The War in Vietnam

A Chronology

Vietnam Background

Vietnam is a country in South East Asia

Main crop is rice Southern Vietnam is

hot, humid, and has jungles

Neighbors are Laos, Cambodia, and China

Vietnam Occupied

France colonized Vietnam in 20th century

They brought Catholic religion and language

The took tin and rubber

Japan occupied Vietnam during WW II

French-Indochina War

After WW II France reasserted control of Vietnam

The Vietnminh fought for independence, led by Ho Chi Minh

France defeated at battle of Dien Bien Phu

The US supported France

Vietnam Divided

Vietnam was divided, after defeat of French

The Geneva Accords called for division along 17th parallel

North Vietnam was communist, but election promised in 1956

US Supports South Vietnam

The US supported South Vietnam

US support for unpopular president Diem

1956 Diem cancelled elections, fearing a communist victory

Domino Theory and US Advisors

President Eisenhower feared that if Vietnam became communist, other nations in Asia would, too

Domino theory US sent advisors to

South Vietnam,

Gulf of Tonkin

In 1964 the US accused the North Vietnamese of firing on US ships

US Congress passed “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution”

Gave President Johnson power to send US troops to Vietnam

What do you think?

Do you think the Gulf of Tonkin incident, where two US ships were fired upon by North Vietnamese patrol boats, warranted the US going to war?

Why or Why not?

1965 US Sends Ground Troops

President Johnson sent large numbers of US ground troops to aid South Vietnam in their fight against the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong communists

1968Tet Offensive

The North Vietnamese communists attacked South Vietnamese cities and US military bases during Tet New Year

1969Draft Lottery and Protests

The US began draft with numbers assigned by lottery

Antiwar protests increased

Nixon proposed Vietnamization, South Vietnamese forces would replace US forces

Hawks

Americans who supported the Vietnam War

Believed we needed to fight in Vietnam to stop the spread of communism

Wanted to aid our ally South Vietnam

Doves

American who opposed the Vietnam War

Believed that we should stay out of a civil war in Vietnam

Protested the Vietnam War

Hawks or Doves?

Hawks or Doves?

Are you a hawk or a dove?

Talk to your neighbor and explain you reason for supporting or opposing the Vietnam War

Share you reason.

1970US enters Cambodia

Nixon calls for air strikes against Viet Cong supply lines in Cambodia

US troops enter Cambodia to fight Viet Cong

1973Paris Peace Accords

US and North Vietnamese negotiate in Paris

Both sides agree to US troop withdrawal in 60 days

1975Fall of Saigon

North Vietnamese and Viet Cong defeat South Vietnam

Saigon Falls and many South Vietnamese flee

Vietnam is reunited under the communist Party.