Topic 3- Indochina 1945-67
Background/context
-From 1867 France ruled Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos
-France ruled for political reasons (power & influence in Asia) + economic reasons
(access to raw materials-> rubber, metal ores- use raw materials for manufacturing
& set up trade links)
-Most of French left region in WW2 to fight Nazis back home
-Japan invaded & left in 1945 then French returned
-French divided region into 4 areas-> ruled 1 area directly- Cochin China included
South Vietnam (Saigon)-> led to westernized culture {Paris of the Orient} -> French
culture, language tradition-> increased resistance
-French exploited the workers to get raw materials-> increased opposition and
resistance to the French + little economic growth in most places especially non-
Cochin areas.
Which was more important for the defeat of France in Indochina?
Strengths of Viet Minh
Weaknesses of French
STRENGTH OF VM WEAKNESS OF FRENCH
P= The strength of the VM was more P= Weakness of French also
important for the defeat of France contributed to their defeat
E= VM was led by HCM and possessed E= French faced multiple challenges,
several strengths which contributed to including a lack of clear objectives and
their success a consistent strategy in dealing with the
-Strong ideological foundation, based Vietnamese resistance
on nationalism & communism-> helped -French military tactics were often not
mobilize and unite large sections of the suited to the Guerilla warfare tactics
Vietnamese population against the adopted by the VM
French colonial rule-> VM ability to gain -French struggled with internal divisions
support from peasants and gain active and the issue of colonial overstretch->
participation in the resistance they were engaged in multiple conflicts
movement was vital in their fight around the world
against the French -French faced logistical challenges->
-VM had effective leadership & military difficulty of maintaining a supply line to
strategies-> HCM was a skilled leader their forces in Indochina + difficult
who provided a clear vision and terrain combined with VM ability to
direction to the movement + General disrupt French supply lines posed
Giap was a brilliant military strategist significant logistical hurdle that
who successfully employed Guerilla weakened the French
warfare tactics against the French
forces-> VM ability to adapt to
, challenging environment of Indochina,
use hit-and-run tactics and exploit
knowledge of their environment gave
them a considerable advantage over
the French
-VM enjoyed external support-> China
+ USSR-> provided military assistance,
supplies and training to VM which
bolstered their strength-> important in
shifting France’s military superiority
Conclusion
-Although the French contributed to their defeat it was the strength of VM that
defeated them
-VM ideological appeal, effective leadership, military strategies, popular support,
external support-> combined created a force too powerful for the French to defend
Which was more important for the involvement of USA in Vietnam war?
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Gulf of Tonkin incident
DBP GoT
P= Battle of DBP could be considered P= GoT more important
as more important for the US’ E= GoT incident occurred in 1964 when
involvement in the Vietnam war the USS Maddox (US naval vessel)
E= Battle of DBP took place in 1954-> reported being attacked by NV patrol
decisive victory for communist forces boats in the GoT- Johnson announced
led by HCM’s Viet Minh NV made 2 unprovoked attacks on US
-Defeat of French signaled the end of destroyers which violated international
French involvement in Vietnam-> led to law
1954 Geneva Accords which -Johnson asked for Congressional
temporarily divided Vietnam along the support for avenging the attacks-> led
17th parallel to the passing of the GoT Resolution by
E= Event laid the foundation for direct the US Congress
involvement of major powers in -Resolution granted by President
Vietnam, including the US Johnson granted permission to escalate
-Battle demonstrated the military and US military involvement in Vietnam->
determination of Communist forces-> became a catalyst for the significant
prompting US to reassess its policy increase in US troop deployments &
towards Vietnam combat operations in Vietnam
A= Although the battle of DBP set the -Increase President Johnson’s approval
stage for international involvement in rating increasing from 42% to 72%->
Vietnam, it DID NOT have a direct reelection in 1964
impact on US policy SJ= GoT was more important as it had
-However, it did contribute to the an immediate and direct impact
overall perception that communist -Incident provided justification for the
victory in Vietnam was possible which escalation of US military involvement->
Background/context
-From 1867 France ruled Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos
-France ruled for political reasons (power & influence in Asia) + economic reasons
(access to raw materials-> rubber, metal ores- use raw materials for manufacturing
& set up trade links)
-Most of French left region in WW2 to fight Nazis back home
-Japan invaded & left in 1945 then French returned
-French divided region into 4 areas-> ruled 1 area directly- Cochin China included
South Vietnam (Saigon)-> led to westernized culture {Paris of the Orient} -> French
culture, language tradition-> increased resistance
-French exploited the workers to get raw materials-> increased opposition and
resistance to the French + little economic growth in most places especially non-
Cochin areas.
