Vietnam War : Cold WarVietnam War : Cold War

Done by Pud & EarthDone by Pud & Earth

Background InformationBackground Information Part of old French Indo-ChinaPart of old French Indo-China Japan captured it in WW2Japan captured it in WW2 After Japan was defeated in the Pacific the After Japan was defeated in the Pacific the

Viet minh came to powerViet minh came to power Viet minh led by Ho Chi Minh won Viet minh led by Ho Chi Minh won

elections in 1946elections in 1946 The French came and tried to force the The French came and tried to force the

Viet Minh out but they started a Guerilla Viet Minh out but they started a Guerilla war against the French (1war against the French (1stst indo-china war) indo-china war)

MoreMore

A new leader of the country was appointed A new leader of the country was appointed called Bao Dai. The Russians and Eastern called Bao Dai. The Russians and Eastern Europe refused to recognize his rule. They Europe refused to recognize his rule. They claimed that Ho Chi Minh was the real claimed that Ho Chi Minh was the real ruler of Vietnam. ruler of Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh was supported by the Ho Chi Minh was supported by the Russians, Chinese and Eastern Europe Russians, Chinese and Eastern Europe

- all communist. - all communist. The French were driven backThe French were driven back

Geneva ConventionGeneva Convention In April 1954 World powers discuss VietnamIn April 1954 World powers discuss Vietnam North and South VietnamNorth and South Vietnam Election would take place in 1956 but never Election would take place in 1956 but never

happenedhappened

Domino TheoryDomino Theory The western allies had been victorious in Berlin, but communism The western allies had been victorious in Berlin, but communism

had taken root in China, Eastern Europe remained under Russian had taken root in China, Eastern Europe remained under Russian control and in Vietnam the American feared threat of Communism.control and in Vietnam the American feared threat of Communism.

They believed in the Domino theoryThey believed in the Domino theory Domino theory- A theory that one event will set off a train of Domino theory- A theory that one event will set off a train of

similar events.similar events.

US InvolvementUS Involvement

The US entered the war to stop the spread The US entered the war to stop the spread of communist and establish influence in of communist and establish influence in Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia

““You knock over the You knock over the first one, and what will first one, and what will happen to the last one happen to the last one is the certainty that it is the certainty that it will go over very will go over very quickly” - Eisenhowerquickly” - Eisenhower

Ho Chi Minh vs. Ngo Dinh DiemHo Chi Minh vs. Ngo Dinh Diem

President Eisenhower’s Letter President Eisenhower’s Letter of Support to Ngo Dinh Diemof Support to Ngo Dinh Diem

Dear Mr. President: Dear Mr. President:

I have been following with great interest the course of developments in Viet-Nam, particularly since the I have been following with great interest the course of developments in Viet-Nam, particularly since the conclusion of the conference at Geneva. The implications of the agreement concerning Viet-Nam have conclusion of the conference at Geneva. The implications of the agreement concerning Viet-Nam have caused grave concern regarding the future of a country temporarily divided by an artificial military caused grave concern regarding the future of a country temporarily divided by an artificial military grouping, weakened by a long and exhausting war and faced with enemies without and by their grouping, weakened by a long and exhausting war and faced with enemies without and by their subversive collaborations within. Your recent requests for aid to assist in the formidable project of the subversive collaborations within. Your recent requests for aid to assist in the formidable project of the movement of several hundred thousand loyal Vietnamese citizens away from areas which are passing movement of several hundred thousand loyal Vietnamese citizens away from areas which are passing under a de facto rule and political ideology which they abhor, are being fulfilled. I am glad that the under a de facto rule and political ideology which they abhor, are being fulfilled. I am glad that the United States is able to assist in this humanitarian effort. We have been exploring ways and means to United States is able to assist in this humanitarian effort. We have been exploring ways and means to permit our aid to Viet-Nam to be more effective and to make a greater contribution to the welfare and permit our aid to Viet-Nam to be more effective and to make a greater contribution to the welfare and stability of the government of Viet-Nam. I am, accordingly, instructing the American Ambassador to stability of the government of Viet-Nam. I am, accordingly, instructing the American Ambassador to Viet-Nam to examine with you in your capacity as Chief of Government, how an intelligent program of Viet-Nam to examine with you in your capacity as Chief of Government, how an intelligent program of American aid given directly to your government can serve to assist Viet-Nam in its present hour of trial, American aid given directly to your government can serve to assist Viet-Nam in its present hour of trial, provided that your Government is prepared to give assurances as to the standards of performance it provided that your Government is prepared to give assurances as to the standards of performance it would be able to maintain in the event such aid were supplied. The purpose of this offer is to assist the would be able to maintain in the event such aid were supplied. The purpose of this offer is to assist the Government of Viet-Nam in developing and maintaining a strong, viable state, capable of resisting Government of Viet-Nam in developing and maintaining a strong, viable state, capable of resisting attempted subversion or aggression through military means. The Government of the United States attempted subversion or aggression through military means. The Government of the United States expects that this aid will be met by performance on the part of the Government of Viet-Nam in expects that this aid will be met by performance on the part of the Government of Viet-Nam in undertaking needed reforms. It hopes that such aid, combined with your own continuing efforts, will undertaking needed reforms. It hopes that such aid, combined with your own continuing efforts, will contribute effectively toward an independent Viet-Nam endowed with a strong government. Such a contribute effectively toward an independent Viet-Nam endowed with a strong government. Such a government would, I hope, be so responsive to the nationalist aspirations of its people, so enlightened government would, I hope, be so responsive to the nationalist aspirations of its people, so enlightened in purpose and effective in performance, that it will be respected both at home and abroad and in purpose and effective in performance, that it will be respected both at home and abroad and discourage any who might wish to impose a foreign ideology on your free people. discourage any who might wish to impose a foreign ideology on your free people.

