Vietnam+The+Path+to+War




 * A BRIEF HISTORY OF VIETNAM [[image:turningpoints/vietnamsill.gif align="right" caption="vietnamsill.gif"]] **

Pre 1800s – ** Vietnam has dyanstic rulers, influenced by China **

LATE 1800s – ** Vietnam is a French colony **

1930s – ** communist revolts led by Ho Chi Minh – Ho Chi Minh flees to China and USSR **

1940s – ** Ho Chi Minh forms Vietminh party in order to liberate Vietnam – declare independence in 1945 **

1954 – ** Vietminh successfully defeat French in north Vietnam and establish communist government in north **

1954 – ** Vietnam is split temporarily by the Geneva Accords, with free elections to be held in 1956 to unite the nation **

LATE 1950s – ** Civil War in Vietnam between Communist North and American-supported South **


 * PRESIDENTIAL INVOLVEMENT **
 * [[image:turningpoints/hst.gif align="left" caption="hst.gif"]] || [[image:turningpoints/dde.gif align="left" caption="dde.gif"]] || [[image:turningpoints/lfk.gif align="left" caption="lfk.gif"]] || [[image:turningpoints/lbj.gif align="left" caption="lbj.gif"]] ||
 * **TRUMAN**
 * sent economic and military aid to France to help them keep their colonies in Indochina. (including Vietnam)** || **EISENHOWER**
 * Felt that is one country falls to communism then others would follow- the domino theory. Helped establish a puppet state in South Vietnam and sent military advisers to help in the South. Ngo Dinh Diem leads South Vietnam- wont hold free elections.** || **KENNEDY**
 * U.S. supports an overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963. Doesn't want to be soft on Communism. Continued to send military advisers- at his death 16000 advisers.** || **JOHNSON**
 * Commits the US more to fully to the war in Vietnam. Originally sends a few more advisers.** ||


 * =** The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution **=

South Vietnamese boats get in fight with North Vietnamese boats. Two American boats come in.The two ships get attacked. The ships were looking for places to bomb. Johnson asks congress to take all necessary measures to protect American forces and prevent further aggression. __**A BLANK CHECK.**__ Congress passes it with only two votes against. ||  ||  ||
 * Sec. of Defense Robert McNamera ||  ||


 * [[image:http://cdn.dipity.com/uploads/events/0bbab3dff8455159bcacb94c240ceb82_1M.png caption="external image 0bbab3dff8455159bcacb94c240ceb82_1M.png"]] || =** Operation Rolling Thunder **=

Bombing the living bejesus out of Vietnam. ||

= =
 * = American ground troops enter Vietnam =

3500 marines enter Vietnam in 1965. || ||

My questions about the Vietnam War: