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Negotiations resulted in the division of Vietnam along the 17th parallel. The north was controlled by Communist leader, Ho Chi Minh, and the south was controlled by the anti-communist leader, Ngo Dinh Diem. The France troops officially left and America became the protector of the south. The accords also called for elections to eventually reunite Vietnam, but failed because of Diem's fear of losing the election. Which lead to an increase in America's involvement in Vietnam. -
After Japan surrendered in 1945, France planned to return to its former colony, Vietnam. But, when the French troops returned to the area the Vietminh fought back forcing the French to request aid from the United States. American officials opposed colonization, but did not want Vietnam to fall to Communism. So, they went ahead and helped the French. The Vietminh surrounded the struggling French forces at the battle of Dien Bien Phu, forcing the French to surrender. -
John F. Kennedy took office and continued to support the south Vietnamese. Kennedy believed that defending the south was vital to the war against communism. Involvement increased in the south as a result of his support, the number of troops went from 2,000 to roughly 15,000. Strategic Hamlets, special fortified villages, became extremely unpopular with people. -
Diem had become extremely unpopular as a result of his discrimination against Buddhists, one of the country's widely practiced religions. He eventually banned the traditional religious flags for Buddha's birthday. Americans became aware of Diem's unpopularity and supported the idea of South Vietnamese generals staging a military coup and removing Diem from power. The generals staged the coup and soon executed Diem. Even though Diem was highly disliked the South Vietnamese government weakened.
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Three weeks after Diem's execution, Kennedy was assassinated. His processor, Lyndon B. Johnson took office and choose to also support the South Vietnamese. Johnson planned to expand the role of America in Vietnamese to fight against communism and look strongest enough to lead the country.
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Johnson announces to the American people that the North Vietnamese have torpedoed 2 American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.
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President Johnson asked Congress for the authority to defend American forces and allies, which prompted Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This allows the president to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against American forces to prevent further aggression. Soon after, the Vietcong began to attack bases where American advisers were stationed, leading to Johnson sending an American aircraft to bomb North Vietnam. Americans' views on the war began to split.
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Johnson increased America's involvement by ordering a sustained bombing campaign against the North Vietnamese. He also sent the U.S. combat troops to Vietnam. -
By the end of 1965, 180,000 U.S. troops were fighting in Vietnam. That number doubled by 1966. The Vietcong adapted their way of fighting counter the fire power of U.S. They used tactics such as ambushes, booby traps, and other guerrilla tactics. The Vietcong would also blend in the general population, making it difficult for U.S. troops to fight the Vietcong. Neither side could out perform the other, which led to a stalemate, which lasted the rest of the war.
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To Counter the Vietcong's guerilla tactics, the U.S. increased the number of combat troops, used Agent Orange to expose hiding Vietcong soldiers, and implemented Search and Destroy tactics. Agent Orange is a chemical bomb that would strip away any vegetation, so that the Vietcong could not hide and surprise the American troops.