The Vietnam War

VietnamIn the world today

SE AsiaLocation

of Vietnam

French Indo-Chinaat the start of WW2

in 1939

By 1954 the GenevaAccord created the

17th parallelDemilitarised zone.

North Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh

South VietnamNgo Dinh Diem

Elections to be held in 1956 and reunite

the country

• http://documentaryheaven.com/vietnam-the-ten-thousand-day-war/

A brief introduction to the conflict

The Vietnam War was really a civil war between the Communist North, led by Ho Chi Minh and the non Communist South rules by Ngo Dinh Diem. However, the conflict between these groups developed from Vietnam’s colonial history.

Before WWII Vietnam had been ruled by the French who fled the country when the Japanese invaded. The Vietnamese people rose up and defeated the Japanese. The Vietnamese under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh were free to rule themselves. He declared Vietnam to be an independent democratic republic. However, at the end of WWII, the French tried to reclaim Vietnam and invaded the country again. The French took the South (capital Saigon) and pushed Ho Chi Minh into the North of the country. Ho Chi Minh launched a guerrilla war against the French and tried to unite Vietnam again.

The war lasted until 1954. The world’s leading powers met in Geneva to stop the conflict. The French withdrew its troops, but Vietnam was temporarily divided in two. The South would be ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem, and the North was to be ruled by Ho Chi Minh. Elections were promised in 1956 and the country would be re-united.

However, these elections never took place, and the country was not united.

Why? Mainly because of the actions of the USA. The problem was that Ho Chi Minh was incredibly popular in the North and the South of the country. If elections had been held, he would have come to power. Why was that a problem? Because he was communist, and the USA were embroiled in the Cold War.

That meant that the USA supported Ngo Dinh Diem – a really unpopular leader who was cruel to his people. Diem was Catholic in a predominantly Buddhist country and punished those who were not Christian. He also refused to introduce land reforms, so the majority of land was in the hands of a rich corrupt few, while the rest of the peasant population struggled. He hunted down his opponents, imprisoned them and executed those who failed to give up their views.

So Ho Chi Minh launched a guerrilla war on South Vietnam

• The Northern Army was called the Vietminh (after Ho Chi Minh), but they also attracted supporters from the South. The army working to overthrow Diem in the South were called the Vietcong.

America Gets involved• At first America just sent in advisors and military

aid (money and weapons).• Their commitment gradually developed until

President Lyndon B Johnson eventually sent in ground troops (fighters) in 1965 in response to Gulf of Tonkin incident (1964).

Despite US expectations that the Vietcong would be defeated by America’s superior technology and wealth, the war dragged on to 1973. As death rates rose and horrific images of war were beamed all over America by TV, many people started to protest against the war.

In 1973 the American government brokered a ceasefire and pulled out of the country. After the loss of 47,000 US soldiers and around 1,100,000 opposition fighters, the war ended with both sides agreeing on the borders established in 1954. America withdrew its forces and refused to grant more money to the South to protect itself. Just months later, the North Vietnamese invaded the South and united Vietnam under Communist rule.

The Two Sides•North Vietnamese

•Vietcong/Vietminh

•Ho Chi Minh leader (very popular)

•Communist

•Supported by North Vietnamese

•Wanted to set up a democratic republic

•Included NLF (National Liberation Front) – from South Vietnam12 different nationalist groups including Buddhists

•Helped financially by China and Russia.

•South Vietnamese

•Ngo Dinh Diem leader (very unpopular). The USA eventually supported a coup to remove corrupt Diem, but leaders unstable and temporary.

•USA gave financial and advisory support and then troops

•Army of the Republic of Vietnam

The Vietnam War was really a civil war between the Communist North, led by Ho Chi Minh, and the non Communist South ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem. However, the conflict between these groups developed from Vietnam’s colonial history.

Before WWII Vietnam had been ruled by the French, who fled the country when the Japanese invaded. The Vietnamese people rose up and defeated the Japanese. The Vietnamese under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh were free to rule themselves. He declared Vietnam to be an independent democratic republic. However, at the end of WWII, the French tried to reclaim Vietnam and invaded the country again. The French took the South (capital Saigon) and pushed Ho Chi Minh into the North of the country. Ho Chi Minh launched a guerrilla war against the French and tried to unite Vietnam again.

The war lasted until 1954. The world’s leading powers met in Geneva to stop the conflict. The French withdrew its troops, but Vietnam was temporarily divided in two. The South would be ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem, and the North was to be ruled by Ho Chi Minh. Elections were promised in 1956 and the country would be re-united.

