Vietnam A little bit of background Vietnam Vietnam

Vietnam A little bit of background…….

Vietnam § Vietnam used to be a colony of France.

Vietnam § It fought for it’s independence from 1945 to 1954, finally winning it in 1954. § It is divided into 2 parts, North and South. § Sound familiar?

Korea…. . maybe…. .

Yes! Just like Korea! § The North was Communist, the South Was Capitalist.

Diem § He is the leader of South Vietnam (capitalist) § He says that communists are out to get the South! § With the help of the C. I. A. , he rounds up anyone he thinks is a communist and puts them in jail.

N. L. F. § National Liberation Front § Group formed by North Vietnamese to unify Vietnam

N. L. F. § American military advisors tell Pres. Kennedy that the N. L. F. is bad and they need to be taken out

Kennedy § He sends some military “advisors” to South Vietnam to help Diem.

1960 -1964 § America steadily increases its military presence in Vietnam § Many in South Vietnam are mad at Diem, think he is corrupt. § Monks set themselves on fire!

Ouch!

What happened to Diem § He is thrown out of government by South Vietnamese Generals and killed.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution § On August 4, 1964 President Johnson told America that the U. S. Navy was attacked by the N. L. F. (North Vietnamese, Viet Cong)

Turns out…… § History has shown this attack never happened.

But…. . § § § But Nothing! America thinks it happened, so it did! Congress passes legislation to increase troops. § A draft is instituted.

How the war was fought…. . § The Viet Cong were the military of the N. L. F. § They operated out of South Vietnam. § In 1965 they were ordered by the North Vietnamese to begin Guerilla tactics § This means they engaged in “hit and run” attacks

Tunnels § The Viet Cong made over 200 miles of tunnels underground. This allowed them to escape the American Military easily, as well as launch surprise attacks.

Helicopters § The dense jungle of Vietnam made it difficult to move around. Often troops were transported by helicopter.

The Air War § Fighting was so difficult on the ground that America began an air war, called “Operation Rolling Thunder. ” § We dropped thousands of bombs on North Vietnam.

Agent Orange § This was a deadly chemical the United States used to burn down the forests. They dropped on especially dense areas that the Viet Cong were concentrated in.

Agent Orange

Agent Orange § It contained a deadly chemical called dioxin. § This was especially good for burning forests. § It was also very deadly to humans. § It got in the water and food supply and caused many birth defects.

End of the War § The war was very unpopular at home in the USA. § By 1972 it looked like we were involved in another stalemate (just like Korea) § President Nixon begins peace talks

Paris Peace Accords § Signed January 27, 1973. § Says USA will pull out of Vietnam, leave South Vietnam on their own. § South Vietnam finally falls to North Vietnam in 1975.

Casualties § USA- 58, 119 killed, 153, 303 injured § Viet Cong, North Vietnamese- 1. 1 million killed, unknown injured.