CASE STUDY: VIETNAM
HOW WAS A SMALL COUNTRY LIKE VIETNAM ABLE TO WIN A WAR
AGAINST THE USA (1954-1975)?
BACKGROUND: THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Originally part of Indo-China (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia), Vietnam had
been colonised and exploited by the French from 1858. Vietnamese
officials lost their positions to the French and Vietnamese culture and
traditions were destroyed. The Vietnamese wanted independence and
opposed the French but it was only during the Second World War that the
French were driven out by the Japanese. Now facing a new enemy, a
guerrilla army, the Viet Minh, was established under the leadership of Ho
Chi Minh. After Japan’s defeat by the USA in 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared
Vietnam independent.
However, the French tried to regain control again and a bitter war was
fought from 1946-1954.
ENTER COLD WAR POLITICS
During this conflict, from 1949, Communist China gave military aid
to Ho Chi Minh and his guerrillas.
Fearing the spread of communist influence, the USA sent money
and weapons to aid the French.
1
, Despite this help, and unable to match the hit-and-run tactics of the
Viet Minh, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu and withdrew
according to the Geneva Agreement.
This agreement also divided Vietnam into a Communist North and
a republican South until free elections could be held.
The USA actively opposed these elections, knowing that Ho Chi Minh
would win (people’s favourite). They were terrified that if Vietnam
became communist, then Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma and
even possibly India might fall to communism = domino theory.
2
HOW WAS A SMALL COUNTRY LIKE VIETNAM ABLE TO WIN A WAR
AGAINST THE USA (1954-1975)?
BACKGROUND: THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Originally part of Indo-China (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia), Vietnam had
been colonised and exploited by the French from 1858. Vietnamese
officials lost their positions to the French and Vietnamese culture and
traditions were destroyed. The Vietnamese wanted independence and
opposed the French but it was only during the Second World War that the
French were driven out by the Japanese. Now facing a new enemy, a
guerrilla army, the Viet Minh, was established under the leadership of Ho
Chi Minh. After Japan’s defeat by the USA in 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared
Vietnam independent.
However, the French tried to regain control again and a bitter war was
fought from 1946-1954.
ENTER COLD WAR POLITICS
During this conflict, from 1949, Communist China gave military aid
to Ho Chi Minh and his guerrillas.
Fearing the spread of communist influence, the USA sent money
and weapons to aid the French.
1
, Despite this help, and unable to match the hit-and-run tactics of the
Viet Minh, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu and withdrew
according to the Geneva Agreement.
This agreement also divided Vietnam into a Communist North and
a republican South until free elections could be held.
The USA actively opposed these elections, knowing that Ho Chi Minh
would win (people’s favourite). They were terrified that if Vietnam
became communist, then Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma and
even possibly India might fall to communism = domino theory.
2
