30 1 Moving Toward Conflict Background information France

30 -1: Moving Toward Conflict

Background information • France controlled “Indochina” since the late 19 th century • Japan took control during World War II • France attempted recolonization in the post world-war II period and was able to conquer the southern half of Vietnam • The Players: • Ho Chi Minh: Communist Leader of North Vietnam • Vietminh: Communist group led by Ho Chi Minh • Vietcong: Communist rebel group living in South Vietnam (non-communist controlled region) • Ngo Dinh Diem: Leader of South Vietnam

1941: What did the Vietminh declare as its main goal? • Vietnam’s independence from foreign rule Vie tm inh ’s F lag

2. 1945: What did Ho Chi Minh declare after Japan was forced out? • He vowed that Vietnam was an independent nation 3. 1946: How did Ho Chi Minh respond to the return of the French? • He vowed to fight from North Vietnam to free South Vietnam from French control

1950: Whom did the U. S. Support and what aid did the U. S. provide? 4. France 5. Economic (military purposes) g n Fre c la h. F

1950: Why did the U. S. get involved in the struggle? • The U. S wanted to prevent another country from falling to communism • The U. S. wanted to keep its ally, France, against the Soviet Union

7. 1954: What did Eisenhower compare to a row of dominoes • Eisenhower compared countries on the brink of communism to a row of dominoes ready to fall = Domino theory

1954: What did the Vietminh victory at Dien Bien Phu cause the French to do? • The French surrendered and pulled out of Vietnam

1954: How did the Geneva Accords change Vietnam? • The Geneva Accords, a peace agreement, divided the country along the 17 th parallel • The peace agreement also called for an election to unify the country in 1956

1956: Who canceled the Vietnamese elections? Why? • Ngo Dinh Diem, with U. S. support cancels the elections because all felt that Ho Chi Minh would win the elections? • Ngo Dinh Diem was a corrupt leader with a terrible human rights record – He did not have the support of his people.

1964: What authority did the Tonkin Gulf Resolution grant to the U. S. president? • Broad military powers to make war in Vietnam

1965: What did Operation Rolling Thunder do in North Vietnam? • Sustained Bombing raids of North Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh Trail • Ho Chi Minh’s Trail, a network of paths running between North and South Vietnam, was North Vietnam’s main supply and troop route