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The Vietnam war

The Vietnam war. Civil War: 45-54 + Guerrilla War Cold War Conflict: 54-64-75. Definitions. Civil: Conflict b/t 2 factions/regions of one country Issues? Ethnic, religious, ideological, political Goal? Take control of political/legal institutions of the state Guerilla:

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The Vietnam war

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  1. The Vietnam war Civil War: 45-54 + Guerrilla War Cold War Conflict: 54-64-75

  2. Definitions • Civil: • Conflict b/t 2 factions/regions of one country • Issues? Ethnic, religious, ideological, political • Goal? Take control of political/legal institutions of the state • Guerilla: • Post-45 context = unconventional warfare b/t colonial peoples vs. Euro colonial powers • Why? limited resources, terrain (ex: jungles), support of locals, Marxism (masses rising up vs. capitalist regimes), • Total: draft, civilians, weaponry (all + new), gov. control (econ, media) • Limited: Geo confinement, target, weapons, mobility limited • Proxy: local insurgents sponsored by US/USSR (part of larger ideological struggle b/t nations)

  3. Prelude • Nat’lism after WWII  weakening/collapse of colonial empires • Sept, ‘40- Japanese campaign & rule of Fr. Indochina w/ puppet regime • “Double Puppet”- Emp. Bao Dai collaborate w/ Japan as he had w/ France + French “Vichy” rule • 41- HCM form Viet Minh (League for Indpendence of Vietnam) • Umbrella over all nat’list movements • 45- Relief efforts in N during war, famine • HCM seen as positive force by US • Assistance to US intelligence vs. Japanese, commitment to freedom/liberty • Claim to see US as anti-colonial power to help gain independence • 45- Japan install Emp. Bao Dai as formal head of Empire of Vietnam

  4. French Indochina • End of war  FR desire (under De Gaulle) to regain control • Imperial Japanese Army maintain law & order as French arrive to reclaim power •  allowance of nat’list groups to take over public buildings, weapons •  August Revolution • Aug. 25- HCM convince Emperor to abdicate & turn rule over to Viet Minh in Hanoi • Sept. 2- declaration of Vietnamese independence from France • Fr Influence always greater in S than in N • Franco-British troops move in from S, Chinese forces sent by CKS from N  end of Japanese presence & HCM gov. in Hanoi • Issues b/t Chinese troops & French (goal to restore order in S, militarize N) • By Feb. ‘46, France abandon concessions/ports in China in exchange for Chinese military withdrawal  French regaining control of region  conflict w/ Viet Minh

  5. ‘49- French recognition of DRV as “free state” w/in colonial union • Under appointment of Bao Dai • Viet Minh denounce new gov + add support by newly PRC • End of year- French to crush Vietnamese nat’lism (multiple groups) • Opposition to French effort to establish regime in southern province  First Indochina War • US involvement? • US disagree w/ restoration of French rule, but need France aid vs. communism • ‘48-’50- support to French to further “aims in Europe” more important than “realization of our objectives in Indochina.” • Viet Minh movement dominated by Ho Chi Minh, Communists • Dependent on Soviet Union, China

  6. Early 50s- GB, Dutch, French • US position? Support colonial nat’lists (Spirit of 1776) OR world powers that could aid in fight vs. communism • Truman aid to French/Dutch  regain land lost by Japan to locals • Truman issues • Looking soft on communism • Growing communist party in France • Communist resistance to Nazis during war • French desire to reclaim old empire

  7. 1. How did the USA become involved in Vietnam? • Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) French colony. Nationalist movement led by Communist Ho Chi Minh, Vietminh, attacked Japanese. After 1945, he declared independence of Democratic Republic of Vietnam. • French fought Vietminh in 1946 to retain control. As Cold War intensified, Truman administration began emphasising Ho Chi Minh’s communist credentials. Assumed he was controlled by Moscow. • USA sent military aid to help France in March 1950. Eisenhower continued this, believing in Domino Theory. USA funding 80% of war by 1954. French finally defeated at battle of Dien Bien Phuin 1954.

  8. Toward civil war • ‘50- Korea War  Vietnam another battleground? • Truman- aid to French • ‘53- truce in Korea  increased aid to French under Ike • 2/3 cost of French cost • ‘54- French loss to Viet Minh @ Dien Bien Phu • Draw out guerillas in open, crush w/ superior weapons • OOPS…surrounded, besieged • French request US air strike in March  US refused • April 7, ‘54- Ike’s DOMINO THEORY • Opposition to direct involvement alone

  9. May, ‘54- Viet Minh attacks overwhelm French, defeats con. • July 20, 1954- agreement on Geneva Accords  Final Declaration • Viet Minh control N @ 17th parallel, French control S • Elections in ‘56 to unite Vietnam • Neither US, nor South Vietnamese join in accord or sign FD • Laos, Cambodia neutral

