Vietnam War

• Background to the Vietnam War

  French colony before occupied by Japanese in 1949. It was reverted after the war but its people wanted independence.

  1952, France suffered 90,000 casualties due to guerilla warfare. France was defated at Dien Bien Phu
• guerrila warfare


  A hit-and-run technique used in fighting a war; fighting by small bands of warriors using tactics such as sudden ambushes
• Domino Theory


  A theory that if one nation comes under Communist control, then neighboring nations will also come under Communist control.
• Geneva conference


  A conference between many countries that agreed to end hostilities and restore peace in Vietnam.

  Vietnam was divided across the 17th parallel.
• Leader of North Vietnam

  Ho Chi Minh (communist)
• Leader of South Vietnam

  Ngo Dinh Diem (Anti-Communist)
• What did the USA do during the Geneva conference?

  Refused to sign the agreements stating the temporary division of Vietnam - they could not accept a Communist north.
• Vietcong


  A group of Communist guerrillas who, with the help of North Vietnam, fought against the South Vietnamese government and Diem in the Vietnam War.
• Trail used by Vietcong

  Ho Cho Minh- supplied weapons and fighters to Vietcong
• What happened in the Vietnam war during 1960?

  John F. Kennedy elected - wanted to prevent spread of communism from Vietnam. He sent advisors and experts to Vietnam in greater numbers (more than 16,000)
• 2nd December 1963 - Vietnam war


  Diem was murdered
• 22nd December 1963 - Vietnam war


  JFK assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald from the Union Book depository in Dallas, Texas.
• What did the new US president do that involved Vietnam?

  Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) ordered full US military involvement. USA struggled against guerrilla warfare and the American youth paid a price.