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Prior to this point, Vietnam had a French and Japanese presence. Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese communist, establishes Viet Minh to rid country of this presence. After the battle of Dien Bien Phu, the French seek an exit of the country via peaceful fire decided at the Geneva Conference in 1954. This resulted in French leaving and the division at the 17th parallel. Vietnam was split into north, communist, and south, non communist. This transition prompts the United States involvement.
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In attempted to unite the country, a democratic election was held. United States was invested in the outcomes of this election in fear that the communist might be elected into office. At the time, the United States believed in a domino theory, suggesting that communist nations spread quickly in this area. Therefore, the US felt the need to stop the spread of communism by assisting a non communist aligned official.
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The Viet Cong, or the National Liberation Front, was established. This group had the intent to get American influence out of the country, to unite the country, and to spread communism ideals. North Vietnam pushes south. The Viet Cong, established in South Vietnam, fight the South Vietnamese Army.
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Due to difficulty reasoning with Diem, the United States thought it would be better to have someone else in office. A group began to take over, with US blessing, not understanding Diem would be murdered. President John F. Kennedy was unaware Diem would be killed. This assassination led to a unstable government and the aid of more US advice and support.
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USS Maddox was fired upon in the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. This incident led to Congress giving president Lyndon B. Johnson the right to give military support to the region.
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Attacks on US bases increase. 3,500 marines sent in to support South Vietnamese and US interest. They were set as a defense, rather than offensive. By the end of the year of 1965, over 200,000 soldiers deployed to the region.
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Troops numbers increased to 400,000. In 1967, they were up to 500,000. Fighting was very difficult for Americans. Viet Cong used tunnels, the jungle, and unfamiliar tactics that frustrated and took American troops by surprise. Americans soldiers had low morale.
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North Vietnam and Viet Cong surprise attack South Vietnamese and US positions. Even though the attack was repelled, it received poor support from the US public. It showed a stronger than expected enemy and high casualty rate. President Johnson decides to not pursue more war effort in the region and to pull back.
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President Nixon comes up with a plan to pull troops out of the region and turn over the fighting to the South Vietnamese. He also expands the war into Cambodia and Laos.
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Just as American troops left the area, North Vietnam crossed the 17th parallel and invaded South Vietnam.
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Peace talks ended and US troops were fully pulled from region. By March of 1975, US left a weak South Vietnam to stand up to the North.
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President Ford announces to American public the end of the Vietnam war and US involvement in the region.
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After the US pull out, South Vietnam was invaded by the North and had to surrender. The city of Saigon was surrounded by 100,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Persons, US and civilians had to be evacuated.
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Vietnam was reunited as a communist country after President Duong Van Minh surrenders.
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Saigon is claimed by Socialist Republic of Vietnam and called Ho Chi Minh City. Many refugees of war are forced to flee.
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Vietnam invades Cambodia and removed Pol Pot, who killed many of the Cambodian population. This led the Chinese to attack from the north.
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Rossenburg, J. (2014). Vietnam War. Retrieved from http://history1900s.about.com/od/vietnamwar/a/vietnamwar.htm Vietnam Profile (15 May, 2014). BBC News. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16568035 Vietnam War. (2014, May 27). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:47, May 28, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vietnam_War&oldid=610396466 All images retrieved from google images via creative commons.
