Key Terms cid 127 Geneva Convention Domino Theory Was the Vietnam War a broader part of the American fight against global Communism or was it simple a case of the United States becomes involved with another nations struggle for independence I Japanese occupation of Vietnam A Vietmin organization lead by Ho Chi Minh to as a movement to gain independence for Vietnam 1 Learned how to fight guerrilla warfare an insurgency B After the war was won Ho Chi Minh expected independence for Vietnam by the United States 1 The US admired Vietnam for winning the Japanese war the CIA watched their war tactics 2 The Vietnamese loved America and admired them C War between Vietmin and French when French want to colonize Vietnam 1 French are our allies but we should remain neutral because we liked Ho Chi Minh 2 We tried to make it look like we were neutral but we wouldn t give up on the French II French occupation of Vietnam A Ho Chi Minh is forced to go to the Chinese for help 1 This reinforces communist block all communists were working together 2 And reinforced that Vietnam is communist even though Vietnam had no other choice B US decided to openly support the French because they won t be associated with communism 1 We recognized and supported the puppet ruler of Vietnam not Ho Chi Minh C We supplied about 80 of the French in the war D French are losing they underestimated the guerrilla warfare and perseverance of Vietnamese E US had promised two things that keep us in Asia 1 SEATO is formed we joined up with allied nations in Southeast Asia to protect them from communist influences 2 Built a non communist regime in South Vietnam a Diem is puppet leader he rigs votes to win extremely anti communist wealthy so people don t trust him b Put into place by US c Ho Chi Minh establishes Vietcong to fight for independence G War ends with Geneva Accords in 1954 III American occupation of Vietnam A Kennedy is very against occupation believes S Vietnam will defeat N Vietnam without American help 1 Sends in advisors to teach South Vietnam anti insurgency techniques 2 South Vietnam is extremely poor had very bad leadership and a bad military B 1963 US is contemplating removing Diem from power 1 Discussed a coup with the top officials of the S Vietnam government 2 Diem is overthrown and killed in 1963 3 South Vietnam went down the drain after this a North Vietnam used this time to reinforce themselves C August 2 1964 USS Maddox was reportedly attacked by North Vietnam boats 1 2 days later USS Turnerjoy was reportedly attacked by North Vietnamese as well 2 US saw this as a direct attack on America D Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was after boats were attacked passed gives President Johnson unlimited power to fight the North Vietnamese and Vietcong E Operation Rolling Thunder massive bombing campaign of North Vietnam literally changes topography of Vietnam 1 Killed approximately 90 000 North Vietnamese about 72 000 were civilians F 1965 3 500 US Marines are sent to Southern Vietnam US is highly supportive 1 How do we win this type of war a Attrition wear down the enemy b Kill ratio kill more of them than they are killing of you c Crossover point can we kill more of them than they can recruit 2 Problem numbers were inflated incorrect can t count how many they ve killed 3 US Gov t assumes we re winning the war because of this and that the war will be over soon G Early 1968 Cease fire was assumed on lunar Vietnamese holiday Tet by South Vietnamese 1 But North Vietnamese had planned a huge attack on South Vietnam on this day 2 US military kills 80 000 Vietcong military disaster for North Vietnam cid 127 3 But political disaster for America they had believed we were winning the war but after seeing images of Tet attack they were hugely opposed to war a Ends Johnsons political career he doesn t run for reelection lacks huge credibility b Walter Cronkite most trusted news reporter turns against Johnson saying the best we could hope for is a stalemate Johnson knows he lost most of America with this statement H My Lai 1 Huge massacre by American troops killed 500 civilians 2 Village was believed to be storing goods for Vietcong and US troops takes it out on villagers 3 Only Lieut William Calley takes blame for it and it s a light sentence a Very swept under the rug public doesn t know about it for a long time I Richard Nixon comes to power with a promise to end the Vietnam war 1 Vietnamization pull out American troops and replace them with S Vietnam troops a Expands war into Laos and Cambodia in an attempt to cut off supplies b American soldiers understand the war is technically over for them but they haven t left Vietnam yet they still have to fight c A lot of American soldiers are discontent so they turn to drugs kill their leaders etc 2 Nixon can t pretend this war can be won anymore focuses on taking all troops out of Vietnam 3 Paris Peace Accords 1973 cease fire and troop withdrawal return of captured military personnel
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