AP World HistoryAP World HistoryPOD #23 – Emerging AsiaPOD #23 – Emerging Asia

War in Korea & VietnamWar in Korea & Vietnam

Class Discussion NotesClass Discussion Notes

Bulliet – “West Versus East”, pp. 852-853Bulliet – “West Versus East”, pp. 852-853

Bulliet – “United States Defeat in Vietnam”, pp. 853-855Bulliet – “United States Defeat in Vietnam”, pp. 853-855

Truman Doctrine (Containment)Truman Doctrine (Containment)

the United States cut off aid to the Soviet Union in May the United States cut off aid to the Soviet Union in May 1945 / the United States believed the atomic bomb gave 1945 / the United States believed the atomic bomb gave them military superiority, thus they got tough with the them military superiority, thus they got tough with the Soviets or at least talked tough at PotsdamSoviets or at least talked tough at PotsdamMarch 1947March 1947desired to contain communism to areas already under desired to contain communism to areas already under the control of the Red Armythe control of the Red Armyfinancial aid was provided to Greece and Turkey to help financial aid was provided to Greece and Turkey to help in the resistance in the resistance Used to justify involvement in Korea and Vietnam Used to justify involvement in Korea and Vietnam (Southeast Asia), as well as Nicaragua and Cuba(Southeast Asia), as well as Nicaragua and Cuba

Korea at the End of WWIIKorea at the End of WWII

Soviet troops occupied and controlled the Soviet troops occupied and controlled the Korean peninsula north of the 38Korean peninsula north of the 38thth parallel parallel

American troops controlled the southAmerican troops controlled the south

No agreement could be reached allowing No agreement could be reached allowing for countrywide electionsfor countrywide elections

1948 communist North Korea and non-1948 communist North Korea and non-communist South Korea were established communist South Korea were established as independent statesas independent states

WarWar

1950 – North Korea invaded South Korea driving the 1950 – North Korea invaded South Korea driving the American army to the southern tip of the peninsula a American army to the southern tip of the peninsula a PusanPusanThe United Nations would come to the rescue of South The United Nations would come to the rescue of South Korea in the absence of a Soviet delegation to veto an Korea in the absence of a Soviet delegation to veto an authorization of troop used in the UN Security Councilauthorization of troop used in the UN Security CouncilGeneral Douglass MacArthur launched a daring escape General Douglass MacArthur launched a daring escape by sea and an amphibious landing at Inchon cutting off by sea and an amphibious landing at Inchon cutting off the North Korean troops and supply linethe North Korean troops and supply lineAs the North retreated the American and United Nations As the North retreated the American and United Nations army crossed the 38army crossed the 38thth parallel drawing the Chinese Army parallel drawing the Chinese Army into the battleinto the battleA stalemate would emerge until the 1953 truceA stalemate would emerge until the 1953 truce

TruceTruce

““Because the United States feared that Because the United States feared that launching attacks into China might prompt launching attacks into China might prompt China’s ally, the Soviet Union, to retaliate, the China’s ally, the Soviet Union, to retaliate, the conflict remained limited to the Korean conflict remained limited to the Korean peninsula. Victories by American and South peninsula. Victories by American and South Korean forces forced North Korean forces north Korean forces forced North Korean forces north until China entered the war. The contending until China entered the war. The contending armies eventually reached a stalemate along the armies eventually reached a stalemate along the thirty-eighth parallel. The two sides formally thirty-eighth parallel. The two sides formally agreed to a truce but never signed a peace agreed to a truce but never signed a peace treaty. As a result, fear of renewed warfare treaty. As a result, fear of renewed warfare between the two Koreas continued well past the between the two Koreas continued well past the end of the Cold War.” (Bulliet, p. 853)end of the Cold War.” (Bulliet, p. 853)

Vietnam WarVietnam War

Conflict pitting North Vietnam and South Vietnamese Conflict pitting North Vietnam and South Vietnamese communist guerillas against the South Vietnamese communist guerillas against the South Vietnamese government, aided after 1961 by the United Statesgovernment, aided after 1961 by the United StatesVietnam was divided at the 17Vietnam was divided at the 17thth parallel parallelNationalism – war to end foreign intervention (both north Nationalism – war to end foreign intervention (both north & south had this motivation)& south had this motivation)Civil War – North Vietnam vs. South VietnamCivil War – North Vietnam vs. South VietnamCold War – United States engages militarily in this region Cold War – United States engages militarily in this region to uphold the Truman Doctrine and the policy of to uphold the Truman Doctrine and the policy of containment / there was also a great fear that if Vietnam containment / there was also a great fear that if Vietnam fell to communist control the other nations of Southeast fell to communist control the other nations of Southeast Asia would follow (Domino Theory)Asia would follow (Domino Theory)

Vietnamese NationalismVietnamese Nationalism

““At the war’s end (WWII) the French government At the war’s end (WWII) the French government was determined to keep its colonial possessions. was determined to keep its colonial possessions. Ho Chi Minh’s nationalist coalition called the Ho Chi Minh’s nationalist coalition called the Viet Minh, fought the French with help from the Viet Minh, fought the French with help from the People’s Republic of China. After a brutal People’s Republic of China. After a brutal struggle, the French stronghold of Dienbienphu struggle, the French stronghold of Dienbienphu fell in 1954, marking the end of France’s colonial fell in 1954, marking the end of France’s colonial enterprise. Ho’s Viet Minh government took enterprise. Ho’s Viet Minh government took over the north, and a non-communist nationalist over the north, and a non-communist nationalist government ruled in the south.” (Bulliet, p. 853)government ruled in the south.” (Bulliet, p. 853)

