VietnamVietnam

IndochinaIndochina

Before WWII France ruled most of Before WWII France ruled most of IndochinaIndochina

After WWII France tried to reestablish After WWII France tried to reestablish controlcontrol

Nationalist movements had gained Nationalist movements had gained strengthstrength

Vietnamese communist (Vietminh)Vietnamese communist (Vietminh) Democratic Republic of Vietnam 1945Democratic Republic of Vietnam 1945

– Led by Ho Chi MinhLed by Ho Chi Minh

19461946

Vietminh & France went to warVietminh & France went to war U.S. supported FranceU.S. supported France France was defeated in every battleFrance was defeated in every battle May 1954, Battle at Dien Bien Phu May 1954, Battle at Dien Bien Phu

spelled the end for Francespelled the end for France France left Vietnam completelyFrance left Vietnam completely

Vietnam dividedVietnam divided France, U.S., and France, U.S., and

others met in others met in Geneva, Switzerland Geneva, Switzerland to settle the to settle the Vietnam conflictVietnam conflict

Vietnam would be Vietnam would be divided along the divided along the 1717thth parallel parallel

Communist NorthCommunist North Pro Western SouthPro Western South Until 1956 electionsUntil 1956 elections

Ngo Dinh Diem Ngo Dinh Diem (South leader)(South leader)

Guerilla fighters, Guerilla fighters, Viet Cong fought to Viet Cong fought to unite under Ho Chi unite under Ho Chi Minh (North leader)Minh (North leader)

1963 South’s 1963 South’s military staged a military staged a coup and killed coup and killed DiemDiem

Vietnam WarVietnam War

1963 U.S. had 16,000 advisors in 1963 U.S. had 16,000 advisors in VietnamVietnam

Aug. 2, 1964 LBJ announced that North Aug. 2, 1964 LBJ announced that North Vietnam had fired on U.S. shipsVietnam had fired on U.S. ships

LBJ ordered air strikesLBJ ordered air strikes Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gave Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gave

President Johnson broad war powersPresident Johnson broad war powers March 1965 U.S. sent the first ground March 1965 U.S. sent the first ground

troops to Vietnamtroops to Vietnam

Vietnam War (cont)Vietnam War (cont)

19681968– 500,000 U.S. forces500,000 U.S. forces– 800,000 South 800,000 South

Vietnamese armyVietnamese army– 300,000 Viet Cong 300,000 Viet Cong

& North allies& North allies– Soviets & China sent Soviets & China sent

aid but no troopsaid but no troops– Americans could not Americans could not

defeat the defeat the communistcommunist

Tet (Vietnamese New Year)Tet (Vietnamese New Year)

Antiwar attitudes in Antiwar attitudes in U.S. and overseasU.S. and overseas

Feb. 1968, Viet Feb. 1968, Viet Cong launch major Cong launch major military offensivemilitary offensive

Military failure but Military failure but spurred opposition spurred opposition to U.S. war policyto U.S. war policy

LBJ did not seek LBJ did not seek reelectionreelection

The War Ends?The War Ends?

Nixon inherited LBJ’s warNixon inherited LBJ’s war Opposition to the war grewOpposition to the war grew U.S. began withdrawing troopsU.S. began withdrawing troops 1973 cease fire and the last U.S. 1973 cease fire and the last U.S.

troops lefttroops left 1975 the Viet Cong & North defeated 1975 the Viet Cong & North defeated

South VietnamSouth Vietnam

Results of Vietnam WarResults of Vietnam War Vietnam united under Vietnam united under

communismcommunism 58,000 American 58,000 American

casualtiescasualties 200,000 South 200,000 South

Vietnamese casualtiesVietnamese casualties 500,000 North 500,000 North

Vietnamese casualtiesVietnamese casualties 10 million refugees10 million refugees U.S. dropped 3 times U.S. dropped 3 times

more bombs than in more bombs than in WWIIWWII

5 million acres 5 million acres defoliated defoliated

Relations with the WestRelations with the West

Economic difficulties Economic difficulties 1980’s encouraged limited private 1980’s encouraged limited private

enterpriseenterprise Vietnam government helped locate Vietnam government helped locate

MIA’sMIA’s 1995 U.S. & Vietnam established 1995 U.S. & Vietnam established

diplomatic tiesdiplomatic ties Vietnam trades with the West to help Vietnam trades with the West to help

their desperately poor economytheir desperately poor economy