VietnamVietnam

IntroductionIntroduction

Colonial VietnamColonial Vietnam Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia

Near China, Laos & Near China, Laos & CambodiaCambodia

Good resources > Good resources > colonizationcolonization

Colonial ControlColonial Control China controlled until China controlled until

1400s1400s Mid-1800s French Mid-1800s French

combined Vietnam with combined Vietnam with Laos & CambodiaLaos & Cambodia

This was called: French This was called: French IndochinaIndochina

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh: Ho Chi Minh: considered the considered the “Father of Vietnam”“Father of Vietnam” Name means: “He Name means: “He

who enlightens”who enlightens” Led Vietnamese Led Vietnamese

Nationalist Nationalist movementmovement Influenced by China & Influenced by China &

Soviet UnionSoviet Union Believed communism Believed communism

= key to = key to independenceindependence

WWII & VietnamWWII & Vietnam

Pre- WWIIPre- WWII Japanese occupation Japanese occupation

during 1930s-40s during 1930s-40s expansionexpansion

VietminhVietminh Led by Ho Chi Minh to Led by Ho Chi Minh to

resist Japanese occupationresist Japanese occupation Created the “League of Created the “League of

Independent Vietnam” (or Independent Vietnam” (or Vietminh)Vietminh)

Purpose: create an Purpose: create an independent Vietnamindependent Vietnam

1945 Japanese 1945 Japanese Surrender WWIISurrender WWII Forced to Forced to

withdraw from withdraw from VietnamVietnam

Vietminh Vietminh declares declares independenceindependence

U.S. support??U.S. support??

ReviewReview

Which country controlled Vietnam from Which country controlled Vietnam from the mid-1800s – 1900?the mid-1800s – 1900?

Which country controlled Vietnam from Which country controlled Vietnam from 1930s- end of WWII?1930s- end of WWII?

Who is considered the “Father of Who is considered the “Father of Vietnam”?Vietnam”?

11stst Indochina War Indochina War France reclaims colonyFrance reclaims colony

Dec. 1946 War beginsDec. 1946 War begins 11stst Indochina War: France Indochina War: France

vs. Vietnamvs. Vietnam http://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=m8rAJJ_ypW8 watch?v=m8rAJJ_ypW8 ContainmentContainment

Truman’s policyTruman’s policy Other Concerns in AsiaOther Concerns in Asia

Communism in China 1949Communism in China 1949 1950 North Korea invades 1950 North Korea invades

South KoreaSouth Korea

Domino TheoryDomino Theory Eisenhower believes in Eisenhower believes in

the Domino Theorythe Domino Theory The fear that communism The fear that communism

will spread to neighboring will spread to neighboring countriescountries

““You have a row of You have a row of dominoes set up, you dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, & knock over the first one, & what will happen to the last what will happen to the last one is a certainty that it one is a certainty that it will go over very quickly.”will go over very quickly.”

By 1954, the U.S. was By 1954, the U.S. was paying 75%+ of the French paying 75%+ of the French cost of war despite losingcost of war despite losing

ReviewReview

Review:Review: Which president initially pursued the Which president initially pursued the

policy of containment & started sending policy of containment & started sending supplies to Vietnam? supplies to Vietnam?

Which president believed in the domino Which president believed in the domino theory? theory?

In a jungle fight, In a jungle fight, who would win – who would win – the tiger or the the tiger or the elephant? Explainelephant? Explain

Guerrilla TacticsGuerrilla Tactics Guerrilla WarfareGuerrilla Warfare

Attack without warningAttack without warning Use terrain/jungle to advantageUse terrain/jungle to advantage

““If the tiger ever stands still, If the tiger ever stands still, the elephant will crush him with the elephant will crush him with his mighty tusks. But the tiger his mighty tusks. But the tiger does not stand still… he will does not stand still… he will leap upon the back of the leap upon the back of the elephant, tearing huge chunks elephant, tearing huge chunks from his hide, & then the tiger from his hide, & then the tiger will leap back into the dark will leap back into the dark jungle. And slowly the elephant jungle. And slowly the elephant will bleed to death. That will be will bleed to death. That will be the war of Indochina” the war of Indochina” Ho Chi Ho Chi MinhMinh

http://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl8-dAPCQmQ watch?v=Yl8-dAPCQmQ

Dien Bien PhuDien Bien Phu Dien Bien PhuDien Bien Phu

Last battle in 1Last battle in 1stst Indochina WarIndochina War

40,000 Vietnamese 40,000 Vietnamese surround 15,000 surround 15,000 French troopsFrench troops

U.S. refuses to rescue U.S. refuses to rescue (aftermath/influence (aftermath/influence of Korea)of Korea)

SurrenderSurrender French surrender May French surrender May

7, 19547, 1954 Vietnam winsVietnam wins

Geneva ConferenceGeneva Conference Representatives at the Geneva Representatives at the Geneva

Conference include:Conference include: France, Vietnam, Cambodia, France, Vietnam, Cambodia,

Great Britain, Laos, China, Great Britain, Laos, China, Soviet Union, U.S.Soviet Union, U.S.

Goal of the conferenceGoal of the conference Peace treaty & arrangement Peace treaty & arrangement

for Indochina’s futurefor Indochina’s future

Geneva Accords (July 1954)Geneva Accords (July 1954) Cease fire; temporary division Cease fire; temporary division

at 17at 17thth parallel (DMZ) parallel (DMZ) Agreed to hold a general Agreed to hold a general

election in July 1956 to reunify election in July 1956 to reunify countrycountry

Vietminh controls NorthVietminh controls North U.S. worriedU.S. worried

Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem Background of DiemBackground of Diem

Roman Catholic, high-Roman Catholic, high-ranking official under ranking official under FrenchFrench

Refused alliance with Ho Refused alliance with Ho Chi Minh after brother Chi Minh after brother assassinated by Vietminhassassinated by Vietminh

Fled to U.S. after Fled to U.S. after assassination attempt; assassination attempt; returned to Vietnam in returned to Vietnam in 19541954

Leadership of DiemLeadership of Diem President of South VietnamPresident of South Vietnam Corrupt, brutal leaderCorrupt, brutal leader Election of 1955 claimed Election of 1955 claimed

98% of votes > vote fraud98% of votes > vote fraud

Diem’s GovernmentDiem’s Government

ProblemsProblems Favored Catholics > upset Buddhist Favored Catholics > upset Buddhist

majoritymajority Gave jobs to family membersGave jobs to family members Land policies hurt peasantsLand policies hurt peasants Opponents tortured & imprisonedOpponents tortured & imprisoned

What’s happening in the North?What’s happening in the North? Ho Chi Minh totalitarian government but Ho Chi Minh totalitarian government but

gives land to peasants > wide-spread gives land to peasants > wide-spread supportsupport

Civil WarCivil War

Late 1950s, Diem’s Late 1950s, Diem’s opponents openly opponents openly revoltrevolt Vietminh (in South Vietminh (in South

Vietnam) forms Vietnam) forms National Liberation National Liberation Front (NLF) known as Front (NLF) known as the Vietcong (VC) to the Vietcong (VC) to try to overthrow Diemtry to overthrow Diem

1960 Ho Chi Minh 1960 Ho Chi Minh tries to reunify tries to reunify country under country under communismcommunism