Vietnam was under French occupation after the Second World War. Ho Chi Minh led a revolution against the French colonial power in his country. Once France had been expelled in 1954, Vietnam became divided into North and South Vietnam, with Ho controlling the North. Ho was not pleased that two countries would be created instead of just one "Vietnam." Consequently, the solution was simple: Reunification.
A main one being the French. They had influenced Indo-China since before world war II. Japan, in WWII, tried to get hold of Indo-China so they fought the French for it. At the beginning of the battle, it was the French and Vietminh vs Japan. Japan were on their way to victory so France decided they had no chance of winning and decided to think about surrendering.
To help counter that threat Truman started secretly sending money as well as supplies to help back the French forces against Ho Chi Minh's forces (Schomp The Vietnam War 5). This led Ho to seek help from China and the Soviet Union, which made Ho favorable towards communism (Schomp The Vietnam War 5). Although the United States was not directly involved in the war until 1955, they did still indirectly play a role in the move against Ho Chi Minh's forces. In an attempt to regain control, France left the French educated, strongly anti-communist Bao Dai in control of the region ("Vietnam War"). This enraged Ho Chi Minh, and his forces immediately rose up seizing the northern city of Hanoi, creating the Democratic Republic of Vietnam ("Vietnam War").
While the more sophisticated of the US advisers realised that the domino theory was too simplistic in an increasingly non-linear world, split not just by ideology but also historically through ethnic and nationalist conflict, this didn't mean that the USSR and China would exploit any weakness shown by the USA. Cold War Considerations: Western Europe and the USSR De Gaulle's France was challenging US leadership in both Vietnam and Europe. Anti-American riots tore through Panama which was merely the most obvious show of increasing hostility to the USA in the western hemisphere. There were fears that one of the two Communist superpowers might be tempted to use this, forcing the USA to get involved in other local conflicts against their will. Vietnam and the survival of the South were considered a central part of the maintenance of a stable world order, and LBJ in particular said that if Chinese aggression could be contained in South East Asia then it would “give the pole on
Ho Chi Minh: Nationalist or Communist first? Was Ho Chi Minh a nationalist or a communist first? Would it have been possible for the U.S. to work with Ho despite his communism? Vietnam was the target of French colonialism many years before the rise of the Independence Movement, which emerged in the 1920’s. To the French, Vietnam was a key piece in expanding French international trade and capitalism.
During 1957 and 1965 they have some problems with the government and North Vietnam send their troops to fight against the government. After this the war started. The North Vietnam has the support of other communist countries for example the USSR and the South Vietnam have the support of the US, this because the US was anti-communist. The US sent equipment and troops to South Vietnam, because they were going to help them win this war against the communism. When the war started many American people was against it and want this to end son as possible.
The U.S provided military advisors and support and the first U.S troops entered Vietnam in March 1965. They sent in 2,000 military advisors, a number that grew to 16,300 in 1963. The military condition started to deteriorate and by 1963 South Vietnam had lost the fertile Mekong Delta to the Viet Cong. Convinced that the communists where escalating the War, Johnson began the bombing campaign against North Vietnam. Air strikes commenced and he sent the first U.S ground combat troops to
In spite if the colossal military assist provided by america military for the French forces, France was eventually beaten by the Vietminh in 1954. In 1954, Vietnam was divided into 2 separate zones – Ho Chi Minh’s federal government would eat control in the Democratic Republic of North Vietnam, which was supported by China and also the Soviet Union; over a other hand, Bao Dai would head the Nation of Vietnam in South Vietnam, which was strongly supported by the US. However, from the
The Media brings the Tet Offensive to the American people c. Lyndon B. Johnson and General Westmoreland 4. Controversy a. My Lai b. The Anti War movement go’s mainstream c. The Soldiers of the United States begin to lose their will to fight 5. Although the Tet Offensive was unsuccessful for the North Vietnamese Army, they showed that United States had seriously underestimated them and their capabilities.
South Vietnamese communist to consolidate opposition to the Diem regime by forming a broad-based coalition of groups called the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (NLF) (“Ngo” 2). “By the summer of 1963, Diem’s grip on power was weakening rapidly” (“Ngo” 2). Diem’s plans to ban the Buddhist flag lead to a crisis that led to the death of civilians, monks, and Ngo Dinh Diem. “Diem’s government took a hard-line approach to all potential political rivals and, in the next seven years, became increasingly oppressive, corrupt, and nepotistic” (“Ngo” 2). Diem’s legacy that he has left for Vietnam may never be achieved or attempted because Vietnam has fallen to communism.