However, these elections never took place, and the country was not united. Why? Mainly because of the actions of the USA. The problem was that Ho Chi Minh was incredibly popular in the North and the South of the country. If elections had been held, he would have come to power. Why was that a problem? Because he was communist, and the USA was embroiled in the Cold War.

That meant that the USA supported Ngo Dinh Diem – a really unpopular leader who was cruel to his people. Diem was Catholic in a predominantly Buddhist country and persecuted many non-Christians. He also refused to introduce land reforms, so the majority of land was in the hands of a rich, corrupt few, while the rest of the peasant population struggled. He hunted down his opponents, imprisoned them and executed those who failed to give up their views.

The Northern Army was called the Vietminh (after Ho Chi Minh), but they also attracted supporters from the South. The US called the army working to overthrow Diem in the South the Vietcong, or Vietnamese Communists.

At first America just sent in advisors and military aid (money and weapons). Their commitment gradually developed until President Lyndon B Johnson eventually sent in ground troops (fighters) in 1965 in response to Gulf of Tonkin incident (1964). Despite US expectations that the Vietcong would be defeated by America’s superior technology and wealth, the war dragged on to 1973. As death rates rose and horrific images of war were beamed all over America by TV, many people in the USA started to protest against the war.

In 1973 the American government brokered a ceasefire and pulled out of the country. After the loss of 47,000 US soldiers and around 1,100,000 opposition fighters, the war ended with both sides agreeing on the borders established in 1954. America withdrew its forces and refused to grant more money to the South to protect itself. Just months later, the North Vietnamese invaded the South and united Vietnam under Communist rule.

A brief introduction to the conflict

Timeline

• Either students to sort into chronological order and write out or just print out slide 30.

• Students then to answer questions on slide 31.

Timeline of events in the Vietnam War

1945 – Japan defeated in WWII and withdraw from Indo-China (including Vietnam). Vietminh take control.

1965 (Feb) - US start bombing campaign – called Operation Rolling Thunder. 200,000 US ground troops sent in to help South.

1970 (May)– Kent State Massacre

1954 – Vietminh win decisive battle over French at Dien Bien Phu. International meeting is held and divides Vietnam in two temporarily until elections can be held. The North is communist (run by Ho Chi Minh, and the Vietminh – now called Vietcong). The South is ruled by Diem and is non-communist.1973 – Peace Agreement. Last US troops leave Saigon

1968 (May) - Burning of the draft cards ‘Catonsville Nine’

1956-1959 – The South, backed by America refuses to hold elections. Civil War breaks out between Communists North and non-communist South.

1968 (March) – Mai Lai Massacre. Public only found out about in November 1969.

1964 (August) – Gulf of Tonkin Incident.

1968 (January) – Tet Offensive

April 1970 – Nixon spreads war to Camboldia

1968 – President Lyndon Johnson decides not to run for re-election. He ends Operation Rolling Thunder.

1975 – North Vietnam Army takes over South. All Americans living in Vietnam airlifted out of Saigon.

1969 – Richard Nixon elected promising to end the war. He starts process of Vietnamisation.

1971 (Feb) – Nixon spreads war to Laos

1967 – Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) formed in the USA

1971 – Operation Phoenix exposed

1945 – French try to regain control over Vietnam. Guerrilla war breaks out.

Below are the key events of the Vietnam War. The first date is in the correct position. The others are mixed up. Create a timeline on an A3 Sheet/double page spread in your book. Leave 1cm between each year and write vertically.

Timeline of events in the Vietnam War

1945 – Japan defeated in WWII and withdraw from Indo-China (including Vietnam). Vietminh take control.

1945 – French try to regain control over Vietnam. Guerrilla war breaks out.

1954 – Vietminh win decisive battle over French at Dien Bien Phu. International meeting is held and divides Vietnam in two temporarily until elections can be held. The North is communist (run by Ho Chi Minh, and the Vietminh – now called Vietcong). The South is ruled by Diem and is non-communist.

1956-1959 – The South, backed by America refuses to hold elections. Civil War breaks out between Communists North and non-communist South.

1964 (August) – Gulf of Tonkin Incident.

1965 (Feb) - US start bombing campaign – called Operation Rolling Thunder. 200,000 US ground troops sent in to help South.

1967 – Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) formed in the USA

1968 (January) – Tet Offensive

1968 (March) – Mai Lai Massacre. Public only found out about in November 1969.

