Vietnam War

1. Vietnam War

2. Background • A Cold War military conflict • Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Northern Vietnam (communists) Vs Southern Vietnam (US & anti-communists)

3. Causes • Colony of French Indochina faced military resistance since colonization in 1850s • 1940: French surrendered to Germany; Japanese takes control • 1941: Formation of Việt Minh- national independence movement against Japanese backed by US & ROC (Ho Chi Minh)

4. Causes • 1945: Japanese surrendered; Ho Chin Minh established the DRV • French returned • Indochinese War(1946): Viet Minh(+ PRC & SU) vs French Union

5. Causes • 1954: With enormous PRC support, Viet Minh defeated French Union at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, resulting in French withdrawal • Separated at the 17th parallel

6. Causes • Transition Period • State of Vietnam Referendum (1955) • Ngo Dinh Diem established the ROV in 1955

7. Causes • DRV, with the assistance of the Viet Cong, PRC & SU tried to seize South Vietnam • US intervened, with accordance to their policy of containment, to support ROV DRV (North Vietnam) + PRC + SU Vs ROV (South Vietnam) + US + anti-communists

8. Effects • Human Cost (American People): • 58,000 American people died, 150,000 wounded in battle • Families of the Deceased or Wounded were severely affected • American people were devastated by the magnitude of bloodshed

9. Effects • Human Cost (Veterans) • Veterans suffered from Post-traumatic stress order or other psychological problems • Veterans were not well-received by the people of America, not given recognition • Veterans found it hard to meld back into society

10. Effects • Foreign Policy (America) • US technically lost the war • General feeling, less intervention in other countries

11. Effects • Human Cost (Vietnam) • Vietnam casualties count uncertain • South Vietnam submitted to North’s Communist Rule • People sent to concentration camps for “re-education” • People forced to develop undeveloped land • Use of chemicals affected Vietnamese health severely

12. Involvement of Other Countries • Communist Assistance to DRV: • USSR, China, North Korea • Diplomatic Recognition • Sent troops (esp. China) • Supplied medical supplies and military equipment • Military advisors to train army • Repair the damage caused by American bombing • China and USSR fell out

13. Involvement of Other Countries • Anti-communist Countries’ Involvement: • South Korea sent troops which were reputable for their effectiveness (2nd most after US troops) • Filipino troops mainly assisted in medical and other civilian pacification projects • Thai army formations assisted in fighting in South Korea and in Laos (Ho Chi Minh Trail) • ROC provided assistance through sending military equipment, troops, training units and advisors

14. Involvement of Other Countries • Neutral States: • Laos and Cambodia • Ho Chi Minh trail ran through Laos and Cambodia • Part of war was fought on these neutral states • US Secret Bombings on Cambodia and Laos not only weakened North Vietnamese troops, but destroyed local buildings

15. Involvement of Other Countries • US Involvement – start of involvement • USA involved itself when Communists took over China through funding French war effort • Domino Theory • 1954, US prevented elections in Vietnam • Showed ignorance to Vietnamese people • Helped Ngo Dinh Diem to set up ROV and funded his efforts, though concerned and frustrated by his corrupt ways

16. Involvement of Other Countries • US involvement – sent troops • By 60s, US started sending troops (military advisors) under President Kennedy’s administration • More troops were sent when under his successor President Johnson • President Johnson committed full scale • Almost 600k troops were sent, but could not defeat Communist troops (Viet Cong) • Bombing and Chemical weapons

17. Involvement of Other Countries • US involvement – withdrew troops • Public opinion opposed war in Vietnam • Public was horrified by media reports of Vietnam war – My Lai massacre • War could not be won militarily • President Nixon wanted to end US involvement • “Vietnamisation”, pressure on USSR and China • Peace agreement between North and South • Last troops were withdrawn in 1973

18. Soviet-Sino Relations • After Vietnam War • Pro-Soviet Vietnamese and Laos governments • Pro-Chinese Cambodian government • China was trying to replace Russia in the role as the leader of the communist countries • Due to Cambodian aggression, Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1975 • Threat to Chinese influence in SE Asia • In retaliation, China invaded Vietnam in 1979 • Threat to Soviet influence in SE Asia

19. References • http://vietnamwar3.tripod.com/id1.html • http://www.cyberlearning-world.com/nhhs/html3/vet.htm • Vietnam War. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 23, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War • Leuhusen, P. (1997, May 15). The vietnam war. Retrieved from http://www.vietnampix.com/intro2.htm • Carter, N. (2007). The Vietnam War: What Role Did Other Countries Play? Retrieved Jan. 30, 2011, from Articlesbase. Web site: http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/the-vietnam-war-what-role-did-outside-countries-play-261924.html. • Walsh, B. (2001). GCSE modern world history. London, England: Hodder Murray • Vietnam War Timeline. Retrieved Jan. 30, 2011, from Landscaper.net. Web site: http://www.landscaper.net/timelin.htm.