Vietnam Conflict
- 1950-1975
- Beginnings
- Goals (US)
- stop communism
- Goals (North Vietnamese)
- independence
- The French Connections
- France had gained control of Indochina in a series of colonial wars beginning in the 1840's and lasting until the 1880's.
- During World War II, Vichy French had collaborated with the occupying of Imperial Japanese forces.
- Vietnam was under Japanese control during WWII, although the Vichy French continued to serve as the official administration.
- After the Japanese surrender, the French fought to retain control of their former colony against the Viet Minh independence movement, led by Communist Party leader Ho Chi Minh.
- After the Viet Minh defeated the French colonial army at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the French withdrew, and the colony was granted independence.
- Geneva Conference - 1954
- Vietnam was partitions temporarily into a Northern and a Southern zone of Vietnam at the 17th parallel.
- The North was to be ruled by Ho Chi Minh, while the South would be under the control of Emperor Bao Dai.
- In 1955, Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem became President of a new South Vietnamese republic.
- Set up elections to unify the country by July, 1956.
- Such elections were never held because neither side wanted to lose.
- Goals (US)
- US Involvement (Escalation)
- On December 11, !961, the United states sent 900 military advisers.
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