The Vietnam War
1954 to 1975
Context
• Many European colonies found in Asia — led to the development of na9onalist movements wan9ng
libera9on
• WW II: Japanese ruled South East Asia — harsh rule, though it was portrayed to be liberal
• Colonised by France in the 19th century — Vietnam was a major rice-producer with most ci9zens
working as sharecroppers
• Vietnamese ci9zens were forced to pay high taxes to support the French army and administra9on
• Before WW II, there was liNle na9onalis9c organised opposi9on
• Vietnamese na9onalists established Viet Minh aka The League for the Independence of Vietnam
Post War II
• September 1945: Vietnam is announced as an independent and democra9c republic
• French aNempted to re-establish their authority
• Viet Minh made use of local support, guerrilla tac9cs and aid from USSR and China to overcome such
aNempts
• USA provided French powers with aid in hopes of stopping the spread of communism
• 1954: French surrendered following the siege of Dien Bien Phu
• 1954: Geneva Accords adopted
• “free people resis9ng subjuga9on” — The Truman Doctrine
Domino Effect
• If USA did not stop it, communism would spread from China to North Vietnam to S Vietnam to Laos to
Cambodia
• Vietnam played a strategic and significant role in the Cold War
• The USA was worried that Vietnam had become communist and so, as a result, prohibited free elec9ons
Ngo Dinh Diem
• 1955: Diem was elected to office — a US-supported dictatorship (USA assumed they would elect a
communist party)
• 1956: Diem refused to hold free elec9ons in hopes of sustaining divide between North and South
Vietnam
How The War Began
• Geneva Peace Conference — French were to withdraw forces; Vietnam divided into two and became
independent
• Communist North and non-communist South
• Elec9ons for 1956 were planned
, • In 1957, Ho Chi Minh supporters in the South came into conflict with the Army of the Republic of
Vietnam (ARVN)
• These southern rebels assassinated mul9ple of Diem’s government officials
• 1959: Viet Minh (N Vietnam) supplied S Vietnam with weapons via the Ho Chi Minh Trail
• 1959 to 1960: Agrovill Programme was established by Diem as a response — forcible and random
displacement of ci9zens to remote and rural areas to keep them away from the influence of the
‘communists’ (Viet Cong)
• This displacement further alienated the southern popula9on of Vietnam
• 1963: Diem’s rule targeted and aNacked by students and Buddhists
• 1963: Diem aNempted to crush such aNacks with mar9al law but, was overthrown and killed in an army
coup
North vs South Vietnam
• North
- Ruled by Ho Cho Minh — na9onalised industries, improved educa9on, harsh repression of those who
opposed his rule, collec9vist farms, estates redistributed, persecu9on of Catholics
• South
- Ruled Ngo Dinh Diem — dictatorship, Diem’s family held top authorita9ve posi9ons, deten9on and
torture for opposers, no aNempts at land reform and his dictatorship had liNle respect for Buddhist
tradi9ons
- US-supported as it was an9-communist
- US feared communists would win elec9ons so, ensured none were held
NaGonal LiberaGon Front
• NLF termed Viet Cong by Diem
• Established in December 1960
• Wanted to coordinate the various na9onalist groups opposed to Diem’s rule
• Na9onalis9c — believed in being ruled by their own people instead of the US, China or USSR
• Supported by the N Vietnam government
• Aimed to liberate S Vietnam from corrupt government
• Aimed to reunite N and S Vietnam and form on country once more
• Fought a guerrilla war against S Vietnam
• 1959: Received weapons from North Vietnam via the Ho Chi Minh Trail
• Gained support from peasants as the ini9ated land reforms
• Received economic/military aid and advisors from USSR
• 1961: Organised various na9onalist groups into the People’s LiberaGon Armed Forces (PLAF)
• ANack on USA supply bases mo9vated the USA’s direct involvement in the war
Truman’s Involvement
