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Ch. 16-1-1
Origins of the Vietnam War
Why It Matters
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Kennedy and Johnson both wanted a
better America in the 1960s
Both wanted a better world
New lines were drawn against
communism in Vietnam
Would be one of the costliest wars in
American history
America and the War in
Indochina
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Most Americans could not locate
Vietnam on a map
Drew little American attention
America would soon be sending
millions of soldiers there
Roots in:
– European colonialism
– Cold War politics
– Vietnamese national independence
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France Rules Indochina in
Southeast Asia
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1800s, France took control of Indochina
– Modern countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, and
Laos
– Slightly bigger then Texas and 27 million people
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France ruled strict and requested high taxes
Large plantations (rice and rubber)
France controlled the mineral wealth as well
– Most people were poor
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Ho Chi Minh strongest voice for
independence
– Ho Traveled the world for 30 years
– Supported the Soviet Union and Communism
The French Battle Nationalism
and Communism
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Japan undermined France during WWII in
regards to Vietnam
France reassumed control after WWII
Colonialism was dying
American thoughts:
Supported Vietnamese independence
Wanted France as an ally
Truman sacrificed his own anticolonial
sentiments
– America gave aid to the French
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Containing Ho Chi Minh became a priority
– League of the Independence of Vietnam
 Vietminh
The Domino Theory and Dien
Bien Phu
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Eisenhower continued Truman’s policy in
Vietnam
Wanted to avoid the domino theory
– Vietnam fall to communism would lead to further
communism
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French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu
– Large supply lines cut
– Siege for 55 days
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Vietnam split in two at the 17th Parallel
– Ho Chi Minh in the North
– Anticommunist government in the South
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Free elections to happen in 1956 to unify
Vietnam
America Opposes Communism
in Vietnam
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France asked for American military
support at Dien Bien Phu
Eisenhower only supplied money
Eisenhower did support South Vietnam
The United States Aids South
Vietnam
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1954 U.S. and 7 other countries created
SEATO
– Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
– Like NATO, formed to stop the spread of
communism
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Gave military and financial aid to Ngo Dinh
Diem (South Vietnam)
Diem knew he would lose the 1956 election
– Did not participate
– America supported this decision
Communist Opposition Grows
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1957, National Liberation Front (NLF)
– Committed to unifying Vietnam (located in
South Vietnam)
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Vietcong (guerrilla fighters)
– Assassinated government officials and
destroyed roads and bridges
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Diem was Catholic in a Buddhist
nations (weakened his strength)
– Only the aid of the U.S. kept Diem in
power
Kennedy Sends U.S. Troops to
Vietnam
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Kennedy took a strong stand in 1961
– Sent Special Forces to guide the Army of the
Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)
– By 1963, there were 15,000 “advisers”
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Diem continued to lose power
– Buddhist began protesting
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Setting themselves on fire in the streets
Kennedy called for new leadership
– America helped replace Diem
– Diem was assassinated in 1963 after being
removed
Johnson Leads the Nation Into
War
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3 weeks after Diem’s fall, Kennedy was
assassinated
Saw the Soviet Union, China, and
Vietnam as all the same
Knew Americans expected victory
Read Aloud
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Pg. 536
– North Vietnamese and U.S. Forces Clash
– Congress Gives Johnson Broad Military
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