Which was more important for the defeat of France in Indochina?
Strengths of Viet Minh
Weaknesses of French
STRENGTH OF VM WEAKNESS OF FRENCH
P= The strength of the VM was more P= Weakness of French also
important for the defeat of France contributed to their defeat
E= VM was led by HCM and possessed E= French faced multiple challenges,
several strengths which contributed to including a lack of clear objectives and
their success a consistent strategy in dealing with the
-Strong ideological foundation, based Vietnamese resistance
on nationalism & communism-> helped -French military tactics were often not
mobilize and unite large sections of the suited to the Guerilla warfare tactics
Vietnamese population against the adopted by the VM
French colonial rule-> VM ability to gain -French struggled with internal divisions
support from peasants and gain active and the issue of colonial overstretch->
participation in the resistance they were engaged in multiple conflicts
movement was vital in their fight around the world
against the French -French faced logistical challenges->
-VM had effective leadership & military difficulty of maintaining a supply line to
strategies-> HCM was a skilled leader their forces in Indochina + difficult
who provided a clear vision and terrain combined with VM ability to
direction to the movement + General disrupt French supply lines posed
Giap was a brilliant military strategist significant logistical hurdle that
who successfully employed Guerilla weakened the French
warfare tactics against the French
forces-> VM ability to adapt to
, challenging environment of Indochina,
use hit-and-run tactics and exploit
knowledge of their environment gave
them a considerable advantage over
the French
-VM enjoyed external support-> China
+ USSR-> provided military assistance,
supplies and training to VM which
bolstered their strength-> important in
shifting France’s military superiority
Conclusion
-Although the French contributed to their defeat it was the strength of VM that
defeated them
-VM ideological appeal, effective leadership, military strategies, popular support,
external support-> combined created a force too powerful for the French to defend
Which was more important for the involvement of USA in Vietnam war?
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Gulf of Tonkin incident
DBP GoT
P= Battle of DBP could be considered P= GoT more important
as more important for the US’ E= GoT incident occurred in 1964 when
involvement in the Vietnam war the USS Maddox (US naval vessel)
E= Battle of DBP took place in 1954-> reported being attacked by NV patrol
decisive victory for communist forces boats in the GoT- Johnson announced
led by HCM’s Viet Minh NV made 2 unprovoked attacks on US
-Defeat of French signaled the end of destroyers which violated international
French involvement in Vietnam-> led to law
1954 Geneva Accords which -Johnson asked for Congressional
temporarily divided Vietnam along the support for avenging the attacks-> led
17th parallel to the passing of the GoT Resolution by
E= Event laid the foundation for direct the US Congress
involvement of major powers in -Resolution granted by President
Vietnam, including the US Johnson granted permission to escalate
-Battle demonstrated the military and US military involvement in Vietnam->
determination of Communist forces-> became a catalyst for the significant
prompting US to reassess its policy increase in US troop deployments &
towards Vietnam combat operations in Vietnam
A= Although the battle of DBP set the -Increase President Johnson’s approval
stage for international involvement in rating increasing from 42% to 72%->
Vietnam, it DID NOT have a direct reelection in 1964
impact on US policy SJ= GoT was more important as it had
-However, it did contribute to the an immediate and direct impact
overall perception that communist -Incident provided justification for the
victory in Vietnam was possible which escalation of US military involvement->
