Vietnam War Vietnam After Diem refused to hold

Vietnam War

Vietnam • After Diem refused to hold elections, Ho Chih Minh began an armed struggle to reunify the nation • Many Vietnamese supported the Vietcong, North or South – Opposed to Diem and afraid of Minh • American support increased as Kennedy took over presidency

Vietnam • American’s believed that Diem was causing people to support Vietcong, so they urged him to reform and help peasants • Diem made himself more unpopular by discriminating against Buddhism – Countries strongest religion – During protests, Diem’s military killed 9 monks and injured 14

Vietnam • Because of Diem’s unpopularity, many wanted him to be overthrown – Americans supported this idea • Vietnamese generals seized power • After Diem was gone the leaders of South Vietnam were worse – The weaker the leader was, the stronger the American support became

Vietnam • Shortly after Diem was gone, Kennedy was assassinated • Johnson took over • Did not want to widen the war, however was not going to let it Vietnam fall to communism

Vietnam • Gulf of Tonkin – Two American destroyers were fired upon by North Vietnamese torpedo boats – Johnson and congress felt that an attack on American ships meant that they should be able to defend themselves • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – Signed and gave power to the president to make all necessary moves in order to prevent further attacks

Vietnam • Shortly after Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, N. Vietnam attacks American army stations – Johnson orders air-strikes on N. Vietnam • Johnson’s approval rating was extremely high after the attacks • Continued using bombs to attacks N. Vietnam – Operation Rolling Thunder – Also sent combat troops into Vietnam

Vietnam • In 1965 180, 000 combat troops were sent to Vietnam – In 1966 it was doubled • Troops were confident that it would be a short war with little casualties • Vietcong used booby traps and guerilla warfare to avoid confrontation with American Troops

Vietnam • American’s then used search and destroy missions to force them out in the open – Napalm, Agent Orange • Vietnamese were too determined to be defeated so easily – Would not surrender – Accepted heavy losses by just replenishing army

Vietnam • North Vietnamese heavily supported Vietcong • Ho Chih Minh Trail – Supply line by which Vietcong received weapons and food – Passed through countries not involved in Vietnam • Johnson would not attack the trail

Vietnam • Johnson was afraid of a full scale attack on N. Vietnam – Feared that China and Russia would get involved and cause greater problems • Because of this, war was gauged based on body counts – Between 1965 -67 220, 000 Vietnamese were killed compared to 6, 700 Americans • However Vietnamese would not surrender and kept fighting