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Japan invaded Vietnam, becoming one of a series of foreign nations to rule the asian country. The Chinese had controlled the region for hundreds of years. Then, from the late 1800's until WWII, the French ruled Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia-a region then know as French Indochina.
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The French were fighting the Vietminh. The Vietminh ended up slowly gaining control over the large areas of the country. As things got worse the French asked the U.S for help at first they said no, but after being convinced that if Vietnam became communist that the rest of southeast Asia would also become communist. Also known as the domino theory. -
Even with the help of th U.S the French continued to struggle against the Vietminh. They used guerrilla tactics to fight the French. The French had planned to seize control of the mountain town in Dien Bien Phu and cut their supply lines and force them into open battle. But a huge Vietminh force surrounded Dien Bien Phu and began bombing the town.This defeat convinced the French to make peace and withdraw from indochina.
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This provided for a temporary division of Vietnam along the 17th parallel. French troops soon left and the United States became the main protector of the new government in South Vietnam. The accords also made it so elections be held in 1956 to reunite the country under a single government. Diem wouldn't permit elections to be held but Eisenhower feared Ho Chi Minh would win so he increased American aid in South Vietnam. -
The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a military supply route running from North Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia to South Vietnam. The route sent weapons, manpower, ammunition, and other supplies from communist-led North Vietnam to their supporters in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The trail was named after Ho Chi Minh, the president of North Vietnam. During the 1960s, the Ho Chi Minh Trail moved several tons of supplies each day through rugged mountain ranges and dense jungle. -
After Ngo Dinh Diem wouldn't hold national elections, The communists and Ho Chi Minh struggled to reunify the nation they ended up organizing the Vietcong. The Vietcong grew more powerful over time because many Vietnamese didn't like Diem's government by 1961 they had control over most of the countryside. When Kennedy took office he would continue to support South Vietnam because they were vital to help the stop of communism. From 1961 to 1963 military personnel went from 2000 to 15000.
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By the end of 1965 more than 180,000 U.S, combat troops were fighting Vietnam. In 1966 that number doubled. The U.S military entered Vietnam with confidence. Lacking the firepower of the American forces the Vietcong used ambushes, booby traps, and other guerrilla tactics. The Vietcong also blended in with the general public and then would quickly vanish this annoyed the American troops. To Get them back American troops would use things like naplam, and Agent Orange.
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Diem didn't like Buddhists and he banned the traditional religious flags for the Buddha's birthday. Buddhists would protest in the streets by setting their selves on fire. This horrified Americans as they saw it on news stations. The United States subsequently became more heavily involved in Vietnam as it tried to stabilize the South Vietnamese government and beat back the communist rebels that were becoming an increasingly powerful threat.
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Henry Cabot Lodge learned that many Vietnamese generals were planning to overthrow Diem. The generals launched a military coup after Henry expressed U.S sympathy. Power was seized on November 1, 1963. Diem was soon executed after. Ater Diems death the government in South Vietnam weakened.
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President Kennedy was assassinated just three weeks after Diem. Johnson wanted to keep Vietnam from falling to the communists. After the North Vietnamese torpedo fired two U.S destroyers In the Gulf of Tonkin. He ordered American aircraft to attack North Vietnamese ships and naval facilities.
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The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution authorized President Lyndon Johnson to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression” by the communist government of North Vietnam. It was passed on August 7, 1964, by the U.S. Congress after an alleged attack on two U.S. naval destroyers stationed off the coast of Vietnam.