Essential Question: How did America’s involvement in the Vietnam War influence the relationshpi between President Johnson and Congress?
The Vietnam War - Purpose and Early Involvement
Quick Facts
- The Vietnam War (1954-1975), is largely recognized as America’s most unpopular and divisive war. ESPECIALLY since we NEVER declared war.
- An estimated 200 billion dollars was spent on the conflict and there were 13 million total military deaths for all countries involved and 1 million total civillian deahts
- South Vietnam eventually falls to Communism and following reunification Vietnam emerges as a Communist nation in 1976
History of the French Indochina War
- During WWII, Japan occupied French Indochina ( Vietnam) which was a colony of France. Following the war, France is determined to regain control over the territory
- In 1941, Ho Chi Minh established the Vietnam Independence League. Just four years later on August 25th, 1945 Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam as an independent nation. France refuses to accept the declaration and declares war.
- The US provided financial assistance due to a desire to stop the spread of communism and fear of the domino theory in Asia.
The Geneva Accords
- In response to the tense conflict between the French and Vietnamese nationalist (pro-independence), representatives from a number or nations (i.e. the United States, China, the Soviet Union, France, etc.) met at the Geneva Conference in 1954 to figure out how to resolve the conflict.
- The result was the Geneva Accords of 1954, which entailed the following conditions:
- The French agreed to withdraw their troops from northern Vietnam.
- Vietnam would be temporarily divided at the 17th parallel
- Free and Democratic elections would be held within two years to allow the Vietnamese to choose a president and reunite the country
Vietnamese Leadership
- Ho Chi Minh: (North Vietnam & Pro-Communism)
- Ngo Dinh Diem: (South Vietnam & favored by Democratic nations )
- Diem was NOT favored to win against his opponent BBao Dai and he was aware of this. As a result, he did NOT allow for the free elections to take place
Dictatorial Rule Under Diem
- South Vietnam aka the Republic of Vietnam to Diem’s leadership after a politically corrupt election. These were the conditions:
- Repressive dictatorial rule by Diem
- Diem’s family holds all power
- Wealth is hoarded by the elite
- Diem was a practicing catholic and had the Buddhist community persecuted
- Torture, lack of political freedom prevail
The US still aided Diem’s government ( until JFK ) because he was anti-communist: * Pres. Eisenhower sent financial and military aid * 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.
- Kennedy elected 1960
- Increases military “advisors” to 16,000
- 1964: JFK supports a S. Vietnamese military coup d’etat — Diem and his brother are murdered
- Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later in Dallas, TX (Nov. 22)
- Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as president and increases US presence in South Vietnam