VietnamVietnam

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