Chapter 22.1

Roots of Conflict in Vietnam
France rules in Vietnam from late 1800s until WWII
 * US becomes involved in 1950 French Indochina War
 * Economic and military support.

Ho Chi Minh - organizes Vietnamese revolutionaries living in China. temporarily divide Vietnam along the 17th parallel
 * Indochinese Communist Part -1930
 * 1940 - Japan took control of Vietnam
 * Vietmin - Ho Chi Minh forms group to win independence from foreign rule
 * 1945 - Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent
 * 1945 - France refuses to relinquish colony
 * 1950 - US enters Vietname conflict on the side of the French
 * Truman - $15m aid to France
 * US spends $1b over the next 4 years helping France
 * 1953 - Eisenhower continues to aid French
 * 1954 - Domino Theory explained
 * countries on the brink of communism a row of dominoes, if one falls, so will the others
 * May 1954 - French surrender
 * May -- July 1954 - Geneva Accords-

United States Intervenes

 * Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations provide economic and military support to South Vietnam
 * South Vietnam's president - Ngo Dinh Diem cancels 1956 election
 * US support Diem's decision, fear Ho Chi Minh may win
 * Diem leads corrupt government
 * 1957 - Vietcong, communist opposition group in the South, begins attack on Diem government
 * assassinate officials
 * 1959 - Ho Chi Minh Trail - path along borders of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia

Kennedy and Vietnem

 * Kennedy supports Diem also
 * Increases financial aid to South Vietnam
 * 1000s of military advisors from US sent to South Vietnam
 * 1963 - 16,000 US Military were in South Vietnam
 * Diem administration moves all villagers in the South to protected areas to combat Vietcong presence

Diem and Buddhism

 * Diem - Catholic
 * Attacks Buddhism
 * Imprisons or kills hundreds of Buddhist clerks
 * Buddhist monks & nuns protest by burning themselves in the streets
 * US horrified
 * Ask Diem to stop attacks on Buddhism
 * Diem refuses