Summary History: Vietnam

Vietnam

, Overview of colonial powers

Background of Vietnam
- Before WW2 it was French ruled (called Indo-China)
o Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
o French rulers were very unpopular and harsh to the people
- 1940, Japan invaded and occupied Indo-china
o Vietminh resisted Japanese occupation
o Led by Ho Chi Minh (communist)
- After WW2 Ho chi Minh declared Vietnam independent

The period immediately after the war in Vietnam

Situation after WW2
- French unsuccessfully tried to reign what had been the Japanese’s
o Forced to withdraw after being defeated by the Vietnam army
 Led by Dien Bien Phu in 1954
- A conference was held in Geneva
o Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia became independent
o Vietnam was temporarily divided
 North is communist Vietminh
 South is capitalist backed by USA and France
o In 1956, North and South will be reunited after elections
- South Vietnam was ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem
o Tyrannical Catholic leader
o Brutally persecuted the Buddhist majority
o Refused to implement reforms regarding land ownership
o Refused to hold elections = angered the people in the South

Stages in the Vietnam war: 1957 - 1965

Struggle in Vietnam between the South Vietnamese army and Vietcong
- In 1960, the National Liberation (NLF) opposed Ngo Dinh Diem
o Demanded a democratic national coalition government
 Introduce reforms and negotiations of united Vietnam
- Diem refused to give into demands
o Vietcong began a guerilla campaign = civil war
- 1963, Diem was overthrown and executed in a coup
o Replaced by military leaders (also corrupt)


Ho Chi Minh trail:
- A series of jungle paths that led from the South to the North
- Went through Cambodia and Laos
- These supply lines were vital to the Vietcong