In the early 1900s, France controlled Vietnam but faced growing independence movements. Ho Chi Minh emerged as a leader seeking full independence. After World War II, Vietnam was occupied by Japan and France returned, resisting independence. The US backed France, hoping to contain communism, but France was defeated in 1954. This led to division and war between the US-backed South and communist North, backed by the USSR and China. Despite US involvement, North Vietnam reunified the country under communism in 1975.
2. In the early 1900’s the
French controlled a
section of Southeast Asia
known as French
Indochina.
Independence movements
began in a section of
French Indochina known
as Vietnam.
3. Ho Chi Minh was a
Vietnamese man who became
a leader of an independence
movement.
In the 1930’s Ho Chi Minh
turned to the Communists for
help.
The French threatened Ho Chi
Minh with death so he left the
country.
4. Now Ho Chi Minh went to the mountains
Far away across the ocean, And he trained a determined band
Far beyond the sea's eastern rim, Heroes all, sworn to liberate the Indo-Chinese people
Lives a man who is father of the Indo-Chinese
people, Drive invaders from the land.
And his name it is Ho Chi Minh.
From VietBac to the SaiGon Delta Fourteen men became a hundred
From the mountains and plains below A hundred thousand and Ho Chi Minh
Young and old workers, peasants and the toiling Forged and tempered the army of the Indo-Chinese people
tenant farmers Freedom's Army of Viet Minh.
Fight for freedom with Uncle Ho.
Now Ho Chi Minh was a deep sea sailor Every soldier is a farmer
He served his time out on the seven seas Comes the evening and he grabs his hoe
Work and hardship were part of his early education
Comes the morning he swings his rifle on his shoulder
Exploitation his ABC.
This the army of Uncle Ho.
Now Ho Chi Minh came home from sailing
And he looked out on his native land From the mountains and the jungles
Saw the want and the hunger of the Indo-Chinese From the ricelands and the Plain of Reeds
people March the men and the women of the Indo-Chinese Army
Foreign soldiers on every hand. Planting freedom with vict'ry seeds.
From VietBac to the SaiGon Delta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO2oCO-njHU
Marched the armies of Viet Minh
And the wind stirs the banners of the Indo-Chinese people
Peace and freedom and Ho Chi Minh.
5. During World War II the
Japanese took over
Indochina (1941 – 1945).
Ho Chi Minh returned and
began reuniting his party.
Many believed Vietnam
would become
independent after the war
ended and Japan lost.
6. All Vietnamese people wanted to have an
independent Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh wanted Vietnam to be
independent and communist. Many
Vietnamese people agreed, but not all.
Some Vietnamese people wanted to be
independent, but not communist. These
people were called Nationalists.
7. After World War II Vietnam
didn’t become independent.
Instead the French
returned.
The Communists and
Nationalists joined forces to
fight the French and
become independent.
The movement had spread
to the peasants in the
countryside.
8. In 1954 the French suffered a
humiliating defeat at Dien
Bien Phu and gave up.
America had been supporting
France. We were not ready to
give up, and did not want
Vietnam to become
communist.
9. With France gone the Vietnamese people
still had a lot of problems to sort out.
There was still a disagreement between the
Nationalist and Communists about what
type of government they would have.
America stayed involved because we
wanted to contain communism.
10. North Vietnam was
mostly communist
and under control of
Ho Chi Minh. South
Vietnam was mostly
Nationalist, and
would come under
control of a man
backed by the US.
11. Many Americans
believed in domino
theory – the belief
that once a country
becomes communist
they will spread
communism to their
neighbors.
13. The US gave support to Ngo
Dinh Diem an unpopular leader
of South Vietnam who ruled like
a dictator, but wasn’t
communist.
He was hated by many and
overthrown and killed in 1963.
This made Ho Chi Minh and
communism even more
appealing to the Vietnamese
people.
14. Diem’s unpopularity
increased the support for
Ho Chi Minh and the
Vietcong – communist
guerilla fighters, in the
south.
The US had already been
helping Nationalist
leaders in the south, now
we sent more planes,
tanks, and military.
15. The US had many difficulties in fighting the
Vietcong:
1. Unfamiliar terrain and fighting against guerilla
tactics.
2. South Vietnamese government was rapidly
losing popularity.
3. North Vietnamese communists were getting
weapons from the Soviet Union and China.
16. During our involvement Laos and
Cambodia were bombed to kill any
Vietcong hiding there.
The American public didn’t
understand why it was necessary for
us to be involved in this conflict.
Due to the unpopularity of our
involvement and the controversy over
our tactics President Nixon withdrew
our troops officially in 1973.
17. The use of napalm
and Agent Orange,
chemicals to clear
large portions of
forest in Vietnam
caused great
damage.
Agricultural was
ruined for decades and
many birth defects
resulted from the use
of Agent Orange.
18. After the US left the
communist north
overran the south.
Vietnam became
communist.
Vietnam is still
communist today, and
has a good relationship
with America.
19. Vietnam War demonstrates how US became
involved in foreign affairs to prevent the spread of
communism due to our belief in domino theory.
Containment in action – was it successful or worth
it?
The outcome of this war impacts later foreign
policy decisions – President Nixon will works
towards a better relationship with the Soviet Union
and China.