1968 (May) - Burning of the draft cards in America ‘Catonsville Nine’

1968 – President Lyndon Johnson decides not to run for re-election. He ends Operation Rolling Thunder.

1969 – Richard Nixon elected promising to end the war. He starts process of Vietnamisation.

April 1970 – Nixon spreads war to Camboldia

1970 (May)– Kent State Massacre

1971 (Feb) – Nixon spreads war to Laos

1971 – Operation Phoenix exposed

1973 – Peace Agreement. Last US troops leave Saigon

1975 – North Vietnam Army takes over South. All Americans living in Vietnam airlifted out of Saigon.

19

45

– Ja

pa

n d

efe

ate

d in

WW

II an

d w

ithd

raw

fro

m In

do

-Ch

ina

(inclu

din

g V

ietn

am

). Vie

tmin

h

take

con

trol.

1945

Timeline of events in the Vietnam War

1945

– J

apan

def

eate

d in

WW

II an

d w

ithdr

aw fr

om In

do-C

hina

(in

clud

ing

Vie

tnam

). V

ietm

inh

take

con

trol

.

1945

– F

renc

h tr

y to

reg

ain

cont

rol o

ver

Vie

tnam

. Gue

rrill

a w

ar b

reak

s ou

t.

1954

– V

ietm

inh

win

dec

isiv

e ba

ttle

over

Fre

nch

at D

ien

Bie

n P

hu.

Inte

rnat

iona

l mee

ting

is h

eld

and

divi

des

Vie

tnam

in tw

o te

mpo

raril

y un

til e

lect

ions

can

be

held

. The

Nor

th is

com

mun

ist (

run

by H

o C

hi

Min

h, a

nd th

e V

ietm

inh

– no

w c

alle

d V

ietc

ong)

. The

Sou

th is

rul

ed b

y D

iem

and

is n

on-c

omm

unis

t.

1956

-195

9 –

The

Sou

th, b

acke

d by

Am

eric

a re

fuse

s to

hol

d el

ectio

ns.

Civ

il W

ar b

reak

s ou

t bet

wee

n C

omm

unis

ts N

orth

and

non

-com

mun

ist

Sou

th.

1964

(A

ugus

t) –

Gul

f of T

onki

n In

cide

nt.

1965

(F

eb)

- U

S s

tart

bom

bing

cam

paig

n –

calle

d O

pera

tion

Rol

ling

Thu

nder

. 200

,000

US

gro

und

troo

ps s

ent i

n to

hel

p S

outh

.

1967

– V

ietn

am V

eter

ans

Aga

inst

the

War

(V

VA

W)

form

ed in

the

US

A

1968

(Ja

nuar

y) –

Tet

Offe

nsiv

e

1968

(M

arch

) –

Mai

Lai

Mas

sacr

e. P

ublic

onl

y fo

und

out a

bout

in

Nov

embe

r 19

69.

1968

(M

ay)

- B

urni

ng o

f the

dra

ft ca

rds

in A

mer

ica

‘Cat

onsv

ille

Nin

e’

1968

– P

resi

dent

Lyn

don

John

son

deci

des

not t

o ru

n fo

r re

-ele

ctio

n. H

e en

ds O

pera

tion

Rol

ling

Thu

nder

.

1969

– R

icha

rd N

ixon

ele

cted

pro

mis

ing

to e

nd th

e w

ar. H

e st

arts

pr

oces

s of

Vie

tnam

isat

ion.

Apr

il 19

70 –

Nix

on s

prea

ds w

ar to

Cam

bold

ia

1970

(M

ay)–

Ken

t Sta

te M

assa

cre

1971

(F

eb)

– N

ixon

spr

eads

war

to L

aos

1971

– O

pera

tion

Pho

enix

exp

osed

1973

– P

eace

Agr

eem

ent.

Last

US

troo

ps le

ave

Sai

gon

1975

– N

orth

Vie

tnam

Arm

y ta

kes

over

Sou

th. A

ll A

mer

ican

s liv

ing

in

Vie

tnam

airl

ifted

out

of S

aigo

n.

Key

Eve

nts

in t

he V

ietn

am W

ar

What can you learn from the timeline?

1. Why did America prevent elections from happening?2. Who was the leader of the Communist North?3. How long did Operation Rolling Thunder Last?4. When did the US send in ground troops?5. When did the war end?6. What evidence is there that overall the US was

unsuccessful in the war in Vietnam?7. Highlight the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, Tet Offensive,

Mai Lai Massacre and Kent State Massacre. These were all US turning points in public opinion of the war.