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America originally joined the Indochina war which was the name given to France's attempt to reclaim their lost land in Vietnam. America aided France to help strengthen their ties and to help stop the spread of communism.
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They were forced to surrender because the Vietminh overran the French outpost at Dien Bien Phu, in northwestern Vietnam. France, GB, Russians, US, China, Laos, and Cambodia met to settle out a peace agreement with the Southern Vietnamese. This agreement divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel. The North was Communist and their leader was Ho Chi Minh
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US took a more active part in the prevention of communism spread by providing economic and military aid to the South of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh was likely to win popular vote over current President, Ngo Dinh Diem, a communist. US promised to get the elections cancelled if Diem did some things. Diem didn't hold up his end of the bargain and ushered in a corrupt government that suppressed opposition of any kind and offered little or no land distribution to peasants. Restricted Buddhist practice.
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Diem had to be killed to prevent further ruin of the South. His death brought chaos and Vietcong gained more power.
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N. Vietamese boat fired a torpedo at the USS Maddox- a US ship. This led t conflicts and more attacks. P. Johnson bombed N. Vietnam which meant that the US was now deep in war.
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Johnson began sending tens of thousands of soldiers into Vietnam. They all went in with the intent of stopping the spread of communism.
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Doves were against the war and protested to get President Johnson to pull the troops out of the war. Doves burned buildings and took over campuses, gaining more followers. Hawks were for the war.
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As number of troops being sent to Nam increased so did the costs and Johnson had to impose new tax to raise money.
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Vietnamese New Year. A truce was called to celebrate but th Vietcong took advantage and attacked 100 villages, 12 air bases and Saigon. The attack lasted 1 month before the South and US could regain control. It was a huge loss for the Vietcong- 32,000 soldiers.
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US platoon was searching for Vietcong members but ended up killing 200 innocent villagers in the South. US learnt of the massacre two year after.
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Nixon is elected new President. Left with the task of pleasing the public and ending the war.
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Nixon would slowly begin withdrawing troops from Nam and let the Southern Vietnamese fight their war. Remove America from the war.
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US took over Cambodia to clear out North Vietnamese an Vietcong centers.
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In 1975, the longest American war ever ended.
