THE VIETNAM WAR
• General: The Vietnam War as a period of American involvement in the Vietnam civil
war from 1961 – 1975 in which US troops fought to try and prevent communist
North Vietnam and their allies from overtaking South Vietnam and eventually
surrounding countries (domino effect). Much of the war was fought in an
unconventional guerrilla style, resulting in many casualties on both sides. As the war
continued, and more young men were drafter, it became increasingly unpopular
with the American public. The USA was not winning and their involvement seemed
pointless and together with anti-war protests, it was the media coverage that
eventually forced America to withdraw in 1975. It shattered Americas image of
invincibility and caused a shift in powers in the Cold War.
VIETNAM UNDER FRENCH CONTROL
1800’s – 1954 → Vietnam was apart of Indochina (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam)
and it struggled under French and Japanese rule
Vietnam produced vast quantities of rice & the Vietnamese were
sharecroppers but the French took all the profits from the rice exports
Vietnamese resented the French culture, religion and language
During WW2 → Japan seized control of Vietnam
However – an anti-Japanese resistance movement emerged – Viet Minh
Viet Minh – nationalist movement (someone who strongly identifies with
their country)
Viet Minh – founded by Ho Chi Minh – made plans to seize power once Japan
had been defeated
1945 → Japan surrender and Viet Minh seize control over North and central
Vietnam
VIET MINH VS FRANCE
1946 → French decide they want their colonial powers back, war begins
Viet Minh make use of guerrilla warfare
The USA originally supported Viet Minh’s fight against colonialism,
however in 1949 when they found out communist China & USSR were
giving aid to Viet Minh, they started giving huge aid to France
Apart of their policy of “Containment”
1954 → French were defeated
At the Geneva Peace Conference:
1. The French were forced to recognize the independence of Indochina
2. Decided that Vietnam would be divided into 2 separate countries until
elections in 1956 could be held
, NORTH VIETNAM VS SOUTH VIETNAM
DEMOCRACTIC REPUBLIC OF NORTH REPUBLIC OF SOUTH VIETNAM
VIETNAM
o Communist Viet Minh government, o Anti-communist leader, Ngo Dinh
led by Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi Diem, oppressive and corrupt
o Focused on: collectivisation, government, Saigon
redistribution of land, improving o Tyrannical catholic leader, refused
education to introduce reforms, brutally
o Had appealed to USA twice, ignored, persecuted Buddhist majority
so they received aid from USSR and o Appointed family members,
China supported landlords and not
o Harsh measures if rules were not peasants
obeyed o USA supported him – policy of
o Propaganda made South containment
Vietnamese peasants lean towards o USA prevented 1956 elections,
Viet Minh and communism afraid communists would win
o By the late 1950’s – opposition to Diem’s harsh rule had grown and the Viet Cong
was formed
o Viet Cong → 90% members from South Vietnam, supported by North Vietnam (Viet
Cong was the armed wing of the NFL)
o Aim: reunify Vietnam
o Embarked on a guerrilla war against Diem’s government
o Diem’s government became more reliant on USA aid
o USA was never actively involved – but when Kennedy was assassinated in 1963,
things changed
GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION
✓ 1964 → USA accused North Vietnamese patrol boats of firing at USA ships
✓ US congress passes Gulf of Tonkin Resolution - gives the president the right to do
whatever he feels necessary to prevent further aggression. Johnson could start a full-
scale war
VIETNAM WAR & THE USA’S INVOLVEMENT (1965 – 1969)
➢ USA and South Vietnam VS North Vietnam and Viet Cong
➢ 1962 → Strategic Hamlet Policy - Kennedy tried to persuade South Vietnamese into
special protected villages to try and cut off support for Viet Cong but they did not
want to leave their ancestral lands – this just increased support for the NLF (National
Liberation Front)
➢ 1965 → first USA troops arrive to prevent a communist takeover
➢ By 1968 → 500 000 + troops US present
➢ 1965 – 1975 → US air force launch massive bombing campaign
➢ "Operation Rolling Thunder”
• General: The Vietnam War as a period of American involvement in the Vietnam civil
war from 1961 – 1975 in which US troops fought to try and prevent communist
North Vietnam and their allies from overtaking South Vietnam and eventually
surrounding countries (domino effect). Much of the war was fought in an
unconventional guerrilla style, resulting in many casualties on both sides. As the war
continued, and more young men were drafter, it became increasingly unpopular
with the American public. The USA was not winning and their involvement seemed
pointless and together with anti-war protests, it was the media coverage that
eventually forced America to withdraw in 1975. It shattered Americas image of
invincibility and caused a shift in powers in the Cold War.
