Vietnam-PathToWar

=VIETNAM - THE PATH TO WAR =

You all know that the United States was involved in a major military conflict 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 paragraphs
 * continue the following terms - France, Ho Chi Minh, communism, Ngo Dinh Diem, military advisors, Gulf of Tonkin
 * 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

Need some help? How about ... //Creating America// [|Into Vietnam (Overview)] from ABC-CLIO [|**Vietnam War** - the **Causes**] [|Timeline of the Vietnam War] [|Vietnam Online Timeline] Causes of the Vietnam War video below media type="youtube" key="Fd8wKKfN7sM" height="344" width="425"

Notes from Class: Late 1800's- Vietnam is a French Colony called French Indochina 1930's- Communist revolts led by Ho Chi Minh- Follower of the Lights: Ho Flees to China and USSR. He leads to revolts 1940's Ho Chi Minh forms Vietminh party in order to liberate Vietnam- declare independence in 1945 9 years fight the French 1954- Vietminh successfully defeat French in North Vietnam and establish Communist government in North 1954- Vietnam is split temporarily in Communist in the North American Involvement- Sent Economic and military aid to France to help them believe that Communist should not spread Eisenhower- felt that if one country falls to communism they all fall to communism- domino theory Ngo Dinh Diem leads South Vietnam- won't hold free elections He was a Roman Catholic and self immolation which is burning yourself: Buddha burn themselves Kennedy- U.S. supports an overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963. Diem is assassinated Kennedy sends advisors- at his death there were 16,000 people in Vietnam Johnson- commits the US more fully to the war in Vietnam The Gulf of Tonkin: The American destroyer Maddox was supposedly shot at. Johnson goes to Congress: President can take all necessary measures to protect American forces and prevent further aggression. It is called the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

 Vietnam War Summary! The Vietnam War was the longest war America had ever been in and was one of the most deadliest wars ever. Before a long time ago, the French ruled Vietnam or as they called it French Indochina during the late 1800's. In 1930, Ho Chi Minh or the follower of the lights leads a communist revolt against the French beginning the start of the Vietnam War. For 9 years until 1954 is the Vietnam War with the Vietnamese versuses the French. The Vietnamese defeat the French in the battle of Dien Bien Phu where the French surrender and supposedly the war is over. During the war, America is helping out the French by paying for all of their supplies and troops. Truman does this because he is afraid of the spread of communism in Southeast Asia and is hoping to prevent communism from spreading. When Eisenhower was president, he felt that if one country falls to communism the ones surrounding it all fall to communism; this theory is called the domino theory.

The French and Vietnam make a pact to divide Vietnam at the 17th parallel. The northern part was communism led by Ho Chi Minh while the other part was democratic led by Ngo Dinh Diem. Diem was not a good leader; he was a roman catholic and wouldn't allow buddhism so buddhists would burn themselves to revolt. When Kennedy is president, he supports overthrowing Diem; Diem is suddenly assassinated right after being kicked out of office. Kennedy sends military advisors to help the South make plans in attacking and hopefully try to defeat the North in this war. Unfortunately, Kennedy is assassinated; at his death there were 16,000 people in Vietnam.

When Johnson takes over he committs himself more fully to the war in Vietnam. During the war, Johnson is bombarded by his advisors to send more soldiers to Vietnam which is what he does. Johnson asks Congress to pass this bill because of the American destroyer Maddox. The American destroyer Maddox was supposedly shot at by North Vietnamese torpedo boats twice but no one knows if this is true or not. However, this does allow Johnson to pass his bill called the Gulf of Tonkin. This allows the president to take all necessary measures to protect American forces without coming to the Congress. Vietcong mortar shells bomb Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon killing 4 Americans and 76 wounded. Then the first marines begin to land in Vietnam in 1965.