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In the 1800s, French established themselves as the colonial power in Vietnam
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After the dividing of Vietnam, President Dwight D. Eisenhower pledged American support of South Vietnam's Ngo Dinh Diem in an attempt to enforce the containment policy and stop the spread of communism.
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The Tet Offensive included surprise attacks on major cities, towns, and American military bases throughout South Vietnam.
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After his election in 1960, President John F. Kennedy pledged American support to the South Vietnamese.
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Ngo Dinh Diem, the democratic leader of South Vietnam, lacked support in his own country as he imprisoned people who criticized his government, filled many government positions with members of his own family, and persecuted Buddhists.
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After winning the election of 1964, President Johnson began a gradual escalation of the Vietnam war effort.
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After Kennedy's assassination in 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson became President and, like Kennedy, he was determined to carry out the Containment policy and stop the spread of communism by supporting South Vietnam.
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By the end of 1968, more than 536,000 American troops were in Vietnam.
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The Paris Peace Talks began in 1968 and were part of a peace negotiation effort started by President Johnson that last until 1972.
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American involvement in the Vietnam war ended in 1973, but the fighting in Vietnam continued.