THE EARLY YEARS
America and Vietnam
Background
Long history of foreign powers ruling Vietnam: Chinese, Japanese, French
French Indochina= Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam
Background
Vietnamese Nationalism Attempts to fight for independence
against colonial governments Ho Chi Minh
Presented petition for independence to Versailles Peace Conference in 1919- denied
Visited USSR, became communist Set up Indochinese Communist Party
in Southeast Asia Vietminh (1941)- nationalist group to
expel Japanese US sent aid to Vietminh
Supporting the French
Japanese surrender in 1945Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independentFrench troops return to reclaim colony- fight
the VietminhFighting escalates French ask US for help
US opposes colonialism + communism= difficult positionChina falls to Communism + Korean War=
Truman sends aid to French in Vietnam Containment Domino Theory- if Vietnam falls to Communism, the rest
of Southeast Asia will fall
Dien Bien Phu
French troops frustrated by guerrillas Guerrilla warfare- hit-and-run and ambush tactics by
troop who blend in to the civilian populationFrench attempt to take-over mountain town
of Dien Bien Phu Cut off Vietminh supply lines Vietminh forces surround Dien Bien Phu May 7, 1954, French are defeated, withdraw from
Indochina
Geneva Accords
Peace negotiationsVietnam divided along
17th Parallel Ho Chi Minh and Vietminh
control North Vietnam (Communist)
US as protector of new government, led by Ngo Dinh Diem (anti-Communist)
Plans for 1956 election to reunite Vietnam
Cambodia and Laos independent
Geneva Accords
French troops leave Indochina
Diem becomes president of Republic of South Vietnam Refused to permit 1956
election due to fear of Ho Chi Minh winning
Eisenhower approves, increases aid to South Vietnam (SEATO)
Vietcong
Ngo Dinh Diem refuses to hold elections and cracks down on communist groups in South Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh + nationalists begin armed struggle to reunify Vietnam
Vietcong- guerrilla army of South Vietnamese Communists
Vietcong
Fighting between Vietcong and South Vietnamese troops Eisenhower sends “military advisers” to train South
Vietnam’s armyVietcong grows many Vietnamese oppose
DiemVietcong Terrorism
Assassinate thousands of government officials
Control countrysideDiem needed more help from US
Kennedy and Vietnam
During his presidency, Kennedy increased troops in Vietnam
2,000 15,000Diem failed to take US suggestions to create
democracy Diem unpopular and corrupt Introduced some reforms
Strategic Hamlets- villages protected by machine guns, bunkers, trenches, and barbed wire
Extremely unpopular
Opposition to Diem
Diem (Catholic) discriminated against Buddhists Banned traditional religious flags Protests 9 protestors killed, 14 injured Buddhist monks poured gasoline on himself and lit
themselves on fire Horrified Americans Demonstrated extreme opposition to Diem
Opposition to Diem
Military coup to overthrow Diem (November 1, 1963) Executed him
Made South Vietnam’s government weak and unstable America has to take heavier role in order to maintain
stability Three weeks later Kennedy is assassinated
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