relationship

Vietnam and Resistance to Foreign Control

Vietnamese Resistance to the Chinese and Mongols is Typical to the History of Vietnam

Indochina and French Colonialism

Ultimately Vietnam Gained Independence from China

Vietnam’s independence ended in the mid-19th century, when the country was colonized by the French Empire.

Vietnam was part of the French Colonial Empire in the Southeast Asia/Indochina

France and Vietnam

Exploited Vietnam’s Ressources

and People

Introduced Catholicsm Western

Education

French Language and Customs

Vietnam and Imperialism

Vietnamese will Strongly Resist Imperialism from: China Mongols French Japanese

Many American Military and Political Leaders

were Ignorant of this

World War I and Vietnam

At the end of World War 1 American

President Woodrow Wilson

Promised to end colonialism

A Young Nguyen Ai Quoc

showed up at Versailles conference

Hoping to get Vietnamese independence from

France

Nationalism

Nationalism pride in my country

Desire for an independence

homeland for our people

Viet Minh founded by Ho Chi Minh

Communist/Nationalist group that opposed the French

and later Japanese

Viet Minh and Ho Chi Minh

At the start of World War 2, Vietnam and

much of Southeast Asia was still

controlled by France

Ho Chi Minh leader of Viet Minh wants

independence Vietnam.

Opposes French, Japanese, American.

Train in China and USSR.

Communist or Nationalist

Declaring independence

World Ward 2 ends and September 2,

1945 Ho Chi Minh declares

Vietnamese Independence.

Some See Ho Chi Minh’s

declaration of independence

as evidence of being a Nationalist over being

a Communist

First Indo-China War

France does not recognize

Vietnamese independence

France reclaims its colony

1945-1954 France vs. Viet Minh

French try to keep Vietnam, Viet Minh fight for

independence

70% of French costs are paid by US

Dien Bien Phu and Geneva Conference

1954 Final defeat of the French by Vietnamese

French surrender and lose indochina

1954 Geneva conference

temporarily devided Vietnam at

17th parallel until French leave

Elections in 1956

South Vietnam

Instead of support Geneva Agreement and allowing unification elections and Communist victory the United States supports the creation of Non-Communist South Vietnam

American war in Vietnam is fought to keep South Vietnam Non-Communist

John F.Kennedy believed the best way to stop communists in Vietnam was to build south Vietnam into a Nation

Ngo Dinh Diem

First leader of South Vietnam, nationalist but strongly anti-Communist catholic Support from Eisenhower and Kennedy Massive military and financial aid from USBrutal to Communist

Assassinated in November 1963 Increased American Involvement in South Vietnam’s internal affairs

Some stats

When Eisenhower Left Office Less than

1,000 US soldiers in Vietnam.

At Time of Kennedy Assassination over 16,000

soldiers in Vietnam.

1969- 543,000 Many of the soldiers under

Kennedy were special

Forces and under Johnson Regular Ground

troops will be introduced.

Some terms

Hanoi – refers to North Vietnames government

NVA – North Vietnamese Army

VC/Charlie – Vietcong – Communist rebels in

South Vietnam

ARVN – South Vietnam Army

POW – Prisoner of War

MIA – Missing in Action

North Vietnam

North Vietnam wants a unified and

Communist Vietnam Want

Americans Out

One Vietnam

Escalation

Johnson attempts to limit the war while

at the same time constantly increasing

the number soldiers in Vietnam over

500,000 by 1969

Lyndon B. Johnson would attempt

negotiation at the same time he would

scale back offensive operations in Vietnam

North Vietnamese Take Advantage Of This

TET offensive

Tết, is the most important holiday in

Vietnam.

Tết - 1968 Viet Cong attack every

major US base in South Vietnam

North Vietnamese Army takes City

of Hue and kills many inhabitants

US Embassy Compound in Saigon is attacked

Effects of TET

Major military victory for the US

Viet Cong devastated

American public turns against War

Political, Psychological Victory for North Vietnam

President Johnson will not seek re-election

Strong Anti-War movement in the United States

Richard Nixon

Elected in 1968

Claim to have an secret plan

to end the Vietnam war

Nixon and Cambodia

Cambodia was NeutralViet Cong and North Vietnamese would Use Cambodia as a Sanctuary. US Troops could Not EnterCambodian government is powerless to prevent communists from enteringBad History between Vietnam and CambodiaNixon supports coup that puts strong anti-Communist government in chargeSecret bombing and invasion of Cambodia Expands conflict

Cambodia

Bombing and invasion fails to make

significant difference in War

Communists go deeper into Cambodia

Vietnamese were using Cambodia to

attack to kill Americans

Nixon doctrine/Vietnamization

Nixon - uses combination of increased bombing

of North Vietnam and secret negotiations

Diplomacy with China and USSR

Vietnamization-Nixon’s plan turn the War over

the war South Vietnamese

Train and equip South Vietnam to fight the North

US troops withdraw. Last troops leave by 1973

South Vietnam Betrayed ???

South Vietnam is promised that the US

would send troops, money, and supplies if

North Vietnamese launch massive attack

Nixon Resigns due to Watergate

Congress and American people do not

support the idea of further involvement

1975 Unification

North Vietnam takes over South Vietnam

US does not prevent

Vietnam is Unified

Vietnam is a unique

country that win France

and United States

Results of Vietnam War

60,000 Americans Killed

US reluctant to use military power

American public is divided

Americans don’t trust government

Vietnam is unified country - Communist

Cambodia falls to Khmer Rouge

Results in Cambodia

Khmer Rouge in Cambodia take

power

Pol Pot is leader

Killing Fields-Genocide of 1/3 of

Cambodian population by killed.

Vietnam and China

1979 War between Vietnam and ChinaChina improved relations with US after Nixon’s VisitVietnam moved closer to USSRChina supports Khmer Rouge and is upset that Vietnam defeats.China attempts to invade Vietnam to “teach lesson” Chinese leave after 1 monthVietnamese put up much stronger fight than the Chinese expected

The end

Thank for your attention !