US Involvement In Vietnam

Before WWII, Vietnam (Indochina) was ruled by the French.

During the war, the Japenese conquered, the ruled the area brutally.

An Anti-Japenese resistance movement emerged, called VIET MINH led by HO CHI MINH.

He learnt GUERRILLA WARFARE.

In 1930 he founded the IndoChinese Communist party.

HO CHI MINH controlled the NORTH.

In 1945, the French wanted Vietnam back.

9 years of war.

HO CHI MINH was supported by CHINA.

AMERICANS backed the FRENCH and gave them $500 million.  

1945 French wanted Vietnam back.

9 years of war

Backed by America

In 1954 the French lost 8,000 troops at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.

The French surrendered.

Geneva Agreement 1954

After Dien Bien Phu, Britain, France, China, USSR, USA, Vietnam met in Geneva Switzerland.

Agreed to the withdrawal of Frenc troops, ceasefire and new territorial settlement.

Cambodia and Laos formed.

North Vietnam became communist and led by Ho Chi Minh who was popular, South was not and led by Diem who was unpopular but supported by USA. They were dived by 17th parallel.

The theory that if one country becomes communist, it's surrounding countries will follow.

American was particularly worried about communism spreading, this led to their involvement in the Vietnam war.

Diem was an unpopular leader of South Vietnam but was backed by USA due to him being anti-communist.

In 1960 the National Liberation Front (backed by HO CHI MINH) formed in hopes of unifying Vietnam. NLF wanted Diem gone. They started a Guerrila warfare and in 1961 there were 20,000 Viet Cong (previously Viet Minh) in the South.

In 1959 the Ho Chi Minh trail was created to carry supplies and people from the North to the Souh, there were multiple routes going through different countries.

Eisenhower gave financial aid to the South.

USA started a propoganda war against the North.

1963 Kennedy gave permission to CIA to give $40,000 to overthrow Diem's government. Diem was overthrown and killed by his own troops - not Kennedy's plan. 

1954-60s Eisenhower sent financial aid and military 'advisers' to support Diem, they trained the army.

1963 - 16,000 'advisers'.

1960-1963 Strategic Hamlets - Led by Diem and CIA, tried to stop Viet Cong winning over the South. Villages in 'danger' were relocated to a camp surrounded by barbed wire.

This wasn't successful -  hard to tell who was Viet Comg

August 2nd - 4th 1964. Gulf of Tonkin is in North Vietnam.

2nd:

• North Vietnamese torpedo boats attack US warship USS Maddox.
• Hit by a torpedo that did not explode
• USS Maddox fires on the torpedo boats
• US fighter planes sink one boat and damage 2

4th:

• USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy report another attack
• No sailor on board or fighter pilot witnessed the 'attack'

Johnson ordered air force attack on Noth Vietnamese gunboat bases.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: Public outrage at attacks. The resolution gave the president the power to defend US forces and South Vietnam in what way he thought best. Passed by Congress.