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Vietnam in Context

Vietnam in Context. To stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, the United States uses its military to support South Vietnam. (Corresponds to 22.1). Vietnam & Ho Chi Minh. Vietnamese oppressed under French rule. Ho Chi Minh. Went to school in France

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Vietnam in Context

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  1. Vietnam in Context To stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, the United States uses its military to support South Vietnam. (Corresponds to 22.1)

  2. Vietnam & Ho Chi Minh • Vietnamese oppressed under French rule

  3. Ho Chi Minh • Went to school in France • Claimed greatest hero was George Washington • Ho pursues independence • Wrote letters to the French government • Tried to get a French government job to work within the system • Traveled all over the world seeking help 1930 • Ho Chi Minh makes the Indochinese Communist Party

  4. Ho Chi Minh • Drew eight-point plan for independence in January 1919 • Ho tried to argue the case with Wilson

  5. Ho Chi Minh • Contacted Woodrow Wilson: "equal rights for Vietnamese and French in Indochina, freedom of press and opinion, freedom of association and assembly, freedom to travel at home and abroad, and substitute rule of law for government by degree.“ • Was shown the door

  6. Vietnam & pre WWII • French return to rule after WWI • Ho Chi Minh founds Viet Minh • Việt Nam Ðộc Lập Ðồng Minh Hội • League for the Independence of Vietnam • Viet Minh has two purposes: • Rid Vietnam of foreign rule • Declare independence

  7. Vietnam and WWII • 1940, Japanese control Vietnam • Viet Minh • Rescued American pilots • Gathered intelligence • Wage guerrilla campaign • FDR sided with Chiang Kai-Shek and Stalin • Indochina should be turned over to a trusteeship for independence

  8. Vietnam and WWII • FDR forced to support French • Indochina returned to French • February 1945 Ho writes President Truman:  • We ask what has been graciously granted to the Philippines.  Like the Philippines our goal is full independence and full cooperation with the United States.  We will do our best to make this independence and cooperation profitable to the whole world. • Letter declassified in 1972. • September 2, 1945 - Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnamese independence

  9. Post WWII • French & Americans don’t help Ho – Communists will • America further disinclined to support Ho b/c of Communist affiliation • Analysts can’t draw links b/w Ho and Moscow

  10. Reestablishing French Control • French troops move into Vietnam • French regain South • North left under defacto control of Ho • 1950 – US provides economic aid to France • Truman Doctrine

  11. Transitioning Power • 1950 – French give power to Bao Dai  • US recognized him - Vietnamese didn’t • In 1954 President Eisenhower wrote: • I have never talked or corresponded with a person knowledgeable in Indochinese affairs who did not agree that had elections been held at the time of the fighting, possibly 80 percent of the population would have voted for Communist Ho Chi Minh as their leader rather then Chief of State Bao Dai.

  12. Why didn’t most Vietnamese recognize Bao Dai, King of Annam and Emperor of Vietnam? • Annam means “mountain people”

  13. Dien Bien Phu • 1954 – French defeated at Dien Bien Phu • Geneva Accords divide Vietnam at 17th parallel • Election to unify country in 1956 • US appoints Ngo Dinh Diem as president

  14. Trouble Begins • Diem Cancels Elections • US promises military aid • Ensures stable government in South • Diem corrupt, stifles opposition • Diem attacks Buddhism • Monks burn themselves in protest • Ho forms the Vietcong

  15. Viet Cong • Viet Minh termed “Viet Cong” in South Vietnam • Vietnamese Communists • US troops referred to them using the phonetic alphabet – “Victor Charlie” • Shortened to “Charlie” • Vietcong receive arms and equipment via the Ho Chi Minh Trail • Vietcong • Engage in guerilla warfare • Kill S. Vietnam officials • Kill Americans

  16. US & Vietnam • Eisenhower & JFK back Diem financially • US sends military advisers • Diem's popularity plummets • Strategic hamlet program to fight Vietcong • JFK orders Diem assassinated

  17. Strategic Hamlet Program Villagers resent movement from ancestral homes Govt. appointed “mayors” of towns Literal prison camps

  18. Tonkin Gulf Incident • August 2nd & 4th 1964 • North Vietnamese allegedly fire upon US Destroyer • LBJ asks for power to repel enemy • 1965 – Americans killed • LBJ orders sustained bombing of North • Operation Rolling Thunder

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