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Background To Vietnam War

The document summarizes the key events leading up to US involvement in the Vietnam War. It began as a war of independence against French colonial rule. While the US initially supported France, it later backed South Vietnam against communist North Vietnam during the Cold War in an attempt to stop the spread of communism. However, over time public support for the war declined as casualties mounted and victory seemed unlikely. The war ultimately ended in defeat for the US in 1973.

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314 views

Background To Vietnam War

The document summarizes the key events leading up to US involvement in the Vietnam War. It began as a war of independence against French colonial rule. While the US initially supported France, it later backed South Vietnam against communist North Vietnam during the Cold War in an attempt to stop the spread of communism. However, over time public support for the war declined as casualties mounted and victory seemed unlikely. The war ultimately ended in defeat for the US in 1973.

Uploaded by

api-25937062
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Background to Vietnam War

French Colony
• Since the late 1800’s, Vietnam
was a French colony known as
Indochina
• During WW2, Japan took over
Indochina after the fall of France
• After WW2, Ho Chi Minh and the
Vietnamese wanted
independence
• France wanted to keep its colony
• A war for independence broke
out in 1946
• Who should the U.S. support:
French colonization or
Vietnamese Independence?
U.S. Aid to France
• 1950 Truman gives $15
million in aid to France
• From 1950-1954, U.S. will
give $2.6 billion to support
France in Indochina
• 1952 Eisenhower elected
president
• 1953 Stalemate in Korea
• 1954 Domino Theory
• 1954 Dien Bien Phu
• What will be the terms of
the French surrender?
1954 Geneva Accords
• Establishment of North & South Vietnam (divided at 17th
parallel)
• Communist North Vietnam (led by Ho Chi Minh)
• Democratic South Vietnam (led by Ngo Dinh Diem)
• Elections to be held in 1956 to create a unified nation
• Diem cancels elections
• U.S. response?
1960 Presidential Election
• Nixon vs. Kennedy
• Kennedy determined to stop
communists in Vietnam
• Kennedy decides to “swim” with
Diem
• 1963 Military coup - Diem executed
• Nov 22 Kennedy assassinated
• Lyndon Johnson becomes president
• How will Johnson respond to rising
tensions in Vietnam?
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
• 1964 U.S.S. Maddox is fired upon by
North Vietnamese gunboats in the
Gulf of Tonkin
• Congress authorizes President
Johnson to use “all necessary means
to repel any armed attack against
forces of the United States and to
prevent further aggression” and
• "to take all necessary steps,
including the use of armed force, to
assist [South Vietnam] in defense of
its freedom“
• Is it a close vote in Congress?
• Passed the Senate 88-2
• Passed the House 416-0
1965
• American military operations begin
• First combat troops arrive in 1965
National Morale
• 1967 Survey:
• 66% believe the war is
justified
• 10% approve of America’s
current level of
commitment
• 50% “increased attacks”
will help win the war
• 70% war protests are “acts
of disloyalty”
1968
• January 31: Tet Offensive
• March 31: Johnson
announces he will not seek
second term
• Nixon (VP under
Eisenhower, ran in 1960)
elected president
• King and Robert Kennedy
are assassinated
Continuing drop in support

• Draft
• Role of US Troops
•Support dwindles

October 24, 1969


Defeat?

• Pentagon Papers
• 66% want the US out of Vietnam in 1971
• Kissinger works out a cease fire by
January 27, 1973

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