Vietnam War 1955 1975 Vietnamese Through WWII From

Vietnam War 1955 -1975

Vietnamese Through WWII • From 1858 thru the end of WWII, the French controlled Vietnam along with Laos and Cambodia. • However at the end of WWII, France was too weak to keep its hold on Vietnam. • As a result, the people of Vietnam organized and revolted in order to regain its power.

Appeal of Communism • Many people in Vietnam were very poor and were peasants just like in China. • North Vietnam had the most poverty. • So, the people started supporting a leader name Ho Chi Minh. • He studied Communism and wanted to bring it to the people of Vietnam.

International Reaction to Potential Communism in Vietnam • This is when the French get worried. • They needed Vietnam for its natural resources, so they start fighting with the South against the North. • The French DID NOT want Communism to spread! At the same time China is giving support to the North. • Well eventually the United States hears about this war and starts sending weapons and troops to help the French in South Vietnam.

Division of Vietnam • In 1954, an agreement was signed that officially divided Vietnam into two parts. • Communism North Vietnam and U. S supported South Vietnam. • Pretty soon after, the people in the North started looking for ways to defeat the South and reunited Vietnam.

The War • The United States heard about their plan and in 1965 sent more troops and started bombing northern Vietnam. • Nearly 3 million Vietnamese lost their lives in this war. • Several were wounded and left homeless. • Thousands of U. S troops died.

Underground Tunnels in Vietnam

US Reaction to Vietnam War • As a result the people in the United Stated started to really protest this war. • By 1973, the United States had to withdraw from the war because Americans were too upset and against the war.

Outcome • So, without the help from foreign troops, Southern Vietnam could not hold off the Communist Northern troops and in 1976 Vietnam was reunited as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. • There are still Communists to this day.

Did America have the right to enter this war or not? This is opinion • Yes- Containment and the domino theory • No- Not our problem, lost it to communism anyway

GRADED ASSIGNMENT #1

Graded Assignment #2