(1945 to 1953)
1954 to 1975
Context
• Many European colonies found in Asia — led to the development of na9onalist movements wan9ng
libera9on
• WW II: Japanese ruled South East Asia — harsh rule, though it was portrayed to be liberal
• Colonised by France in the 19th century — Vietnam was a major rice-producer with most ci9zens
working as sharecroppers
• Vietnamese ci9zens were forced to pay high taxes to support the French army and administra9on
• Before WW II, there was liNle na9onalis9c organised opposi9on
• Vietnamese na9onalists established Viet Minh aka The League for the Independence of Vietnam
Post War II
• September 1945: Vietnam is announced as an independent and democra9c republic
• French aNempted to re-establish their authority
• Viet Minh made use of local support, guerrilla tac9cs and aid from USSR and China to overcome such
aNempts
• USA provided French powers with aid in hopes of stopping the spread of communism
• 1954: French surrendered following the siege of Dien Bien Phu
• 1954: Geneva Accords adopted
• “free people resis9ng subjuga9on” — The Truman Doctrine
Domino Effect
• If USA did not stop it, communism would spread from China to North Vietnam to S Vietnam to Laos to
Cambodia
• Vietnam played a strategic and significant role in the Cold War
• The USA was worried that Vietnam had become communist and so, as a result, prohibited free elec9ons
Ngo Dinh Diem
• 1955: Diem was elected to office — a US-supported dictatorship (USA assumed they would elect a
communist party)
• 1956: Diem refused to hold free elec9ons in hopes of sustaining divide between North and South
Vietnam
How The War Began
• Geneva Peace Conference — French were to withdraw forces; Vietnam divided into two and became
independent
• Communist North and non-communist South
• Elec9ons for 1956 were planned
, • In 1957, Ho Chi Minh supporters in the South came into conflict with the Army of the Republic of
Vietnam (ARVN)
• These southern rebels assassinated mul9ple of Diem’s government officials
• 1959: Viet Minh (N Vietnam) supplied S Vietnam with weapons via the Ho Chi Minh Trail
• 1959 to 1960: Agrovill Programme was established by Diem as a response — forcible and random
displacement of ci9zens to remote and rural areas to keep them away from the influence of the
‘communists’ (Viet Cong)
• This displacement further alienated the southern popula9on of Vietnam
• 1963: Diem’s rule targeted and aNacked by students and Buddhists
• 1963: Diem aNempted to crush such aNacks with mar9al law but, was overthrown and killed in an army
coup
North vs South Vietnam
• North
- Ruled by Ho Cho Minh — na9onalised industries, improved educa9on, harsh repression of those who
opposed his rule, collec9vist farms, estates redistributed, persecu9on of Catholics
• South
- Ruled Ngo Dinh Diem — dictatorship, Diem’s family held top authorita9ve posi9ons, deten9on and
torture for opposers, no aNempts at land reform and his dictatorship had liNle respect for Buddhist
tradi9ons
- US-supported as it was an9-communist
- US feared communists would win elec9ons so, ensured none were held
NaGonal LiberaGon Front
• NLF termed Viet Cong by Diem
• Established in December 1960
• Wanted to coordinate the various na9onalist groups opposed to Diem’s rule
• Na9onalis9c — believed in being ruled by their own people instead of the US, China or USSR
• Supported by the N Vietnam government
• Aimed to liberate S Vietnam from corrupt government
• Aimed to reunite N and S Vietnam and form on country once more
• Fought a guerrilla war against S Vietnam
• 1959: Received weapons from North Vietnam via the Ho Chi Minh Trail
• Gained support from peasants as the ini9ated land reforms
• Received economic/military aid and advisors from USSR
• 1961: Organised various na9onalist groups into the People’s LiberaGon Armed Forces (PLAF)
• ANack on USA supply bases mo9vated the USA’s direct involvement in the war
Truman’s Involvement
(1945 to 1953)
