The Vietnam

War.By Louise Young.

Vietnam was taken over by the French in the Vietnam was taken over by the French in the 1800’s with Cambodia and Laos.1800’s with Cambodia and Laos.The Japanese invaded during WW2 and the The Japanese invaded during WW2 and the Vietminh resisted them lead by Ho Chi Minh. He Vietminh resisted them lead by Ho Chi Minh. He hoped that the US would support them but Truman hoped that the US would support them but Truman sent the French back in.sent the French back in.The war of independence began in 1946 and the The war of independence began in 1946 and the Vietminh were lead by Giap. Eisenhower supported Vietminh were lead by Giap. Eisenhower supported the French.the French.In 1954 when the French were defeated, the In 1954 when the French were defeated, the French made the Geneva Accords in which Vietnam French made the Geneva Accords in which Vietnam was divided into 2.was divided into 2.North- Capital: Hanoi. Leader: Ho Chi Minh.(NVA)North- Capital: Hanoi. Leader: Ho Chi Minh.(NVA)South-Capital: Saigon. Leader: Ngo Dinh Diem. South-Capital: Saigon. Leader: Ngo Dinh Diem. (Vietcong)(Vietcong)

BackgroundBackground

Eisenhower backed Diems government even though it was unpopular and paid billions of dollars into it. JFK continued this support but by ’63 he realised that Diem was a problem because he evicted peasants from their homes and favoured the Catholic minority in South Vietnam. In November the US overthrew him and killed him. Soon after Kennedy was assassinated and Johnson took his place. He got America more involved in Vietnam because he feared the Democratic Party would lose the election if he pulled out.

The Gulf of Tonkin In 1964 the communists controlled about half of South

Vietnam and they asked the Americans for more help. The Republicans accused Johnson of being soft on Vietnam so he was forced to bomb the North , but he needed an excuse to get the Congress to back him.

They claim that in August North Vietnamese gunboats made unprovoked attacks on American ships at the Gulf of Tonkin. This allowed the Americans to take “necessary steps” however nobody knows if this was ever a genuine incident or fabricated by the Americans.

The fighting The Vietcong used Guerrilla tactics.

“Search and Destroy Missions” – the soldiers went out to kill the Vietcong , but because they all looked similar many innocent civilians were killed.

Cluster bombs and Napalm were dropped on cities.

Herbicides were sprayed over 6 million acres of land by the air force to make it easier to see enemies, but many people died from this and it lead to many birth defects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIhGYu5Uc08&feature=related

Americans fallAmericans fall Many soldiers in the war were conscripts (they Many soldiers in the war were conscripts (they

had to fight) but they didn’t if they went to had to fight) but they didn’t if they went to university. As a result most soldiers were from university. As a result most soldiers were from poor families.poor families.

Many behaved cruelly towards the Many behaved cruelly towards the Vietnamese .The worst was the My Lai Massacre Vietnamese .The worst was the My Lai Massacre in ’68 where they killed 347 people in one village. in ’68 where they killed 347 people in one village. This changed the public opinion in America of the This changed the public opinion in America of the war.war.

Opposing the WarOpposing the War From the mid 60’s there were marches protesting From the mid 60’s there were marches protesting

against the Americans involvement in the war.against the Americans involvement in the war.

The amount of “doves” (peacekeepers) in the The amount of “doves” (peacekeepers) in the Democratic party grew.Democratic party grew.

Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali said that Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali said that black men were fighting a white mans war.black men were fighting a white mans war.

AmericaAmerica pulls outpulls out In the next election Johnson stepped down and Nixon In the next election Johnson stepped down and Nixon

became president.became president.

In 3 years from ‘69 nearly 400,000 soldiers were taken In 3 years from ‘69 nearly 400,000 soldiers were taken out of Vietnam.out of Vietnam.

In 1973 they agreed a ceasefire and to release all In 1973 they agreed a ceasefire and to release all American prisoners if the Americans left within 60 days.American prisoners if the Americans left within 60 days.

The war continued between North and South Vietnam The war continued between North and South Vietnam and Saigon fell in 1975 and was renamed Ho Chi Minh and Saigon fell in 1975 and was renamed Ho Chi Minh City.City.

58000 US soldiers died58000 US soldiers diedIt cost the Americans $110billionIt cost the Americans $110billionIn ’75 Vietnam was reunited as a communist countryIn ’75 Vietnam was reunited as a communist country

ResultsResults

Lyndon B. Johnson, 1964“This is not a jungle war, but a struggle for freedom on every front of human activity.”

The stickers on this soldiers helmet reads: ``Bomb Saigon Now" "Bomb Hanoi Now" "Bomb Disneyland Now" "Bomb Everything``                                     

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