History of Vietnam War

• ­Indochina – controlled by French since the mid 19th century

• ­Sought independence during early 1900s

History

• ­Ho Chi Minh led nationalist movement in Vietnam

• ­Formed the Indochinese Communist Party in 1930

–Tried to overthrow the French

–Was exiled to the Soviet Union & China

History

• ­Japan controlled Vietnam when Ho Chi Minh returned in 1941

–Organized Vietminh to force the Japanese out

Roots of the Conflict

­Domino Theory – if Vietnam fell to communism, other nations in Southeast Asia would do the same

Roots of Conflict

• ­Vietminh used guerrilla tactics, irregular troops who blend with civilians against French

–Difficult to find/fight

–Use hit-and-run & ambush tactics

History

• ­After WWII, Ho Chi Minh declared independence

• France tried to regain control

–Asked for U.S. help

• U.S. agreed because it did not want another communist nation

Roots of Conflict

­North Vietnam – controlled by Ho Chi Minh (communist)

­South Vietnam – pro-Western (democratic)

Roots of Conflict

­Ngo Dinh Diem, leader of the South

–Pro-Westerner and anti-Communist

–Corrupt Government

–Did not want elections

Roots of Conflict

• ­Ho Chi Minh forms the Vietcong – new guerrilla army with the goal of unifying Vietnam

–Vietcong grew in power

Roots of Conflict

­Diem assassinated in CIA supported coup d’état – violent overthrow by a small group

–10 different leaders over next 20 months

Roots of Conflict

• ­August 2, 1964, Johnson announced N. Vietnamese torpedo boats fired on two American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin

  –Similar event occurred 2 days later

• ­Congress passed Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which authorized LBJ to use any force necessary