Where is Where is Vietnam?Vietnam?

VIETNAM BEFORE THE WAR• Under Chinese Rule and

Occupation (111 BC – 938 AD)

• Vietnamese Independence (938-1860)

• French Indochina “French Occupation (1860-1954) (Japanese Occupied Vietnam in the early 40’s until their defeat in WWII)

• Vietnamese Civil War 1956 -1975 aka Vietnam War

IndochinIndochina:a:

• In its broadest In its broadest sense, Indochina sense, Indochina includes most of includes most of Southeast Asia; In Southeast Asia; In its strictest sense, its strictest sense, it is a it is a political political distinction created distinction created by Franceby France to to include its colonial include its colonial possessions of possessions of Vietnam, Laos, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodiaand Cambodia (also known as (also known as French French IndochinaIndochina).).

Timeline to Timeline to War:War:• 1945 (Sept. 2): Ho Chi 1945 (Sept. 2): Ho Chi

Minh, in the absence of Minh, in the absence of both Japanese and both Japanese and French imperialists, French imperialists, declares Vietnam an declares Vietnam an independent nation, independent nation, with a declaration with a declaration modeled on our own.modeled on our own.

• 1946: The French under 1946: The French under President Charles De President Charles De Gaulle return to Gaulle return to Indochina with full Indochina with full military force, and with military force, and with support of the U.S.support of the U.S.

Question:Question: Why would the U.S. Why would the U.S. support the re-colonialization of support the re-colonialization of

Vietnam in 1946?Vietnam in 1946?• Hint: What was going on in Hint: What was going on in

Europe at this time (1946)?Europe at this time (1946)?• The Cold War! The U.S. The Cold War! The U.S.

needed French support for needed French support for the Marshall Plan and the Marshall Plan and NATO.NATO.

• The First Indochina War The First Indochina War (’46-’54) was fought by Cold (’46-’54) was fought by Cold War antagonists:War antagonists:– U.S.S.R. and China supported U.S.S.R. and China supported

Vietminh.Vietminh.– The U.S. supported France.The U.S. supported France.

Related Vocabulary:Related Vocabulary:• Vietminh:Vietminh:• League for the Independence of Vietnam…League for the Independence of Vietnam…

nationwide political movement against the nationwide political movement against the French led by Ho Chi Minh.French led by Ho Chi Minh.

• Containment:Containment:• U.S. foreign policy of committing political and U.S. foreign policy of committing political and

economic resources to stop the economic resources to stop the spreadspread of of Communism. (first articulated by George F. Communism. (first articulated by George F. Kennan)Kennan)

• Domino Theory:Domino Theory:• Belief that Communism had to be stopped or it Belief that Communism had to be stopped or it

would spread (like dominoes falling).would spread (like dominoes falling).

Timeline to Timeline to War:War:

•First Indochina First Indochina War (1945-1954) War (1945-1954) ended with the ended with the Geneva Accords, Geneva Accords, which split which split Vietnam in two at Vietnam in two at the 17the 17thth parallel parallel and recognized and recognized independence of independence of Laos and Laos and Cambodia.Cambodia.

Timeline to Timeline to War:War:• Geneva Accords:Geneva Accords:

– A Communist A Communist government under government under Ho Ho Chi Minh would control Chi Minh would control northnorth..

– A national government A national government under Emperor Bao Dai under Emperor Bao Dai and Prime Minister and Prime Minister Ngo Ngo Dinh Diem would Dinh Diem would control southcontrol south..

– Capitals established in Capitals established in Hanoi and Saigon.Hanoi and Saigon.

– Elections would be held Elections would be held in 1956 with the aim of in 1956 with the aim of unificationunification..

Relevant Vocabulary:Relevant Vocabulary:

• National Liberation Front:National Liberation Front:• The “Vietcong.” Communist movement in S. The “Vietcong.” Communist movement in S.

Vietnam; guerrilla fighters loyal to Ho Chi Vietnam; guerrilla fighters loyal to Ho Chi Minh.Minh.

• NVA:NVA:• North Vietnamese Army (loyal to Ho Chi Minh).North Vietnamese Army (loyal to Ho Chi Minh).• ARVN:ARVN:• Army of the Republic of Vietnam (S. Vietnam) Army of the Republic of Vietnam (S. Vietnam)

allied w/ the U.S. and French.allied w/ the U.S. and French.

““It was patriotism, It was patriotism, not Communism, that not Communism, that

inspired me.”inspired me.”Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

The Geneva Peace The Geneva Peace AccordsAccords

• The Geneva Peace Accords, The Geneva Peace Accords, signed by France and Vietnam signed by France and Vietnam in the summer of 1954, in the summer of 1954, provided for the temporary provided for the temporary partition of Vietnam at the 17th partition of Vietnam at the 17th parallel, with national elections parallel, with national elections in 1956 to reunify the country.in 1956 to reunify the country.

• In the North, a communist In the North, a communist regime, supported regime, supported by the by the Soviet Union and the People's Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, Republic of China, set up its set up its headquarters in Hanoi under headquarters in Hanoi under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh.the leadership of Ho Chi Minh.

Opposition to Geneva Opposition to Geneva AccordsAccords

• The United States prevented the elections that were The United States prevented the elections that were promised under the Geneva conference because it promised under the Geneva conference because it knew that the Communists would win. knew that the Communists would win.

