HISTORY GRADE 12 NOTES
By Mr Mlungisi Z Gumede, B.ed History and Geography, UNIZULU
ESSAY QUESTION PAPER ONE
TOPIC: VIETNAM WAR
The main cause of the war was the difference in economic systems used in Vietnam namely
Comunism and Capitalism. Previously the war was called the cold war because it involved no
physical fight but as time went on this changed. Before world war two French ruled Indo-
china. Indo-China was a multi statev because it was made up of three states, namely
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The French rulers in Vietnam were unpopular and they faced
challenges such as uprisings led by nationalists Party in 1930. Japan invaded and occupied
Indo-China in 1940. A secrete guerrilla organization Vietminh led by communist Hochi minh
was set up to resist Japaneese occupation. After the defeat of Japan in the Second World
War in September 1945 Hochiminh declared Vietnam independent.
In 1945 during the Geneva meeting/conference/accords/agreements, Britain, France, USSR
and China met to duscuss. They agreed to set Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam independent.
They also agreed to temporary divide Vietnam into two states namely North Vietnam and
South Vietnam. North Vietnam controlled by communist Hochiminh or Vietminh. And South
Vietnam Controlled by Capitalist Ngo Dinh Diem. It was planned that after elections to be
held in 1965 vietnam will be reunited under one government. Ngo Dinh DAiem was
unpopular, he was a tyrannical catholic leader, He presecuted the Buddhist majority and
refused to implement reforms in the South Regarding land ownership. He also refused to
hold proposed elections which angered many people in the South.
In 1960 the National Liberation Front (NLF) was formed to oppose capitalist Ngo Dinh
Diem. It demanded democratic government which could lead to negotiations to unite
Vietnam. Diem refused to respond to thec demands of the NLF. NLF began Guerilla
campaign in South Vietnam causing civil war. The NLF also owned communist trained
guerilla force known as Vietcongs. In 1963 Diem was overthrown and replaced by a number
of military rullers who were corrupt and therefore had little support.
By Mr Mlungisi Z Gumede, B.ed History and Geography, UNIZULU
ESSAY QUESTION PAPER ONE
TOPIC: VIETNAM WAR
The main cause of the war was the difference in economic systems used in Vietnam namely
Comunism and Capitalism. Previously the war was called the cold war because it involved no
physical fight but as time went on this changed. Before world war two French ruled Indo-
china. Indo-China was a multi statev because it was made up of three states, namely
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The French rulers in Vietnam were unpopular and they faced
challenges such as uprisings led by nationalists Party in 1930. Japan invaded and occupied
Indo-China in 1940. A secrete guerrilla organization Vietminh led by communist Hochi minh
was set up to resist Japaneese occupation. After the defeat of Japan in the Second World
War in September 1945 Hochiminh declared Vietnam independent.
In 1945 during the Geneva meeting/conference/accords/agreements, Britain, France, USSR
and China met to duscuss. They agreed to set Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam independent.
They also agreed to temporary divide Vietnam into two states namely North Vietnam and
South Vietnam. North Vietnam controlled by communist Hochiminh or Vietminh. And South
Vietnam Controlled by Capitalist Ngo Dinh Diem. It was planned that after elections to be
held in 1965 vietnam will be reunited under one government. Ngo Dinh DAiem was
unpopular, he was a tyrannical catholic leader, He presecuted the Buddhist majority and
refused to implement reforms in the South Regarding land ownership. He also refused to
hold proposed elections which angered many people in the South.
In 1960 the National Liberation Front (NLF) was formed to oppose capitalist Ngo Dinh
Diem. It demanded democratic government which could lead to negotiations to unite
Vietnam. Diem refused to respond to thec demands of the NLF. NLF began Guerilla
campaign in South Vietnam causing civil war. The NLF also owned communist trained
guerilla force known as Vietcongs. In 1963 Diem was overthrown and replaced by a number
of military rullers who were corrupt and therefore had little support.
