Vietnam-+The+Path+to+War

=VIETNAM - THE PATH TO WAR =

You all know that the United States was involved in a major military conflict in Vietnam during the Cold War ... but why? What was America's "path to war"? Using the resources below and __Creating America__, your task this evening is to write a description in YOUR OWN WORDS of the causes of American involvement in Southeast Asia. Pretend you are writing it as a summary for on online encyclopedia or textbook. Your description should ...
 * be between ** two and four complete, well written paragraphs **
 * ** contain the following terms ** - France, Ho Chi Minh, communism, Ngo Dinh Diem, military advisors, Gulf of Tonkin, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Rolling Thunder
 * be** IN YOUR OWN WORDS **(remember, it's easy to check this online)
 * ** contain two images ** THAT RELATE TO YOUR WRITING
 * Should **end with the first Marines landing in Vietnam** in 1965

 Vietnam means people of the south. In 1954 Vietnam became independent from __France__ due to political party and war led by __Ho Chi Minh__. After a peace conference in Switzerland it was decided that __communist__ North Vietnam and democratic South Vietnam at the 17th parallel. It was also decided that an election would be held to unify Vietnam under one leader. The two candidates are, __communist__ __Ho Chi Mihn__ and __Ngo Dihn Diem__. Now Diem was very concerned about Ho’s popularity and the Vietnam would fall to __communism__ so the election was canceled. This started a Civil War between the two sides in the late 1950s. After that, North Vietnam tried to unify the country through war. Because Diem was against communism __Truman__ sent sent military and economic aid to France to keep the colony so it would not fall to communism. President Eisenhower then sent 900 __military advisers__ in 1960 to help his prevent the spread of communism and under President __Kennedy__ the number was up to 11,000 by 1962. But he does not support Ngo's so Kennedy helps plan an overthrow of his power.  Unfortunately, the Diem administration was extremely corrupted and even more unpopular. Because of this, the Viet-Cong assassinated Diem and saw it as a patriotic attempt to reunite the nation. Because of this, U.S. advisors feared that Vietnam would fall to communism and a domino effect would cause the rest of East Asia to fall to communism as well. When President Johnson came to power, he was a lot more committed to this problem, not yet a war.  In the __ Gulf of Tonkin __ President __ Johnson __ told Congress that a U.S. ship had been subject to attack. He asked for the power to take all necessary measures to protect Americans. Congress then gave him the authority to attack the Viet-Cong without declaring war. The first plan was called Operation __Rolling Thunder__. This was a plan to continually drop bombs on North Vietnam, more bombs than were every dropped on German during WW2. Then in 1965 the US Marines were sent in, 3,500 of them.