The Vietnam War

The Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War(Early Years 1960)(Early Years 1960)

By Danesha PrewittBy Danesha Prewitt

Crowder 4thCrowder 4th

What is the Vietnam War?What is the Vietnam War?

The Vietnam War, also known as the The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, is a military Second Indochina War, is a military struggle fought in Vietnam from struggle fought in Vietnam from 1959 to 1975. It involves the North 1959 to 1975. It involves the North Vietnamese and the National Vietnamese and the National Liberation Front in conflict with the Liberation Front in conflict with the United States forces and the South United States forces and the South Vietnamese army. Vietnamese army.

Where It Took PlaceWhere It Took Place

The Vietnam War The Vietnam War was fought mainly was fought mainly in North and in North and South Vietnam South Vietnam from 1957 to from 1957 to 1975. Troops also 1975. Troops also battled in Laos battled in Laos and Cambodia, and Cambodia, and U.S pilots and U.S pilots flew missions flew missions from basses in from basses in Thailand.Thailand.

President Lyndon B. JohnsonPresident Lyndon B. Johnson He was the thirty-He was the thirty-

sixth president of sixth president of the United States the United States of America from of America from 1963 to 1969. He 1963 to 1969. He began the began the American American involvement in the involvement in the Vietnam War that Vietnam War that escalated from escalated from 16,000 American 16,000 American soldiers in 1963 to soldiers in 1963 to to 550,000 in early to 550,000 in early 1968.1968.

President of Vietnam (Ho Chi President of Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh)Minh)

He was a He was a Vietnamese Vietnamese revolutionary and revolutionary and the President of the President of North Vietnam from North Vietnam from 1946 to 1969. He 1946 to 1969. He led the North led the North Vietnamese in the Vietnamese in the Vietnam War until Vietnam War until his death in 1969.his death in 1969.

Important people of the Vietnam Important people of the Vietnam War (Ngo Dinh Diem)War (Ngo Dinh Diem)

He was the first He was the first President of South President of South Vietnam from 1955 Vietnam from 1955 to 1963. He to 1963. He established the new established the new government called government called the Republic of the Republic of Vietnam. In the Vietnam. In the Vietnam War, he Vietnam War, he was helped the was helped the United States. United States.

Vietnam War TimelineVietnam War Timeline 1957- 1957- The Viet Cong began to rebel against the South Vietnamese The Viet Cong began to rebel against the South Vietnamese

government headed by government headed by President Ngo Dinh Ngo Diem.President Ngo Dinh Ngo Diem. 1963-1963- (November 1) South Vietnamese generals overthrew the Diem (November 1) South Vietnamese generals overthrew the Diem

government, and government, and Diem was killed the next day.Diem was killed the next day. 1964-1964- (August 7) Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which gave (August 7) Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which gave

the President the President power to take “all necessary measures” and “to prevent power to take “all necessary measures” and “to prevent further aggression"further aggression"

1965- 1965- (March 6) President Lyndon B. Johnson sent U.S. troops would begin to (March 6) President Lyndon B. Johnson sent U.S. troops would begin to withdraw withdraw from Vietnam.from Vietnam.

1968- 1968- (January 30) North Vietnam and Viet Cong launched a major campaign (January 30) North Vietnam and Viet Cong launched a major campaign against against South Vietnamese cities.South Vietnamese cities.

1969-1969- (June 8) President Richard M. Nixon announced that U.S troops would (June 8) President Richard M. Nixon announced that U.S troops would begin to begin to withdraw from Vietnam.withdraw from Vietnam.

1973-1973- (January 27) The United States, North and South Vietnam, and the Viet (January 27) The United States, North and South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong signed Cong signed a cease-fire agreement.a cease-fire agreement.

1973-1973- (March 29) The last U.S ground troops left Vietnam.(March 29) The last U.S ground troops left Vietnam. 1975-1975- (April 30) South Vietnam surrendered.(April 30) South Vietnam surrendered.

The Beginnings of the Vietnam The Beginnings of the Vietnam WarWar

The Vietnam War first began in 1959, five years The Vietnam War first began in 1959, five years after the division of the country by the Geneva after the division of the country by the Geneva Accords. Vietnam, a country in South Asia, had Accords. Vietnam, a country in South Asia, had been split into two, with a communist been split into two, with a communist government in the north under Ho Chi Minh and government in the north under Ho Chi Minh and a democratic government in the south under Ngo a democratic government in the south under Ngo Dinh Diem. Ho launched a guerilla campaign in Dinh Diem. Ho launched a guerilla campaign in South Vietnam, led by Viet Cong units, with the South Vietnam, led by Viet Cong units, with the goal of uniting the country under communist goal of uniting the country under communist rule. The United States, seeking to stop the rule. The United States, seeking to stop the spread of communism, trained the Army of the spread of communism, trained the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and provided Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and provided military advisors to help combat the guerillasmilitary advisors to help combat the guerillas..

