The origins of the Vietnam war
Fighting the Japanese
• Vietnam had a long history of fighting outsiders
• Before WW2 Vietnam ruled by France
• During war – conquered by Japanese
o Ruled area brutally – treated people savagely
o Resulted in strong anti-Japanese resistance movement (Viet Minh)
▪ Lead by Communist Ho Chi Minh
• Lived in USA, Britain, France and studied Communism in
USSR (1920s)
• 1930 – Founded Indochinese Communist Party
• Inspired Vietnamese to fight for independence
▪ End of WW2 – Viet Minh controlled north – determined to take
control of country
▪ Entered city of Hanoi (1945) – declared Vietnamese independence
Fighting the French
• 1945 – French wanted to rule Vietnam again
o Ho not prepared to let this happen
• 9-year war between Viet Minh and French
o Ho supported by China (Communist in 1949 under Mao Zedong)
▪ USA saw Viet Minh as puppets of China – helped French by pouring
$500 million per year into French war effort
o Despite USA help, French pulled out (1954)
• Peace conference held in Geneva
o Country divided into north and south until elections could decide its future
How did American involvement in Vietnam escalate?
• Under ceasefire, elections were to be held within 2 years
o USA prevented them (1954) through fear of Communists winning
o 1955 – USA helped Ngo Dinh Diem set up Republic of SV
▪ Supported him – was bitterly anti-communist and prepared to
exile/imprison Communists
▪ Belonged to landlord class – treated Vietnamese peasants with
contempt
▪ Christian – showed little respect for Buddhists and peasants
▪ Regime was corrupt
NV = North Vietnam/Vietnamese SV = South Vietnam/Vietnamese VC = Viet Cong
Fighting the Japanese
• Vietnam had a long history of fighting outsiders
• Before WW2 Vietnam ruled by France
• During war – conquered by Japanese
o Ruled area brutally – treated people savagely
o Resulted in strong anti-Japanese resistance movement (Viet Minh)
▪ Lead by Communist Ho Chi Minh
• Lived in USA, Britain, France and studied Communism in
USSR (1920s)
• 1930 – Founded Indochinese Communist Party
• Inspired Vietnamese to fight for independence
▪ End of WW2 – Viet Minh controlled north – determined to take
control of country
▪ Entered city of Hanoi (1945) – declared Vietnamese independence
Fighting the French
• 1945 – French wanted to rule Vietnam again
o Ho not prepared to let this happen
• 9-year war between Viet Minh and French
o Ho supported by China (Communist in 1949 under Mao Zedong)
▪ USA saw Viet Minh as puppets of China – helped French by pouring
$500 million per year into French war effort
o Despite USA help, French pulled out (1954)
• Peace conference held in Geneva
o Country divided into north and south until elections could decide its future
How did American involvement in Vietnam escalate?
• Under ceasefire, elections were to be held within 2 years
o USA prevented them (1954) through fear of Communists winning
o 1955 – USA helped Ngo Dinh Diem set up Republic of SV
▪ Supported him – was bitterly anti-communist and prepared to
exile/imprison Communists
▪ Belonged to landlord class – treated Vietnamese peasants with
contempt
▪ Christian – showed little respect for Buddhists and peasants
▪ Regime was corrupt
NV = North Vietnam/Vietnamese SV = South Vietnam/Vietnamese VC = Viet Cong