  10. US response? “Pactomania” (43 by ‘60) • Dulles organize mutual defense agreements for SE Asia • September ‘54- US + 7 = Southeast Asia Treaty Org. (SEATO) • Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, GB, Fr, Australia, NZ, US • NOT another version of NATO • Response by nations in accord to their “constitutional practices” • In case of threat, subversion- would “consult immediately” • Special protocol included coverage to Indochina

  11. 2. What was decided at the Geneva Conference of 1954? • Geneva Accords decided France would withdraw; Vietnam would be divided at 17th parallel; Ho Chi Minh given control of North; ‘free elections’ to unite Vietnam in 1956; no foreign bases; Laos and Cambodia recognised as independent states. • USA refused to sign accords. Started to strengthen south of Vietnam and non-communist government led by Ngo Dinh Diem. Established SEATO in 1954 which included South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as ‘protected areas’ – USA and SEATO allies would respond to an attack on these areas.

  12. Ike announcement on Vietnam, ’54 • US no part of decision @ Geneva, but Communist aggression “would be viewed by us as a matter of grave concern.” • US did agree NOT to use threat or force to disturb agreements put in place • Statement says agree w/ principals of Accords, but concern over elections since possibility of united communist Vietnam

  13. HCM & gov. consolidate control in North • Kangaroo courts to seize land • Leave N w/ US aid (900k refugees into South)  problems for weak SV gov. • SV power to anti-Comm. Ngo Dinh Diem (Catholic nat’list opposed to French & Viet Minh) • Serve as Prime Minister under Emperor Bao Dai • Ike offers assistance “in developing and maintaining a strong, viable state, capable of resisting attempted subversion or aggression through military means.” • US expectation? Democratic reforms, land to peasants • US aid = CIA, military cadres to train

  14. Consolidate power, remove Bao Dai and declare SV a republic = backing of majority of SV UNTIL… • Suppression of opposition • no land redistribution • widespread corruption • Buddhist majority vs. small % of Caths • Caths given preferential treatment for gov jobs, military positions, • ‘56- refusal to participate in elections on reunification of Vietnam (US backed)

  15. ‘57 = growth of comm. support in SV & call for uprising vs. NDD • NV/HCM preoccupied w/ building comm state in N • USSR hoping for détente w/ West, so no provocation desired • PRC focused on domestic reform, no desire for confrontation w/ US after Korea • Communists use efforts to tighten control  recruit SV who are discontented with Diem, gov. • ‘59- NV intervene since NDD unpopular  opportunity to expand control • SV guerrilla forces sympathetic to HCM, communism = Viet Cong • Attacks on SV/Diem gov., HCM Trail • ’60- resistance moves to political faction: National Liberation Front • Goal? Rally all SV opposed to NDD w/ promise of reform, unification

  16. 3. Why did Ngo Dinh Diem refuse to hold promised elections in 1956? • In October 1955, Diem proclaimed the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) with himself as president. US gave millions in economic support and trained South Vietnamese Army (ARVN). 1,000 US military advisors by 1960. • Diem (US educated, Catholic) and his brother Ngo DinhNhu(Chief of Police) were ruthless, crushed opposition, refused land reforms, promoted Catholic faith. Dictatorship emerged. • In 1956, Diem refused to hold elections, with US support. Claimed Communists couldn’t be trusted to hold fair elections in North, in reality afraid election would have led to Communist victory, estimated Ho Chi Minh had 80% support.

  17. Military opposition to Diem only option left in South; communists formed military groups known as ‘Vietcong’ (VC); communist political wing became known as ‘National Liberation Front’ (NLF). North Vietnam supported VC, as did most of local population. • USA became increasing concerned by Diem’s popularity, doubted Diem’s ability to hold off communist growth.

  18. Civil War- 61-63 • Fall, ‘61- SV gov. collapsing, VC control of villages • NDD to JFK- Help! • US advisors (8k), equipment to SV army vs. VC • US know NDD unpopular, know USSR looking for détente/stabilization of SE Asia •  effort to push NV/SV into negotiation/settlement • McNamara (Sec Def) disagree  increase in advisors, aid b/c… • JFK not want to negotiate peace since ‘Nam = test case for US challenge to communism • JFK not want to send in troops

  19. Jan-Jun, ’62- SV/NDD rally vs. VC, BUT VC “bases” difficult to find & root out • Jungle, guerrilla tactics • VC withdrawal  SV troops seize area, then VC re-conquer • By ‘63- SV troops weak, fail vs. VC units (ex: loss at Battle of Ap Bac) • ‘63- control of SV by NDD deteriorate • VC expand influence , authority • Many turn vs. NDD • Discrimination vs. Buddhists (majority)- ex: SV troops firing into crowd celebrating Buddha’s bday (flying non-gov flags = breaking law)  anger, protests, self-immolation

  20. US response to NDD? • COUP! • NDD not popular, signs of possible negotiation w/ HCM (and SV too weak to stand up to HCM) • SV army launch coup on 11/1/63 • NDD & brother murdered next day, General Nguyen Khanh as new leader

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