Cold War: Vietnam

Purpose: To analyze the causes, events and effects of the Vietnam conflict

Background

France colonized present-day Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam in the late Nineteenth Century, with the area being referred to as “French Indo China”. The Japanese assumed control of the area during WWII, and a resistance movement led by a Communist named Ho Chi Minh began to drive the Japanese from Vietnam. After this successful movement (Japan surrendered in 1945) Ho Chi Minh declared independence in Vietnam. France disagreed and a war between France and Vietnam commenced in 1946. The Vietminh (the name of the freedom forces in Vietnam), was supplied with weapons from China and was further bolstered by popular support in the nation. The French were backed by US aid (One Billion dollars) and superior military technology. Despite this disparity, the Vietminh was able to deliver a crushing blow to the French at the fortified village of Dien Bien Phu, and the French requested a ceasefire shortly thereafter. The terms of the peace were decided in 1954 in Geneva, with Vietnam being divided at the 17th Parallel. North Vietnam was recognized under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh, while South Vietnam was backed by the US and led by Ngo Dinh Diem. A revolutionary guerrilla force called the National Liberation Front (NLF) began a campaign against Diem’s government in the South, creating even more instability. / Southeast Asia

Discuss and Respond

Compare Korea and Vietnam shortly before their respective conflicts broke out. / Read Demarco Pg. 215 and comment on the legitimacy of Ngo Dinh Diem’s government. / What actions were taken by the NLF to gain popular support in the South?

US Involvement

·  Eisenhower’s administration gave some 1 Billion US Dollars to the French to help in the France / Vietminh conflict. It also sent military advisors to help the South Vietnamese.

·  Kennedy’s administration increased the number of advisors. He also established the “safe village” policy.

What was this policy, and how effective was it?

·  It is likely that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was involved in the coup that took Diem from power in 1963. Why did the US not mind his removal from power?

Events of the US War in Vietnam

The US officially escalated its military efforts in Vietnam under the leadership of President Lynden Johnson, who used the Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964) to justify such an escalation. Describe the incident:

Find evidence that an escalation took place:

To what extent was this escalation successful between 1964 and 1967? Explain.

The Viet Cong launched a push back in 1968 known as the Tet Offensive. Although successful at first, it would quickly become a disaster, with the VC being exposed in more direct combat (it excelled at guerrilla combat). Despite its successes during the Tet Offensive, the USA was severely weakened. Explain.

Largely as a result of the war, the Democrats were defeated in the 1968 election, and Republican Richard Nixon became the next President of the United States. He changed US policy in Vietnam by introducing “Vietnamisation”.

What was it? How successful was it?

A ceasefire was signed in January 1973 between the VC and the South Vietnamese. What were its terms?

Why did the USA lose the war in Vietnam?

In what ways was the Domino Theory both validated and disproven in the years following the war?

Yes / No