Moving toward conflict

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Moving toward conflict

• Chapter 22.1

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French in Vietnam

• Fr. controlled Vietnam before after WWII
• Harsh rule peasant resentment
• Ho Chi Minh
• Organized Indochinese Communist Party
• Vietminh goal was to win Viet. independence

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French in Vietnam

• French Indochina War 1950
• US supports French financially
• Vietminh drive out Fr 1954
• Geneva Accords - 1954
• Divided Viet. Along 17th parallel
• Called for elections
• Ho Chi Minh north
• Ngo Dinh Diem- South

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Ho Chi Minh
Ngo Dinh Diem
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US Steps In

• Ngo Dinh Diem
• Cancels upcoming elections to unite Vietnam
• Corrupt
• Catholic- persecuted Buddhists
• Vietcong
• Communists living in South Vietnam
• Attacked Diem gov
• Ho Chi Minh Trail provided aid via network
  paths
• Guerilla tactics

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Ho Chi Minh Trails
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Kennedy in Vietnam

• Increased financial and military advisers
• Diems popularity fell
• Hamlet programs moved villagers avoid Vietcong
  influence
• Attacked Buddhists
• Diem removed from power
• US sponsored coup Nov 1963
• Diem assassinated

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LBJ Expands Conflict

• SV grew more unstable
• Tonkin Gulf Resolution
• NV torpedoed USS Maddox
• Maddox later fired at alleged torpedo ships
• LBJ launched bombing campaign against NV
• US goal contain communism
• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution LBJs request to
  Congress to attack NV
• Not a dec of war
• Gave LBJ more power over Viet. Situation

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LBJ Expands Conflict

• LBJ secretly raiding NV prior to Resolution
• Operation Rolling Thunder
• 1st sustained bombing against NV
• March 1965 Am ground troops arrive in SV

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Vietnam

• United States South Vietnam
• democratic

• North Vietnam
• Vietcong
• communist

VS