Chapter 29-1

“We have too much to lost to consider…withdrawing. We have no other choice but to win here or face an increasingly grim future…I would like to see our efforts here geared as completely as possible to the operating philosophy of helping the Vietnamese to help themselves…in the struggle against the Communists.”

-Edward G. Lansdale

Vietnamese Fight for Independence

Key Question: How did the Vietnamese organize against foreign rule? French Indochina- French ruled colony made up of:

○ Vietnam○ Laos○ Cambodia

French export rice+rubber: grew wealthier Vietnamese peasants: lost land, grew poor Nationalists wanted Vietnam to be an independent nation (revolt) Ho Chi Minh- founder of the Indochinese Communist party (ICP)

Organize protests against French government French arrest suspected Communists Executed numerous leaders

Viet Minh Forms 1940: Japan took over Vietnam ICP and Nationalists: form Viet Minh

Train soldiers: Get rid of foreign rulers

U.S. aid Vietnam since Japan was enemy Japanese surrender to Allies- Ho Chi Minh declare independence France try to gain control: Ho Chi Minh sought peaceful solution 1946: War between France and Vietnam French bomb Haiphong, Viet Minh attack Hanoi

America Enters the ConflictKey Question: How did the United States get involved in Vietnam?

United States struggled in the Soviet Union (Cold War)

Communists took over China

Americans fear communist threat

U.S. needed to stop the spread of communism in Asia

U.S. agreed to help France if France help U.S. against the Soviets

1950: U.S. enter conflict with Vietnam

President Truman gave $15 million in military aid to France

Domino Theory: if one country communist, the rest will be

If Vietnam is communism, the rest of Southeast Asia will be

Vietnam Divides into North and South

Even with $3 billion, France couldn’t defeat Viet Minh

May 1954: France met Viet Minh: Peace talks

Geneva Accords- divide Vietnam (north and south) along 17th parallel

Surrounding the line: demilitarized zone (DMZ)

Allow separate governments Ho Chi Minh: North Vietnam

(communist) Ngo Dinh Diem: South Vietnam

(anticommunist) Ho Chi Mihn: popular leader Diem: little support U.S. help Diem: “nation-building”

Fear of Communism Shapes U.S. PolicyKey Question: What world events influenced U.S. policy in Vietnam? 1960-John F. Kennedy becomes President

Support fight against communism Bay of Pigs Invasion (April 1961)- trained Cuban exiles to invade

Cuba and overthrow Communist leader (Fidel Castro) Cuban troops easily defeated: U.S. humiliated June 1961-Soviet Union threaten to close off western access to

West Berlin because east Germans flee from communism Berlin Wall-built to separate eastern and western Germany

Showdown With Cuba Cuban missile crisis (October 1962)-Kennedy’s most serious

confrontation with Soviets Soviets have nuclear missiles-could destroy U.S. cities U.S. promise not to invade Cuba if Soviets remove missiles U.S. fear Soviets will become powerful Sent more money and military advisors to South Vietnam Diems Failure:

Didn’t establish democratic government Let landlords take back land from the peasants Jailed, tortured, killed opponents

National Liberation Front1960 (Viet Cong)-Dissatisfied South Vietnamese join South Vietnamese Communists

Viet Cong fight to overthrow Diem’s government Reunite into communist rule

Ho Chi Minh Trail-a supply line that was used to help the South Vietnamese and were sent from the North

The Diem Government Falls 1963-U.S. aid increase, so did opposition to Diem American officials told Diem to make:

Political Reform Economic Reform Military Reform

Diem refuse Kennedy administration lost faith in Diem November 1, 1963-Military Coup overthrew Diem Against Kennedy, they killed Diem Kennedy assassinated three weeks later Lyndon Johnson became president

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"Ho Chi Minh." Dominos in Indochina. Web. 4 Apr 2010

"John F. Kennedy." Top 10 Assassinations that Shook the World. Web. 4 Apr 2010.

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