Sincerely,Sincerely,Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower

October 23 1954October 23 1954

WarWar The North was more The North was more

active Militarily. They active Militarily. They continued with their continued with their Guerilla Warfare.Guerilla Warfare.

The Guerilla Fighters The Guerilla Fighters were called the Viet Congwere called the Viet Cong

They use the Ho Chi Minh They use the Ho Chi Minh trail which was 1000 mile trail which was 1000 mile located near the border located near the border of Laos with heavy jungle of Laos with heavy jungle so that they were hard to so that they were hard to detectdetect

More WarMore War In 1962, over 75% of all south Vietnamese peasants In 1962, over 75% of all south Vietnamese peasants

supported the Viet Cong (South government had corruption supported the Viet Cong (South government had corruption and abuse problems.)and abuse problems.)

In 1963, the South Vietnamese army overthrew and killed In 1963, the South Vietnamese army overthrew and killed himhim

In March 1965, the first American ground troops landed in In March 1965, the first American ground troops landed in South Vietnam and by December 1965, there were 150,000 South Vietnam and by December 1965, there were 150,000 stationed in the country. The bombing of North Vietnam stationed in the country. The bombing of North Vietnam had already started in February 1965.   had already started in February 1965.  

This was at its peak from 1965 to 1969 when a maximum of This was at its peak from 1965 to 1969 when a maximum of 500,000 American troops were in Vietnam. 500,000 American troops were in Vietnam.

Even More War !OMG!Even More War !OMG! Vietcong tacticsVietcong tactics - No uniform- No uniform

- Merge- Merge

- Traps- Traps

- Landmines- Landmines

- Avoid full scale battle- Avoid full scale battle US troopsUS troops - Young (average 19)- Young (average 19)

- Only Basic Training- Only Basic Training

Ending and EffectsEnding and Effects People in USA did not want to fight. Some even People in USA did not want to fight. Some even

protested.protested. Many US troops died in the warMany US troops died in the war The US pulled out in of Vietnam in 1973The US pulled out in of Vietnam in 1973 South Vietnam could not stand on its own and South Vietnam could not stand on its own and

loss the warloss the war Saigon was rebuild into Ho Chi Minh CitySaigon was rebuild into Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM BECAME COMMUNIST VIETNAM BECAME COMMUNIST

TodayToday

Today Vietnam is starting to open Today Vietnam is starting to open their countrytheir country

They are starting to rebuild their They are starting to rebuild their relationship with the USrelationship with the US

US private sector have started to put US private sector have started to put their investment in Vietnamtheir investment in Vietnam

BibliographyBibliography

www.wikipedia.orgwww.wikipedia.org http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/timhttp://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/tim

eline/eline/ http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/vietnahttp://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/vietna

m.htmm.htm

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