VietnamAmerica Into Conflict

Overview of Vietnam 1800s - French Colony 1941 -Japanese Possession 1945 - Independent 1946 - French Colony (War) 1954 – Independent (North and

South) 1956 – Unify in 1956? 1956 – 1975 Civil War (North Wins)

Geneva Accords Provisions Cease Fire

Vietnam temporarily divided along 17th parallel (North and South) with DMZ

General elections scheduled for 1956 to unify the country

U.S. Support? Chinese Support?

French Indochina

Rise of the Vietcong According to treaty, all communists

were supposed to move into North Vietnam

Vietminh dissolves, but Vietnamese Communist Party evolves

Democracy in South

Rise of the Vietcong DRV Leaders told 5-10K soldiers to

stay in South under-cover

This becomes the National Liberation Front

Viet Nam Cong San = Vietnamese Communist

Vietcong VC = Victor Charlie = Charlie

Rise of the Vietcong Vietcong included people from all

walks of life…peasants to doctors

Some began to commit acts of terrorism

Working to unite Vietnam

North Vietnam South Vietnam

Name Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV)

Republic of Vietnam (RVN)

Army North Vietnamese Army (NVA)

Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)

Government Communist Corrupt Democracy

Leader Ho Chi Minh Dinh Diem

Support China, Soviets U.S.

Expectations for Election in 1956

Unify Vietnam under communism

Struggle to maintain control of the South

Activity in other Country

National Liberation Front develops in SouthVietminh = NLF = Vietcong(Late 1950’s)

none

Comparison North to South

Ngo Dinh Diem

Dinh Diem Roman Catholic Official under French

Refused to join Vietnminh in 1945

Spent 2 years in U.S.

Returned to South Vietnam in 1954

Dinh Diem Corruption and brutality

Violently handled Buddhist protests

Resented

Assassinated 1963

No Elections in 1956 Fearing that he would lose elections, Diem,

barred elections in South Vietnam

Late 1950’s – North Vietnam supporting Vietcong efforts in the South

1960 – Ho Chi Minh sends NVA into the South

Mid 1950’s Eisenhower decides to intervene – military advisers (900 by 1960)

American Troops

Advisory role to AVRN

By the time combat troops arrived in 1965, there were 16,000 advisors

Gulf of Tonkin Result?

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gave President Johnson the power to take “all necessary measures to repel any attack against forces of the United States.”

What actually happened?

Homework Read Chapter 19 Section 2

Pg 611 – question 3