• Eisenhower cited the “Domino Theory” as a rationale for not Eisenhower cited the “Domino Theory” as a rationale for not having elections (he feared that Ho Chi Minh would win)having elections (he feared that Ho Chi Minh would win)

Comm’s notorious for rigging “free” electionsUncle Ho was a popular leader, even among those that did not support Communism.

A New Nation in the A New Nation in the SouthSouth

• Using SEATO for political cover, the Using SEATO for political cover, the Eisenhower administration helped Eisenhower administration helped create a new nation in southern create a new nation in southern Vietnam. Vietnam.

• In 1955, with the help of massive In 1955, with the help of massive amounts of American military, amounts of American military, political, and economic aid, the political, and economic aid, the government of the Republic of Vietnam government of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) was born. (South Vietnam) was born.

• The following year, Ngo Dinh Diem, a The following year, Ngo Dinh Diem, a staunchly anti-Communist figure from staunchly anti-Communist figure from the South, won a dubious election that the South, won a dubious election that made him president of South Vietnammade him president of South Vietnam

The Domino TheoryThe Domino Theory• American policymakers developed the American policymakers developed the

“Domino Theory” as a justification for the “Domino Theory” as a justification for the involvement. This theory stated, “If South involvement. This theory stated, “If South Vietnam falls to the Communist, Laos, Vietnam falls to the Communist, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, India and Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, India and Pakistan would also fall like dominos. The Pakistan would also fall like dominos. The Pacific Islands and even Australia could be Pacific Islands and even Australia could be at risk”.   at risk”.  

South Vietnam Under South Vietnam Under DiemDiem

• Diem claimed that his newly created Diem claimed that his newly created government was under attack from government was under attack from Communists in the north.Communists in the north.

• In late 1957, with American military In late 1957, with American military aid, Diem began to counterattack. aid, Diem began to counterattack. – He used the help of the CIA (through He used the help of the CIA (through

Operation Phoenix) to identify those Operation Phoenix) to identify those who sought to bring his government who sought to bring his government down and arrested thousands. down and arrested thousands.

– He passed a repressive series of acts He passed a repressive series of acts known as Law 10/59 that made it legal known as Law 10/59 that made it legal to hold suspected Communists in jail to hold suspected Communists in jail without bringing formal charges. without bringing formal charges.

Opposition to DiemOpposition to Diem• The outcry against Diem's harsh and The outcry against Diem's harsh and

oppressive actions was immediate. oppressive actions was immediate. – Buddhist monks and nuns were joined by Buddhist monks and nuns were joined by

students, business people, intellectuals, and students, business people, intellectuals, and peasants in opposition to Diem’s corrupt rule. peasants in opposition to Diem’s corrupt rule.

– The more these forces attacked Diem's troops The more these forces attacked Diem's troops and secret police, the more Diem complained and secret police, the more Diem complained that the Communists were trying to take South that the Communists were trying to take South Vietnam by force. This was "a hostile act of Vietnam by force. This was "a hostile act of aggression by North Vietnam against peace-aggression by North Vietnam against peace-loving and democratic South Vietnam." loving and democratic South Vietnam."

The National Liberation The National Liberation FrontFront

• The Communists The Communists supported the supported the creation of a broad-creation of a broad-based united front based united front to help mobilize to help mobilize southerners in southerners in opposition to the opposition to the government in government in South Vietnam. South Vietnam.

• On December 20, 1960, the National On December 20, 1960, the National Liberation Front (NLF) was born.Liberation Front (NLF) was born.– It brought together Communists and non-It brought together Communists and non-

Communists in an umbrella organization that had Communists in an umbrella organization that had limited, but important goals limited, but important goals

– Anyone could join as long as they opposed Ngo Anyone could join as long as they opposed Ngo Dinh Diem and wanted to unify Vietnam.Dinh Diem and wanted to unify Vietnam.

Washington White Washington White PapersPapers

• In a series of government "White In a series of government "White Papers," Washington insiders Papers," Washington insiders denounced the NLF, claiming denounced the NLF, claiming that it was merely a puppet of that it was merely a puppet of Hanoi. They called it the "Viet Hanoi. They called it the "Viet Cong," a derogatory and slang Cong," a derogatory and slang term meaning Vietnamese term meaning Vietnamese Communist. Communist.

• The NLF, on the other hand, The NLF, on the other hand, argued that it was autonomous argued that it was autonomous and independent of the and independent of the Communists in Hanoi and that it Communists in Hanoi and that it was made up mostly of non-was made up mostly of non-Communists. Many anti-war Communists. Many anti-war activists supported the NLF's activists supported the NLF's claims. claims.

December 1961 White December 1961 White PaperPaper

• In 1961, President In 1961, President Kennedy Kennedy sent a team to Vietnam to sent a team to Vietnam to report on conditions in the report on conditions in the South and South and to assess future American to assess future American aid requirements. aid requirements.

• The report, known as the The report, known as the "December 1961 White "December 1961 White Paper," argued for:Paper," argued for:– An increase in military, technical, and An increase in military, technical, and

economic aideconomic aid– The introduction of large-scale The introduction of large-scale

American "advisers" to help stabilize the American "advisers" to help stabilize the Diem regime and crush the NLF. Diem regime and crush the NLF.