Transcript USH Going to War in Vietnam - Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD

USH Going to War in Vietnam
• Ho Chi Minh
– Vietnamese leader
• Vietnam Nationalism
– Ruled buy foreign powers for centuries
• China, France, Japan (since WWII)
– Wanted to get rid of foreign rulers
• Specifically Japanese
– U.S. sends aid to support movement
America Aids the French
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French refuse to give up territory in Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh begins independence movement
France asks for American help
Eisenhower reluctantly agrees
– “Domino Theory”
• If Vietnam falls to communists, neighboring countries
will eventually fall, too
Geneva Accords
• Divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel
– Ho chi Minh in control in north
– Pro-western forces in control in south
• French troops leave
– America becomes “protector” of south Vietnam
• Ngo Dinh Diem
– South Vietnam nationalist leader
– Ally of U.S.
America Becomes Involved
• Vietcong
– Communist group in South Korea
– Assassinated thousands of government officials
• Eisenhower sends hundreds of military
advisors to assist South Korean military
Overthrow of Diem
• Diem (Catholic) treats Buddhist religion poorly
– Citizens become angry
– America continues to support Diem
– Military overthrows, kills Diem
– South Vietnam becomes weak and disorganized
– U.S. becomes more deeply involved
Johnson and Vietnam
• Johnson campaigning for presidency
– Was sensitive to accusations he was ‘soft’ on
communism
• Republicans blamed Democrats for the fall of China to
communism
• North Vietnam torpedo U.S. ships in Gulf of
Tonkin
• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
– President may take “all necessary measures” to
repel any attacks, and stop further aggression
Johnson and Vietnam
• U.S. sends in troops to Vietnam
• Vietcong uses guerilla warfare
– Hide in cities and jungles
• “Search and Destroy”
– U.S. troops develop new tactics
• Take away Vietcong’s ability to hide
• Napalm: jelly-like gasoline that explodes on contact
• Agent Orange: chemical that strips leaves from trees
and shrubs
Johnson and Vietnam
• 1965-1967: 220,000 Vietnamese killed
• 1966: 6,700 American soldiers killed
• War begins looking like a “stalemate”
– No side wins
• American people begin to question U.S
involvement in the war