What happened during the What happened during the Vietnam War?Vietnam War?

A communist guerilla force known as the A communist guerilla force known as the Vietcong were trying to spread Vietcong were trying to spread communism throughout the world. They communism throughout the world. They decided that they should invade to decided that they should invade to spread their form of government. The spread their form of government. The United States entered and then it United States entered and then it became known as a war. In August 1964, became known as a war. In August 1964, North Vietnamese patrol boats attacked North Vietnamese patrol boats attacked the U.S. destroyer Maddox in the Gulf of the U.S. destroyer Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin. U.S. Navy planes striked back by Tonkin. U.S. Navy planes striked back by bombing targets in North Vietnam. bombing targets in North Vietnam.

The Causes of the Vietnam The Causes of the Vietnam WarWar

The causes of the Vietnam War trace their The causes of the Vietnam War trace their roots back to the end of World War II. A roots back to the end of World War II. A French colony, Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, & French colony, Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, & Cambodia) had been occupied by the Cambodia) had been occupied by the Japanese during the war. In 1941, a Japanese during the war. In 1941, a Vietnamese nationalist movement, the Viet Vietnamese nationalist movement, the Viet Minh, was formed by Ho Chi Minh to resist Minh, was formed by Ho Chi Minh to resist the occupiers. A communist, Ho Chi Minh the occupiers. A communist, Ho Chi Minh waged a guerilla war against the Japanese waged a guerilla war against the Japanese with the support of the United States. Near with the support of the United States. Near the end of the war, the Japanese began to the end of the war, the Japanese began to promote Vietnamese nationalism and promote Vietnamese nationalism and ultimately granted the country nominal ultimately granted the country nominal independence independence

Vietnam War VisualVietnam War Visual

This is a picture of the U.S. paratroopers carrying a wounded soldier to an ambulance helicopter during the Vietnam War, 1965..

Why did the US get involved?Why did the US get involved?

The reasons for the United States to The reasons for the United States to get involved in the Vietnam War was get involved in the Vietnam War was to prevent a Communist takeover in to prevent a Communist takeover in the south. The U.S supported the south. The U.S supported President Diem with money, military President Diem with money, military guidance, and advice. The Vietnam guidance, and advice. The Vietnam War is known longest and most War is known longest and most unpopular war that Americans had unpopular war that Americans had ever fought.ever fought.

The Ending of the WarThe Ending of the War

In December 1974, the North In December 1974, the North Vietnamese began their final campaign Vietnamese began their final campaign which led to the surrender of the South which led to the surrender of the South Vietnamese government, under Vietnamese government, under President Duong van Minh. In 1976 the President Duong van Minh. In 1976 the country was united under Communist country was united under Communist rule. The Vietnam War concluded with rule. The Vietnam War concluded with the withdrawal of the American troops the withdrawal of the American troops and the failure of its foreign policy in and the failure of its foreign policy in Vietnam. Vietnam.

SourcesSources

The Vietnam War." The Vietnam War." WikipediaWikipedia. 1 May 2008 . 1 May 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vietnam_War>. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vietnam_War>.

Ho Chi Minh." Ho Chi Minh." WikipediaWikipedia. 6 May 2008 . 6 May 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh>. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh>.

Lyndon B. Johnson." Lyndon B. Johnson." WikipediaWikipedia. 6 May 2008 . 6 May 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B._Johnson <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B._Johnson

"Vietnam War." "Vietnam War." MSN EncartaMSN Encarta. 6 May 2008 . 6 May 2008 <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761552642/Vietna<http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761552642/Vietnam_War.html>. m_War.html>.

Vietnam War History." Vietnam War History." Vietnam WarVietnam War. 6 May 2008 . 6 May 2008 http://www.vietnamwar.com/warhistory.htmhttp://www.vietnamwar.com/warhistory.htm

The Lasting EffectsThe Lasting Effects

Over 1.4 million military troops were Over 1.4 million military troops were killed and it cost the lives of 58,000 killed and it cost the lives of 58,000 Americans. On April 30, 1975 the Americans. On April 30, 1975 the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, fell capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, fell to the communist forces of North to the communist forces of North Vietnam effectively ending the war in Vietnam effectively ending the war in 1975.1975.

Primary SourcePrimary Source

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/psources/ps_kennedy.htmlam/psources/ps_kennedy.html

A letter from Kennedy to Ngo Dinh A letter from Kennedy to Ngo Dinh Diem about agreeing to help protect Diem about agreeing to help protect the Republic of Vietnam protect its the Republic of Vietnam protect its people and gain its Independence on people and gain its Independence on December 14, 1961.December 14, 1961.