Summarised but detailed notes on the Vietnam War
• Conflict in Asia:
-Indo-China under Ho Chi-Minh in the North and Diem in the South
-formation of NLF IN 1960 to reunify SV and NV. First there’s Vietminh and then NLF and Vietcong is the military arm of it
- Kennedy's policies towards Ind...
Conflict in Asia:
-Indo-China under Ho Chi-Minh in the North and Diem in the South
-formation of NLF IN 1960 to reunify SV and NV. First there’s Vietminh and then NLF
and Vietcong is the military arm of it
- Kennedy's policies towards Indo-China
-Diem's assassination KEY
1963–1972- Nixon's policies in Vietnam: Purple= judgement/ analysis
-Vietnamisation Red= limitations
-extension into Cambodia and Laos Green= change
- relations with China Bc= because
-the beginning of the Paris peace talks Inc= increased
The USA and SE Asia: Paris peace talks; Northern victory; continuing problems in
Cambodia; costs of war
Truman- $2bn to French against Vietminh and $50bn econ aid to region. 78% of French
costs
IKE- support diem financially and politically, $7bn financial aid and 1500 advisors
Ho Chi-Minh
- Reunification thru force. Sets up NLF in 1960- led by Hua Tho. – diff groups but
mutual enemy= USA and diem- get rid of their influence and unite V, used HCM trail
for their supply route
- Land reforms and collectivisation – AGRARIAN
- Won power and support thru revolutionary violence- 1m flee to south e.g. landlords
who are liquidated . 1956 6000 peasants revolt- killed
- PAVN army
Diem
- Nepotistic e.g. bro=PM. Took large amount of econ aid for themselves instead of
improvements in agri.- ignores rural peasantry interests
- Christian in Buddhist majority, spoke French
- “we knew of no one better”- DULLES
-
- Kennedy's policies towards Indo-China from 1961
-Kennedy said ‘we have a problem in making our power credible and Vietnam is the place”-
invested in Vietnam on a CW basis and realise this is a mistake bc HCM isn’t a puppet
-IKE was massive retaliation, JFK- counter insurgency(so intelligence gathering targeting
individuals infiltration)- FELXIBLE RESPONSE. General Taylor recommended inc in helicopter
force to facilitate C.I
-wanted to ensure SV was a democracy crucial for security of all SE Asia but supported a
dictator and then a military clique
-November 1963 diem assassinated- US role unclear left problems for SV generals and
ultimately further dragged US into conflict. Tacitly encourage coup and prepare for alt
regime in SV
, -counter insurgency
-strategic hamlet programme- FAILS- ALIENATED SV PESANTRY FURTHER. Wanted to isolate
them from Vietcong- 4m in 1962 in 3000+ hamlets/14000 planned. Led to more recruitment
of peasants into Vietcong and they were easily infiltrated dumb because Vietcong targeted
government officials not them so futile and medical aid was lacking so poor conditions.
-Diem persecuted Buddhist majority e.g. no speeches from their leader allowed
-organised mass protests and anti-US propaganda- Quang Duc – publicly burns himself.-
1963 Buddhist crisis
-using agent orange chemical defoliant- operation ranch hand- 20m US gallons of
defoliants and herbicides over rural areas- deprive Vietcong of food and cover. A.O Inc
cases of cancer in us soldiers
Extent of involvement:
By 1963, 16,300 advisors in Vietnam, some conducting clandestine operations. 1500 before
w IKE from ’55- dramatic inc
WHY INC INVOLVEMENT?
-Quagmire theory- overconfidence in American power and ideals and ignorance of the
appeal of communism in Vietnam led to the US gradually trapped in an expensive
commitment in an unimportant area unable to exist without losing credibility
-Stalemate theory- US held onto commitment to avoid being seen as losers by voters
US military troops peak at nearly 600,000 in 1969
‘The failure to contain communism in South Vietnam by 1963 was the result of Kennedy’s
policies.’
Assess the validity of this view.
Valid Not valid
-contd. Support for unpopular diem- loses S.V support Other administrations to blame- Truman started it by
as seen as USA’s puppet. Accepts assassination enraging HCM. W French support.
-S.H.P- Raised resentment against USA and in turn S.V -Ike broke Geneva accords and supported Diem w $2bn
peasants turn towards HCM and sending 1st personnel- 1000 advisors- committed
-ignore Taylor/roscow report about sending 10,000 men involvement. Fails to drive support away from HCM.
and instead continued to fund/train SV army . - Kennedy in a difficult position as US was already
-JFK is WEAK for not sending an army- failure to ensure committed to Vietnam. There was domestic pressure to
hard and fast control. both contain communism (esp. after loss of China and
events in Korea) but also not commit to a full scale war;
• Kennedy’s relationship with Diem’s regime he tried a compromised approach which ultimately
Inherited US involvement in Vietnam through Truman proved inadequate.
and Eisenhower’s policies. Republican President Diem’s failure to contain communism:
Eisenhower and Sec of State Dulles had previously This was key in growth of communism.
supported Diem and from 1961 Democrat Kennedy He supported Catholics and persecuted the
continued. Knew he was corrupt, oppressive and hugely Buddhist majority – led to Buddhist Crisis of June
unpopular, but still supported him and provided billions 1963 – ARVN attacked monks in city of Hue and
in aid to help him as he alienated many Vietnamese. By then Quang Doc’s self-immolation in Saigon
end of Oct 1963, US had serious doubts over Diem and showed growing hatred of Diem. Madame Nhu’s
sent new Ambassador to Saigon. US gave mixed response ‘let them burn, we will clap our hands’.
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