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Viet Nam – A Background

Viet Nam – A Background. Distance between Washington, D.C. and Hanoi, Viet Nam: 8,298 miles. History of Foreign invaders:. A. Chinese – 111 B.C. – conquer northern Viet Nam. Chinese culture dominates much of Viet Nam:. Rice growing. Buddhism. Chinese writing.

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Viet Nam – A Background

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  1. Viet Nam – A Background

  2. Distance between Washington, D.C. and Hanoi, Viet Nam: 8,298 miles

  3. History of Foreign invaders: A. Chinese – 111 B.C. – conquer northern Viet Nam Chinese culture dominates much of Viet Nam: • Rice growing • Buddhism • Chinese writing Viet Nam becomes independent by 1700 B. France invades in the mid 1800s 1893 – French have taken over Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos

  4. French improve Viet Nam – built roads, ports, etc. • Introduced Roman Catholicism • Put down opposition to French rule – censorship, secret police, killed Vietnamese nationalists, etc. • Revolts, strikes against French occur during 1930s: Led by communists under leadership of Ho Chi Minh: (had formed Indochinese Communist Party in 1930) • 1941 – communists, other nationalists combine – form the “League for Vietnamese Independence” – commonly known as the Vietminh

  5. Japan occupies Viet Nam during WWII • U. S. helps Vietminh – in exchange, U.S. gains info on Japanese movements POST WWII: A. 1945 – Vietminh proclaim independence for Viet Nam • French return • Ho Chi Minh appeals to Pres. Truman for help • U.S. ignores the plea – Vietminh is a communist group • 1946 – war breaks out – Vietminh vs. French • 1949 – French set up a puppet gov’t. – headed by Bao Dai:

  6. 1950 – Ho Chi Minh launches a huge offensive - • Receives aid from China (communist as of 1949) B. President Truman’s role: • Fear of communism – communist China, Korean conflict, McCarthyism, etc. • Increased aid to the French C. President Eisenhower’s role: • Believes in “domino theory” • Again increases aid to the French D. 1954 – Dien Bien Phu: • Vietminh finally defeat French • Eisenhower refused to help the French - • Fear of Soviet/Chinese retaliation, didn’t want to act w/o approval of Congress

  7. E. Geneva Accords – 1954: • Cease-fire agreed upon • Viet Nam is divided at 17th parallel • North – led by Ho Chi Minh • South – led by Bao Dai • Elections to be held in 1956 – will unify Viet Nam • Laos, Cambodia will become independent F. Bao Dai is overthrown by Ngo Dinh Diem: • Strong anti-communist leader (will receive U.S. support) • Refused to hold elections – knew Ho Chi Minh would win • Antagonized many S. Vietnamese – imprisoned opposition, restricted Buddhist practices, etc.

  8. G. Formation of National Liberation Front (Vietcong) • Made up of Vietminh, Buddhists, nationalists, liberals who wanted freedoms • Launched guerilla campaign against Diem • Supported by Ho Chi Minh – By 1959, he will supply arms to NLF via the Ho Chi Minh trail: • Diem’s response – “strategic hamlet program”: relocate entire villages • Causes Vietcong to gain support – ancestor worship is common

  9. H. President Kennedy’s role: • Increases aid to Diem - containment • Sends U.S. “military advisors” to aid Diem - 1963 I. Diem is overthrown: • Buddhists protest Diem’s oppressive rule • Military coup – 11/1/1963 – U.S. “looks the other way” • Several governments follow, none much better than Diem’s

  10. J. Tonkin Gulf Resolution: • LBJ – concerned about U. S. credibility • Saw Vietminh/Vietcong as Chinese “puppets” • July, 1964 – N. Viet Nam claims U.S. helped S. Viet Nam attack islands • 8/2/1964 – N. Vietnamese “attack” American destroyer, the Maddox: • Second attack occurs 2 days later • 8/7/1964 – Tonkin Gulf Resolution – provides “blank check” for President • Feb. 1965 – Johnson begins “Operation Rolling Thunder” – bombing campaign • March, 1965 – first U.S. combat troops arrive in South Viet Nam

  11. Five general reasons that leaders choose to commit their nations to war: (“The Five Ps”) 1. POWER 2. PRESTIGE 3. PRINCIPLES 4. PROFIT 5. PROTECTION Starr, Gerald M. “The Lessons of the Vietnam War”. Center for Social Studies Education. Pittsburgh, 2002. Pp. 29-30

  12. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.leksikon.org/images/ho_chi_minh.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.leksikon.org/art.php%3Fn%3D1120&h=197&w=188&sz=5&hl=en&start=3&tbnid=rjE8DT-LKHeGwM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=99&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dho%2Bchi%2Bminh%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG http://www.coldwarfiles.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=people.details&thisunit=0&peopleid=60 http://www.adambaumgoldgallery.com/Kostabi/Kostabi_Mark4.htm http://www.ambrosevideo.com/displayitem.cfm?vid=1102 http://www.psywarrior.com/VCLeafletsProp.html http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com/photos.htm http://www.voyagevietnam.net/ger/8-14.php http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com/archives/2004_02_08_politicalcomment_archive.html http://www.willthomas.net/Convergence/Weekly/US_Attack_Iran.htm

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