VIETNAM UNDER FRENCH CONTROL
1800’s – 1954 → Vietnam was apart of Indochina (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam)
and it struggled under French and Japanese rule
Vietnam produced vast quantities of rice & the Vietnamese were
sharecroppers but the French took all the profits from the rice exports
Vietnamese resented the French culture, religion and language
During WW2 → Japan seized control of Vietnam
However – an anti-Japanese resistance movement emerged – Viet Minh
Viet Minh – nationalist movement (someone who strongly identifies with
their country)
Viet Minh – founded by Ho Chi Minh – made plans to seize power once Japan
had been defeated
1945 → Japan surrender and Viet Minh seize control over North and central
Vietnam
VIET MINH VS FRANCE
1946 → French decide they want their colonial powers back, war begins
Viet Minh make use of guerrilla warfare
The USA originally supported Viet Minh’s fight against colonialism,
however in 1949 when they found out communist China & USSR were
giving aid to Viet Minh, they started giving huge aid to France
Apart of their policy of “Containment”
1954 → French were defeated
At the Geneva Peace Conference:
1. The French were forced to recognize the independence of Indochina
2. Decided that Vietnam would be divided into 2 separate countries until
elections in 1956 could be held
, NORTH VIETNAM VS SOUTH VIETNAM
DEMOCRACTIC REPUBLIC OF NORTH REPUBLIC OF SOUTH VIETNAM
VIETNAM
o Communist Viet Minh government, o Anti-communist leader, Ngo Dinh
led by Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi Diem, oppressive and corrupt
o Focused on: collectivisation, government, Saigon
redistribution of land, improving o Tyrannical catholic leader, refused
education to introduce reforms, brutally
o Had appealed to USA twice, ignored, persecuted Buddhist majority
so they received aid from USSR and o Appointed family members,
China supported landlords and not
o Harsh measures if rules were not peasants
obeyed o USA supported him – policy of
o Propaganda made South containment
Vietnamese peasants lean towards o USA prevented 1956 elections,
Viet Minh and communism afraid communists would win
o By the late 1950’s – opposition to Diem’s harsh rule had grown and the Viet Cong
was formed
o Viet Cong → 90% members from South Vietnam, supported by North Vietnam (Viet
Cong was the armed wing of the NFL)
o Aim: reunify Vietnam
o Embarked on a guerrilla war against Diem’s government
o Diem’s government became more reliant on USA aid
o USA was never actively involved – but when Kennedy was assassinated in 1963,
things changed
GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION
✓ 1964 → USA accused North Vietnamese patrol boats of firing at USA ships
✓ US congress passes Gulf of Tonkin Resolution - gives the president the right to do
whatever he feels necessary to prevent further aggression. Johnson could start a full-
scale war
VIETNAM WAR & THE USA’S INVOLVEMENT (1965 – 1969)
➢ USA and South Vietnam VS North Vietnam and Viet Cong
➢ 1962 → Strategic Hamlet Policy - Kennedy tried to persuade South Vietnamese into
special protected villages to try and cut off support for Viet Cong but they did not
want to leave their ancestral lands – this just increased support for the NLF (National
Liberation Front)
➢ 1965 → first USA troops arrive to prevent a communist takeover
➢ By 1968 → 500 000 + troops US present
➢ 1965 – 1975 → US air force launch massive bombing campaign
➢ "Operation Rolling Thunder”
