IEB History.
Details the events that occurred within the Vietnam War, or otherwise known as the American War, within the context of the Cold War. Covers the escalation of USA military involvement in the war under different presidents, from Truman to Nixon. Studies the war as a proxy war between ...
• Many European colonies found in Asia — led to the development of na9onalist movements wan9ng
libera9on
• WW II: Japanese ruled South East Asia — harsh rule, though it was portrayed to be liberal
• Colonised by France in the 19th century — Vietnam was a major rice-producer with most ci9zens
working as sharecroppers
• Vietnamese ci9zens were forced to pay high taxes to support the French army and administra9on
• Before WW II, there was liNle na9onalis9c organised opposi9on
• Vietnamese na9onalists established Viet Minh aka The League for the Independence of Vietnam
Post War II
• September 1945: Vietnam is announced as an independent and democra9c republic
• French aNempted to re-establish their authority
• Viet Minh made use of local support, guerrilla tac9cs and aid from USSR and China to overcome such
aNempts
• USA provided French powers with aid in hopes of stopping the spread of communism
• 1954: French surrendered following the siege of Dien Bien Phu
• 1954: Geneva Accords adopted
• “free people resis9ng subjuga9on” — The Truman Doctrine
Domino Effect
• If USA did not stop it, communism would spread from China to North Vietnam to S Vietnam to Laos to
Cambodia
• Vietnam played a strategic and significant role in the Cold War
• The USA was worried that Vietnam had become communist and so, as a result, prohibited free elec9ons
Ngo Dinh Diem
• 1955: Diem was elected to office — a US-supported dictatorship (USA assumed they would elect a
communist party)
• 1956: Diem refused to hold free elec9ons in hopes of sustaining divide between North and South
Vietnam
How The War Began
• Geneva Peace Conference — French were to withdraw forces; Vietnam divided into two and became
independent
• Communist North and non-communist South
• Elec9ons for 1956 were planned
, • In 1957, Ho Chi Minh supporters in the South came into conflict with the Army of the Republic of
Vietnam (ARVN)
• These southern rebels assassinated mul9ple of Diem’s government officials
• 1959: Viet Minh (N Vietnam) supplied S Vietnam with weapons via the Ho Chi Minh Trail
• 1959 to 1960: Agrovill Programme was established by Diem as a response — forcible and random
displacement of ci9zens to remote and rural areas to keep them away from the influence of the
‘communists’ (Viet Cong)
• This displacement further alienated the southern popula9on of Vietnam
• 1963: Diem’s rule targeted and aNacked by students and Buddhists
• 1963: Diem aNempted to crush such aNacks with mar9al law but, was overthrown and killed in an army
coup
North vs South Vietnam
• North
- Ruled by Ho Cho Minh — na9onalised industries, improved educa9on, harsh repression of those who
opposed his rule, collec9vist farms, estates redistributed, persecu9on of Catholics
• South
- Ruled Ngo Dinh Diem — dictatorship, Diem’s family held top authorita9ve posi9ons, deten9on and
torture for opposers, no aNempts at land reform and his dictatorship had liNle respect for Buddhist
tradi9ons
- US-supported as it was an9-communist
- US feared communists would win elec9ons so, ensured none were held
NaGonal LiberaGon Front
• NLF termed Viet Cong by Diem
• Established in December 1960
• Wanted to coordinate the various na9onalist groups opposed to Diem’s rule
• Na9onalis9c — believed in being ruled by their own people instead of the US, China or USSR
• Supported by the N Vietnam government
• Aimed to liberate S Vietnam from corrupt government
• Aimed to reunite N and S Vietnam and form on country once more
• Fought a guerrilla war against S Vietnam
• 1959: Received weapons from North Vietnam via the Ho Chi Minh Trail
• Gained support from peasants as the ini9ated land reforms
• Received economic/military aid and advisors from USSR
• 1961: Organised various na9onalist groups into the People’s LiberaGon Armed Forces (PLAF)
• ANack on USA supply bases mo9vated the USA’s direct involvement in the war
Truman’s Involvement
(1945 to 1953)
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