vietnam war

The French colony Indo-China

CAUSES OF THE WAR

1941, The Vietnamese Nationalist Movement (the Viet Minh)

In 1945 Ho Chi Minh declared The Democratic Republic of Vietnam

In 1946, there was a conflict between The French and The Viet Minh, it was known as the first Indo-China war.

1950 Us government viewed American involvement in The War.

This was part of a wider “containment strategy” (President Harry Truman) with its aim of stopping the spread of communism.

According to The US “DOMINO THEORY” (President Dwight Eisenhower), if one state went Communist, other states in the region would follow.

In July 1954, Geneva Accord decided to divide the country in two at the 17th parallel.

Emperor Bao Dai Ho Chi Minh South Vietnam North Vietnam

1955 US arranged a national referendum between Vietnamese Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem and Emperor Bao Dai.Diem “wins” 98,2%

1956 Kennedy admited violating the GENEVA ACCODS and allowing Diem to cancel national elections.

Rebellion had broken out …..

The Viet Cong begins to fight against government policies.

Vietcong soldiers were trained by their commander Võ Nguyên Giáp, who fought against The Chinese forces.

Vietcong tunnels

guerilla tactics traps and weapons weapons

Today, The tunnels are a popular tourist attraction.

ARNV (Army of The Republic of

Vietnam)

US began to help the South Vietnam.

1957 American “advisers” (Military Assistance Advisory Group – MAAG)

arrived to help the Viet Minh in South Vietnam.

1957 Americans advisers from 500 to 10.000

1961 Kennedy sent 400 more.1962 increased to 9.000 troops.

1963 Anger against Diem grew worse. It was personified when a Buddhist monk immolated himself.

1963 Diem is murdered in a rebellion.

Three weeks later Kennedy is assassinated..

1965 US intervension Stop the supplies to the

south by Ho Chi Minh Trial.

19685.000 Americans died per week in Vietnam.

Nixon porposed “Vietnamisation”:they could strenghen and prepare ARNV forces.

In 1970 more bombs had been trooped on North Vietnam than on the Second World War.

1973 Paris Peace Accords inented to establish peace in Vietnam and the end of the war.

1975 South Vietnam had fallen to Communists and its capital Saigon, was renamed Ho Chi Minh City.

1975 USA was defeated.

1969 Strategic Arms Limitation Talks: Negotiations commenced in Helsinki, Finland.

1972 The negotiations ended in Moscow when Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev signed the first treaty about completed limited arms.

The United States and Soviet Union had agreed to limit the number of nuclear missiles in their arsenals.

1975 Helsinki Conference 35 states signed :

• Respect for all human rights.

• Inviolability of frontiers.

• Non-intervention in internal affairs.

The conflicts continued between the two superpowers.

1979 Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev signing SALT II treaty, in Vienna.

1980 The president Ronald Reagan called The USSR “an evil empire” in The House of

Commons with Margaret Thatcher.

Reagan began de Second Cold War……..

For that reason ….

1- US forces intervened in the Civil Wars in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

New missiles were built, the Cruise and Pershing missile systems were invented and deployed between to the USA’s NATO allies.

2- Russian navy built new SS-20 missiles.

3- Finally Reagan….

Built a complicated strategic defense system “The Star War” in 1983.

The End of The War

Mikhail Gorbachev wanted to carry out radical changes.

“ GLASNOST "was a policy that called for increased openness and trust in government institutions and activities in the Soviet Union.

Two meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev:

1986 Reykjavik, Iceland. 1987 Washington, USA.

Gorvachev´s policy was called “Sinatra

doctrine”This meant letting countries decide their own forms of government and place in the world.

New world order

“Peace Dividend”(Bush & Thatcher)