Vietnam War

Vietnam WarVietnam War

1964-19731964-1973

Early HistoryEarly History

• Chinese refer to area as Nam VietChinese refer to area as Nam Viet

• 111 B.C. to 939 A.D – China ruled 111 B.C. to 939 A.D – China ruled over Vietnam and the Vietnamese over Vietnam and the Vietnamese constantly fought their ruleconstantly fought their rule

• 939 A.D. to 1887 – semi-939 A.D. to 1887 – semi-independence from China and independence from China and allowed for Vietnamese culture to allowed for Vietnamese culture to growgrow

French enter the picture – French enter the picture – Why?Why?

• Hoping to secure land and sea bases Hoping to secure land and sea bases from Europe to Asiafrom Europe to Asia

• Competing with British for colonial Competing with British for colonial possessionspossessions

• Trying to convert area to CatholicismTrying to convert area to Catholicism

• French signed treaty in 1887 creating French signed treaty in 1887 creating IndochinaIndochina

WWIIWWII

• Vietnamese resist Japanese control Vietnamese resist Japanese control over the areaover the area

• Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Office of Strategic Services (OSS) works with Ho Chi Minh to rescue works with Ho Chi Minh to rescue downed allied pilotsdowned allied pilots

• War ends and Ho issues Declaration War ends and Ho issues Declaration of Independence and at the same of Independence and at the same time French reassert controltime French reassert control

First Indochina War 1945 - First Indochina War 1945 - 19541954

• Truman has a choice?Truman has a choice?

- Ho Chi Minh- Ho Chi Minh

-French rule as colonial power-French rule as colonial power

• French use fear of communism saying that French use fear of communism saying that if they lost Indochina then they would be if they lost Indochina then they would be too weak and their government would fall too weak and their government would fall to French Communist partyto French Communist party

• 1952, US supplied 1/3 of French military 1952, US supplied 1/3 of French military budgetbudget

Siege of Dien Bien PhuSiege of Dien Bien Phu

SiegeSiege

• French want to create a fortress and French want to create a fortress and battle enemy in one of attritionbattle enemy in one of attrition

• Viet Minh bring in 40,000 additional Viet Minh bring in 40,000 additional troops around Dien Bien Phu and put troops around Dien Bien Phu and put it to a siegeit to a siege

• Lasts from March 1954 to May 7 1954 Lasts from March 1954 to May 7 1954 when the French surrenderedwhen the French surrendered

• French- 3,000 killed and Viet Minh – French- 3,000 killed and Viet Minh – 8,000 killed8,000 killed

Why they lost?Why they lost?

1.1. They are FrenchThey are French

2.2. Monsoon weather did not allow ofr Monsoon weather did not allow ofr successful supply dropssuccessful supply drops

3.3. Too far from supply baseToo far from supply base

4.4. Viet Minh held the high groundViet Minh held the high ground

5.5. Did not bomb Viet Minh positions Did not bomb Viet Minh positions with significant aircraftwith significant aircraft

Geneva Conference - 1954Geneva Conference - 1954

• Split Vietnam along 17Split Vietnam along 17thth parallel parallel

• Called for elections to unite country in Called for elections to unite country in 1956 (Diem worried Ho would fix elections 1956 (Diem worried Ho would fix elections but North had greater population – not but North had greater population – not necessary)necessary)

• Withdrawal of French Union Forces from Withdrawal of French Union Forces from IndochinaIndochina

• Leader in the North – Ho Chi MinhLeader in the North – Ho Chi Minh

• Leader in the South – Ngo Dinh DiemLeader in the South – Ngo Dinh Diem

Democratic Republic of Democratic Republic of VietnamVietnamAKA – North VietnamAKA – North Vietnam• Leader – Leader – Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh – led anti- – led anti-

colonial forces from 1945 to his death colonial forces from 1945 to his death in 1969in 1969

• Vo Nguyen GiapVo Nguyen Giap – commander of all – commander of all military forces in North Vietnam from military forces in North Vietnam from 1945 to 19731945 to 1973

• Le DuanLe Duan – took over control of North – took over control of North Vietnam after death of Ho Chi MinhVietnam after death of Ho Chi Minh

• Pham Van DongPham Van Dong – skillfull diplomat – skillfull diplomat

LeadersLeaders

North Vietnam North Vietnam OrganizationsOrganizations

• Viet Minh (NVA)Viet Minh (NVA) – organization of – organization of committed communists founded in committed communists founded in 19411941

• Viet Cong (VC)Viet Cong (VC) – opposition communist – opposition communist group in South Vietnam committed to group in South Vietnam committed to overthrowing Diem governmentoverthrowing Diem government

• Lao Dong PartyLao Dong Party - name of communist - name of communist party organizationparty organization

The Republic of Vietnam The Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam)(South Vietnam)

• Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem – worked with the US – worked with the US as Prime Minister of South Vietnam. as Prime Minister of South Vietnam. His policies would alienate many His policies would alienate many South Vietnam peopleSouth Vietnam people

• Duong Van MinhDuong Van Minh - military General of - military General of the South Vietnamese army (ARVN)the South Vietnamese army (ARVN)

Diem’s policiesDiem’s policies

• Sought harsh methods to root out Sought harsh methods to root out communists at the village and city communists at the village and city levellevel

• Tru GianTru Gian – Viet Minh organization – Viet Minh organization devoted to political assassinationsdevoted to political assassinations

-1959, 1,000 assassinations-1959, 1,000 assassinations

- ignored the corrupt and - ignored the corrupt and inefficient officialsinefficient officials

Ho Chi Minh’s troubleHo Chi Minh’s trouble

• a poorly executed plan nearly a poorly executed plan nearly resulted in famineresulted in famine

• The five-year plan The five-year plan failed

Overall Goal of HoOverall Goal of Ho - wants to unite - wants to unite North and South into one communist North and South into one communist country and expel US – use NVA and country and expel US – use NVA and VCVC

Eisenhower and VietnamEisenhower and Vietnam

• Sent military equipment and financial aid to Sent military equipment and financial aid to FranceFrance

• 1955 set up Military Assistance advisory 1955 set up Military Assistance advisory Croup – Vietnam (MAAGV) worked as military Croup – Vietnam (MAAGV) worked as military advisors in training ARVN – capped at 342advisors in training ARVN – capped at 342

• Tried to work with French in the South unitl Tried to work with French in the South unitl they left in 1956they left in 1956

• Domino theory increases US interests in Domino theory increases US interests in VietnamVietnam

Eisenhower and VietnamEisenhower and Vietnam

• Sent Ed Lansdale Sent Ed Lansdale to support Diem to support Diem and counter coups and counter coups against himagainst him

• State Department State Department representative representative Collins does not Collins does not support Diemsupport Diem

Eisenhower and VietnamEisenhower and Vietnam

• By end of of 2By end of of 2ndnd term Eisenhower term Eisenhower increased military increased military advisors to 700advisors to 700

• Also sent more Also sent more military men in military men in civilian clothes to civilian clothes to get around cap on get around cap on foreign military foreign military troops in Vietnamtroops in Vietnam

Kennedy and VietnamKennedy and Vietnam

• 1960 campaign vowed to be strong 1960 campaign vowed to be strong on communism on communism

• Kennedy believed in exporting Kennedy believed in exporting democracy and capitalism to stop democracy and capitalism to stop spread of communismspread of communism

• Knowing this Diem screams Knowing this Diem screams “Communists!” and gets more aid “Communists!” and gets more aid from Kennedyfrom Kennedy

Increasing aidIncreasing aid

• Diem request enough Diem request enough aid for a 270,000 aid for a 270,000 men ARVN forcemen ARVN force

• Increased VC activity Increased VC activity leads to Diem’s call leads to Diem’s call for US combat troopsfor US combat troops

• Kennedy sends Kennedy sends General Taylor and General Taylor and Walt RostowWalt Rostow

Two policies to choose fromTwo policies to choose from

• Increase military Increase military advisors and advisors and support units of support units of pilots and pilots and helicoptershelicopters

• Also, send 8,000 Also, send 8,000 combat soldiers to combat soldiers to help with help with humanitarian reliefhumanitarian relief

• Send six divisions Send six divisions numbering numbering 200,000 soldiers to 200,000 soldiers to VietnamVietnam

• Shows Shows commitment to commitment to VietnamVietnam

CounterinsurgencyCounterinsurgency

Green Berets

Winning the “hearts and Winning the “hearts and minds”minds”• Building schoolsBuilding schools• Providing medical Providing medical

assistanceassistance• Improving irrigation Improving irrigation

and roadsand roads• Protecting Vietnamese Protecting Vietnamese

peasants from the Viet peasants from the Viet CongCong

• Colin Powell was an Colin Powell was an advisor during these advisor during these yearsyears

• VCVC -taxing them-taxing them -Drafting their young -Drafting their young

men into servicemen into service -Terrorizing them-Terrorizing them

Assassination of DiemAssassination of Diem

• Ruled as a virtual dictatorRuled as a virtual dictator

• Gave preference to Catholics in Gave preference to Catholics in government positions, and giving government positions, and giving landland

• Hamlet programs were a disasterHamlet programs were a disaster

• Banned the display of Buddhist flags Banned the display of Buddhist flags (90% of country was Buddhist)(90% of country was Buddhist)

Kennedy and the Vietnam Kennedy and the Vietnam warwar

• Increased advisors from 700 to Increased advisors from 700 to 16,00016,000

• Ordered withdrawal of 1,000 advisorsOrdered withdrawal of 1,000 advisors

• Diem coup created revolving door Diem coup created revolving door governments and great instabilitygovernments and great instability