chapter_22_section_1_notes.ppt | |
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Events Leading to America’s Involvement in Vietnam
- France colonizes most of Indochina (including Vietnam) for roughly 50 years (1890 - 1940).
- France gets taken over by Germany during WWII in 1940. A weakened French presence in Indochina allows for Japan
(part of the Axis powers during WWII with Germany and Italy) to occupy the region.
- Economic support is given to Vietnamese resistance against the Japanese during World War II, mainly to Ho Chi Minh’s
nationalist group better known as the Vietminh. This support is mainly provided by the U.S. The Vietminh gain control of
most of Vietnam by the end of WWII and Ho Chi Minh (their leader) declares Vietnam independent.
- After the war, France sends troops to recolonize Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh and his followers have no intention to relinquish
control of their newly founded independent country, so fighting breaks out between the French and Vietminh. During this
time, a handful of U.S. personnel are in Vietnam helping the French.
- After 8 years, the French are driven out of Northern Vietnam and a peace agreement (the Geneva Accords) is settled.
The Vietminh (now strongly aligned with Communism having been financed during their war with the French by the
Soviet Union and Chinese) are granted all territory North of 17 degrees latitude. Everything South of 17 degrees latitude
becomes controlled by anti-Communists, heavily influenced by the French and U.S.
- France gets taken over by Germany during WWII in 1940. A weakened French presence in Indochina allows for Japan
(part of the Axis powers during WWII with Germany and Italy) to occupy the region.
- Economic support is given to Vietnamese resistance against the Japanese during World War II, mainly to Ho Chi Minh’s
nationalist group better known as the Vietminh. This support is mainly provided by the U.S. The Vietminh gain control of
most of Vietnam by the end of WWII and Ho Chi Minh (their leader) declares Vietnam independent.
- After the war, France sends troops to recolonize Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh and his followers have no intention to relinquish
control of their newly founded independent country, so fighting breaks out between the French and Vietminh. During this
time, a handful of U.S. personnel are in Vietnam helping the French.
- After 8 years, the French are driven out of Northern Vietnam and a peace agreement (the Geneva Accords) is settled.
The Vietminh (now strongly aligned with Communism having been financed during their war with the French by the
Soviet Union and Chinese) are granted all territory North of 17 degrees latitude. Everything South of 17 degrees latitude
becomes controlled by anti-Communists, heavily influenced by the French and U.S.
French prisoners being marched out of Dien Bien Phu (a town in Northwestern Vietnam) by the Vietminh after their surrender in May, 1954. Their 8 year long struggle to reclaim all of Vietnam as a French colony following World War II was over, despite the U.S. providing over $1 billion in aid to the French over the course of the struggle.
- The Geneva Accords also promised national elections that would unify Vietnam in 1956.
- Between 1954 - 1956, Ho Chi Minh only increased his popularity in the North. He broke up large plots of land owned by a
few wealthy families and redistributed it to the masses. He also allowed religious freedom.
- Between 1954 - 1956, Ngo Dinh Diem (the leader of the South) became increasingly unpopular. He didn't break up large
plots of land like Ho Chi Minh did. In addition, he heavily promoted Christianity and restricted the practice of other types
of religion (mainly Buddhism).
- Between 1954 - 1956, Ho Chi Minh only increased his popularity in the North. He broke up large plots of land owned by a
few wealthy families and redistributed it to the masses. He also allowed religious freedom.
- Between 1954 - 1956, Ngo Dinh Diem (the leader of the South) became increasingly unpopular. He didn't break up large
plots of land like Ho Chi Minh did. In addition, he heavily promoted Christianity and restricted the practice of other types
of religion (mainly Buddhism).
- When it was time for the elections to be held towards the end of 1956, they were cancelled. the South Vietnamese
government and the U.S. feared Ho Chi Minh would win a unify Vietnam under Communist rule.
- The North Vietnamese and many peasants in the South were upset by this. Resistance against the government of Ngo
Dinh Diem began in the South. This group (know best as the Vietcong) was supported by Ho Chi Minh, and supplies
were provided for them over a network of paths that ran along the borders of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia that became
better known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
- The resistance by the Vietcong intensifies over the next 9 years, killing thousands of South Vietnamese military
personnel and government officials. Roughly 16,000 U.S. military personnel are gradually deployed to the region during
the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations to help train the South Vietnamese military. These advisors are not
cleared to engage the Vietcong directly unless they are in harms way.
government and the U.S. feared Ho Chi Minh would win a unify Vietnam under Communist rule.
- The North Vietnamese and many peasants in the South were upset by this. Resistance against the government of Ngo
Dinh Diem began in the South. This group (know best as the Vietcong) was supported by Ho Chi Minh, and supplies
were provided for them over a network of paths that ran along the borders of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia that became
better known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
- The resistance by the Vietcong intensifies over the next 9 years, killing thousands of South Vietnamese military
personnel and government officials. Roughly 16,000 U.S. military personnel are gradually deployed to the region during
the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations to help train the South Vietnamese military. These advisors are not
cleared to engage the Vietcong directly unless they are in harms way.
- The U.S.S. Maddox gets fired on off the coast of Northern Vietnam in the summer of 1964. It returns fire. A few days
later, Congress passes the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. This gives President Johnson the ability to use military force in
Vietnam as he sees fit.
- In early 1965, our Air Force and Navy coordinate Operation Rolling Thunder, which was the first significant bombing of
North Vietnam by the U.S. Our military presence in Vietnam increases from less than 20,000 people at the beginning of
the year to more than 180,000 people by the end of the year. We are now effectively at war (although war is never
declared).
later, Congress passes the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. This gives President Johnson the ability to use military force in
Vietnam as he sees fit.
- In early 1965, our Air Force and Navy coordinate Operation Rolling Thunder, which was the first significant bombing of
North Vietnam by the U.S. Our military presence in Vietnam increases from less than 20,000 people at the beginning of
the year to more than 180,000 people by the end of the year. We are now effectively at war (although war is never
declared).
Clip summarizing early history and Causes of the Vietnam War.
This nearly 9 minute clip covers pretty much everything contained in Section 1... from Vietnam history before 1900 all the way up to Operation Rolling Thunder... the first continuous bombing runs of North Vietnam.
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