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

Spent several years in France during World War Spent several years in France during World War IIHelped form the French Communist PartyHelped form the French Communist PartyReturned to Vietnam in 1930 after a training Returned to Vietnam in 1930 after a training session in Moscow to form the Indochina session in Moscow to form the Indochina Communist PartyCommunist PartyForced to take refuge in China during World War Forced to take refuge in China during World War IIIICooperated with the United States while Japan Cooperated with the United States while Japan controlled Vietnamcontrolled Vietnam

American Intervention in American Intervention in Southeast Asia: President Eisenhower (1953-1961)Southeast Asia: President Eisenhower (1953-1961)

Provided limited support to France but ultimately Provided limited support to France but ultimately decided not to prop up French colonial ruledecided not to prop up French colonial rule

After victory at Dienbienphu the North After victory at Dienbienphu the North Vietnamese supported a communist guerilla Vietnamese supported a communist guerilla movement known as the Viet Cong in their fight movement known as the Viet Cong in their fight against the noncommunist government of South against the noncommunist government of South VietnamVietnam

Blocked a national unity election in 1956 fearing Blocked a national unity election in 1956 fearing a Ho Chi Minh victory for the communistsa Ho Chi Minh victory for the communists

American Intervention in American Intervention in Southeast Asia: President Kennedy (1961-1963)Southeast Asia: President Kennedy (1961-1963)

Supported the South Vietnamese government of Supported the South Vietnamese government of Ng Dinh Diem (even though it was corrupt and Ng Dinh Diem (even though it was corrupt and unpopular)unpopular)Feared a communist victory would encourage Feared a communist victory would encourage the ideological and economic spread of the ideological and economic spread of communism throughout the region altering the communism throughout the region altering the Cold War balance of powerCold War balance of powerKennedy increased the number of American Kennedy increased the number of American military advisers while encouraging the military advisers while encouraging the overthrow of the Diem government, an event overthrow of the Diem government, an event that led to Diem’s executionthat led to Diem’s execution

American Intervention in American Intervention in Southeast Asia: President Johnson (1963-1969)Southeast Asia: President Johnson (1963-1969)

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964) – gave congressional Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964) – gave congressional support for an unlimited U.S. military deployment that support for an unlimited U.S. military deployment that eventually reached 500,000 troopseventually reached 500,000 troopsDue to the corruption of the new post-Diem government Due to the corruption of the new post-Diem government in the south, many people supported the Viet Congin the south, many people supported the Viet CongBattlefield success did not lead to a comprehensive Battlefield success did not lead to a comprehensive victoryvictoryTet Offensive (January 1968) – massive attack by the Tet Offensive (January 1968) – massive attack by the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong guerillas – North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong guerillas – even though the American troops recovered it added even though the American troops recovered it added credibility to the North and its allies and fueled the credibility to the North and its allies and fueled the American anti-war movementAmerican anti-war movement

War ProtestsWar Protests

““President Johnson began his administration committed President Johnson began his administration committed to a broad program of social reforms and civil rights to a broad program of social reforms and civil rights initiatives, called the Great Society, and was initiatives, called the Great Society, and was instrumental in passing major civil rights legislation that instrumental in passing major civil rights legislation that responded to the heroic campaign for voting rights and responded to the heroic campaign for voting rights and integration led by Martin Luther King, Jr. As the integration led by Martin Luther King, Jr. As the commitment of U.S. troops in Vietnam grew, a massive commitment of U.S. troops in Vietnam grew, a massive antiwar movement applied the tactics of the civil rights antiwar movement applied the tactics of the civil rights movement to end the war. Growing economic problems movement to end the war. Growing economic problems and a rising tide of antiwar rallies, now international in and a rising tide of antiwar rallies, now international in character, undermined support for Johnson, who character, undermined support for Johnson, who declined to seek reelection.” (Bulliet, p. 855)declined to seek reelection.” (Bulliet, p. 855)

American Intervention in American Intervention in Southeast Asia: President Nixon (1969-1973)Southeast Asia: President Nixon (1969-1973)

Promised a withdrawal of American forces Promised a withdrawal of American forces from Vietnamfrom Vietnam

Paris Peace Accords (1973) – signed by Paris Peace Accords (1973) – signed by the United States and North Vietnam – the United States and North Vietnam – ended U.S. involvement and promised ended U.S. involvement and promised future electionsfuture elections

Fall of SaigonFall of Saigon

19751975In violation of the peace accord the North In violation of the peace accord the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong overran the Vietnamese and Viet Cong overran the south capturing the capital of Saigon and south capturing the capital of Saigon and renaming it Ho Chi Minh City renaming it Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam was reunited and ruled from the Vietnam was reunited and ruled from the northnorthOver 1 million dead Vietnamese and Over 1 million dead Vietnamese and 58,000 Americans58,000 Americans