Vietnam+-+Path+to+War

=VIETNAM - THE PATH TO WAR =

You all know that the United States was involved in a major military conflict in Vietnam during the Cold War ... but why? What was America's "path to war"? Using the resources below and __Creating America__, your task this evening is to write a description in YOUR OWN WORDS of the causes of American involvement in Southeast Asia. Pretend you are writing it as a summary for on online encyclopedia or textbook. Your description should ...
 * be between ** two and four complete, well written paragraphs **
 * ** contain the following terms ** - France, Ho Chi Minh, communism, Ngo Dinh Diem, military advisors, Gulf of Tonkin, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Rolling Thunder
 * be** IN YOUR OWN WORDS ** (remember, it's easy to check this online)
 * ** contain two images ** THAT RELATE TO YOUR WRITING
 * Should **end with the first Marines landing in Vietnam** in 1965

Vietnam, Located between India and China, known as French Indochina in the mid 1900's, became involved in a gruesome war with the United States in the 1960's. Events that led upto this declaration of war begin with the the vietnamise revolt against the French governemnt in the 1930's. This was led by Ho Chi Min who had fought for the indeoendance of vietnam for years. During the 1940's, Indochina is obtained by the Japaniese. At attempts to declare independance, Ho Chi Min leads a war against the Japaniese. Soon after, the French return and take over Vietnam. Ho Chi Min then forms the Vietmihn party and soon defeat the French in 1954 and establish a communist goernemnt in Northern Vietnam. The United States pushes for Vietnam to be split and Aouth Vietnam is formed. This new nation was led by Ngo Dinh Diem and was more Us friendly. Free elections were also required in Vietnam, though they were not very poopular. Finally, a war is established between communist North Vietnam and the US supporting South.

Presidents such as Truman, Eizenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson were all associated with the United State's entry in the war. Whilst the time of Truman's presidency, military aid was sent directly to France in order for the Country of maintian their control of Indochina. Some of this loaned money was used in the French attempts of defeating the Vietnamise overthrow of the French government. Dwight Eizenhower beilieve the the domino effect. This was an effect in which if country were to become a communist nation, others would soon follow. Eizenhower began the sending of military advisors to aid South Vietnam. Meanwhile, Ngo Dinh Diem, the ruler of South Vietnam had a Corrupt rule, even though a democracy was present. His Catholic thoughts lead him to also offend the poplutlation South Vietnam causing many riots and protests. President Kenndy refused to support Diem and the US begin to support his overthrow. Finally, in 1963, Diem in assasinated. During this time, Kennedy continued to send advisors to Vietnam.

President Johnson continues to Comit the US more and more to war, though he begins by sending a limited amount of advisor to Vietnam. In 1964 American ships were present in the Gulf of Tonkin and Vietnam PT boats unleashed a torpedo attack. After this crisis, Johnson issues a Blank Check. This allowed him the power to wage war without having to declare it. Many people opposed the war and beilieved that it was not our war to be fought and that the US should not risk the lives of MORE young American boys. Johnsons response claimed that the United States was simply there to defend ourselves. This idea was crush in Operation Rolling Thunder when the US dropped a number of bombs on Vietnam. In 1965 Johnson sends the first Marines who land in Vietnam, beginning the war.





NOTES: - Vietnam in between India and China, French indochina - Eastcoast on water, West is landlocked

- in 30s Ho chi min Leadds communist revolt against the french government - French arrest him... flees to china... then to soviet union... had been pushing for independance for a long time - In 40's IIndochina taken over by Jap. -- Ho chi min leads war against Japan - After WWII French Return - Ho chi min forms Vietminh party... declared independance in 1945 - Finally defeat French in 1954 and established communist gov in North - Us pushes for Vietnam to be split temporarilyby geneva accords - An agreement in geneva switz - A new nation called south vietnam... No din diem leads it... more Us friendly - Free elections to unite vietnam - No one in south would support elections... Ho chi min would win - War between communist north and US supporting south - Truman sent economic and military aid to France to help keep countries in Indochina - Some money went to french trying to defeat the vietnamise overthrow of the frech governement - Dwight Eizenhower - Domino effect : One country become communist then others would follow - Puppet state set up in south vietnam... sent military advisiors to help in the South - Ngo Dinh Diem - Corrupt rule even thought democracy... Catholic... offends buddist majority of South Vietnam - Buddist protested - Kennedy does not support Ngo Dinh Diem... US supports and overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963 and Diem is assasinated. - Doesnt want to seem soft on communism ... continued to send advisors to vietnam - Johnson continues to Commit the US more and more to the war - Sends a limited amount of advisors - In 1964 american ships were in the Gulf of Tonion - Vietnam PT boats unleash a torpedo attack - Johnson has a blank check.. can wage war without declaring war...Had lots of power - People thought that it was not our war and that we sould not risk the lives of more young American boys. - Claimed that we were there to defend oursleves. - Operation Rolling Thunder - US dropped bombs on Vietnam - in 1965 troops were sent to vietnam... The war begins - Most Americans supported the war in the start - Many troops in vietnam with Johnson as president