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Then, from the late 1800's until world war 2, the French ruled Vitenam, Laos, and Cambodia a region then know as French Indochina. -
By the early 1900s, nationalism had become a powerful force in Vietnam. Several political parties pushed for independence or for reform French colonial rule. -
Among the leaders of the nationalist movement was Nguyen that Thanh-better known by his assumed name, Ho Chi Minh. After years in Europe, China, and the soviet union, he returned to southeast Asia. There, he helped found the indochinese Communist Party in 1930 and worked for independence. -
In 1940, Japan invaded Vietnam. The Chinese held hold of the region for hundreds of years. -
Ho Chi Minh's activities forced him to flee Indochina and spend Several years in exile in the soviet union and China. In 1941, he returned to veitnam . -
When Japan surrendered to the allies in 1945, it gave up control of Indochina. Ho chi Minh quickly declared Vietnam's independence. -
France had no intention of losing its former colony, however. French troops returned to Vietnam in 1946and drove the vietminh into hiding. -
Soon afterward, a huge vietnam force surrounded Dien Bien Phu and began bombarding the town. On may 7, 1954, the French forces fell to the vietminh. The defeat convinced the French to make peace and withdraw from indochina. -
When President Kennedy took office in 1961, he continued to support Vietnam, believing the country was vital in in the battle against communism. -
The accords called for elections to be held in 1956 to reunite the country under a single gov't. Diem Refused to permit the elections, however, fearing Ho Chi Minh would win. Eisenhower approved of Diem's actions and increased American aid to south Vietnam
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