Nam Draft

The Vietnam War

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Background

• Vietnam- A country in Southeast Asia

• France controlled Vietnam since 1880's

• Vietnam has resisted foreign rule for over 2000 years!

WWII and Aftemath

• Japan invades during WWII

• 1945-Japan loses war and leaves

• First Indochina War fought between communist faction in North and French in South.

• 1951-Eisenhower helps French with the war with $$$

• 1954-France loses war

The Geneva Conference ended French Influence

Geneva Accords signed in 1954:

• France would end its colonization

• North Vietnam would be communist

• South Vietnam would be a democracy

• Demilitarized zone along the 17th parallel

American Intervention*

*This should sound familiar

• US had policy of "Containment" during Cold War

• North Vietnamese start invading South after Geneva Accords

• North and South led by very different leaders

• ​North Vietnam leader

• Communist

• Wanted a unified, independent Vietnam

• Had been fighting since 1940's

Ho Chi Minh

• ​South Vietnam leader

• Anti-Communist

• Backed by the US with $$$

• Authoritarian leader

• Jailed opponents and suspended elections

​Ngo Dinh Diem

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