THE VIETNAM EXPERIENCE

The Vietnam War

The Beginning

It has been called by many…

•The Vietnam Conflict/Police Action

•The Second Indochina War

…or, by Vietnamese Communists:

•The American War

•The Resistance War Against America

Cultural Information

Population:85 million, the 13th largest country in the worldCapital:HanoiLargest city:Ho Chi Minh CityGovernment system:Socialist RepublicResources:Mostly rice (in both Northern and Southern Deltas)Motto:Independence, Liberty, Happiness

Cultural Information

Vietnam’s money is called the dongdong.$1 is worth about 15,000 dong$1 is worth about 15,000 dong. Even though Vietnam has its own currency, the US Dollar is still the most common form of money in the country--mostly because the dong cannot be exchanged, transferred, or used outside of Vietnam:

…it is embargoed currency.embargoed currency.

A 500,000 Vietnamese Dong bill--the largest note in Vietnam.A 500,000 Vietnamese Dong bill--the largest note in Vietnam.It’s worth about $30. It’s worth about $30.

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi MinhCoat of arms, or official Coat of arms, or official seal of Vietnamseal of Vietnam

Cultural Information

Vietnam’s food is a mixture of its occupiers and neighbors: France, China, Thailand. Traditional Vietnamese breakfast:

a steaming hot bowl of pho: •a thin noodle soup with chicken and •mix of vegetables and spices.

Northern food is sweeterSouthern food is spicier.

Cultural Information

City dwellers in Vietnam commute on mopeds, scooters &/or or bikes more than by car.Streets are usually one way, but have no traffic lights.In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, announcements over speakerphones wake up the citizens and call them to work and to have a successful day.Despite its rapid growth,Vietnam does not have a McDonalds. However, Ho Chi Minh City opened a KFC a few years ago.

Cultural Information

• Even though the government reports that most of the country (80% or more) is not religious, this is not entirely the case.

• Today, Buddhism enjoys a large following in Vietnam, as well as several other tribal belief systems that have many similarities with other religions.

Geographical Information

Roughly the size of California.

8,000 miles from the west coast of U.S.

Bordered on the north by China, the west by Laos & Cambodia, the east by the Gulf of Tonkin & South China Sea.

Maps of VietnamMaps of Vietnam

GEOPOLITICS & GEOPOLITICS & WARWAR

Historical Information

From 207 B.C. to the 10th Century, under the rule of the Chinese dynastiesFrom the 10th Century to the 19th Century, Vietnam experienced a period of independence.Mid-19th Century, France colonized in VietnamThis continued until World War II--when Japan occupied Vietnam as a base for attacks against India.After World War II, Vietnam was split in to two separate countries, North Vietnam and South Vietnam, separated by a demilitarised zone, or an area where weapons and armed forces were not permitted.

The French ConnectionFrench colonistsarrived in the mid-1800s building rice & rubber plantationsfor profit.

Ho Chi Minhhelps form a communist party in the 1930s to revolt against the French.

Sentenced to death, he flees Vietnam and continues his work from China & USSR.

World War II

Roosevelt’s intentions misled Ho Chi MinhFrench controlViet Minh insurgencyFrench bombing in Haiphong 1946 sets off 1st Indochina War

The French Return

Ho Chi Minh’s strength is in the North, France’s is in the South. The war is on.

In 1950 President Truman sends $15M in economic aid to France to help.

Over the next four years the US puts nearly $1B to help defeat Ho Chi Minh.

Containment in action: must fight communism from spreading.

The Domino Theory

In 1953 President Eisenhower is concerned that we not lose Vietnam as we did Korea.

“You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly.”

Truman Doctrine/Containment continues.

President Eisenhower

French Fail

Ho Chi Minh leads a guerrilla war against the French – the French do not fair well.

Tried to lure the Vietminh into a conventional battle at Dien Bien Phu in North Vietnam.

Soon 15,000 French soldiers were encircled by some 50,000 Vietminh troops.

May 7, 1954 the French surrendered.

Team PROMPTS READING #1

>>Respond to each of the prompts with carefully developed answers. >>Must include evidence from the reading to support your decisions. >>Minimum depth is 4-6 complete, detailed sentences each.#1 The French justifiably invaded Indochina. Agree or Disagree? DEFEND WITH EVIDENCE & LOGIC #2 The U.S. made the right decisions--at the time--to get involved in Southeast Asia. Agree or Disagree? DEFEND WITH EVIDENCE & LOGIC #3 The French loss at Dienbienphu was more of a socio-political failure than a military defeat. Agree or Disagree? DEFEND WITH EVIDENCE & LOGIC

#4 The US chose not to participate in the Geneva Conference for rational reasons. Agree or Disagree? DEFEND WITH EVIDENCE & LOGIC

Individual PROMPTS READING #2 DUE THURSDAY 11-29-07

>>Respond to each of the prompts with carefully developed answers. >>Must include evidence from the reading to support your decisions. >>Minimum depth is 4-6 complete, detailed sentences each.#1 Capture the *essence of the Vietminh position. Agree or Disagree with arguments/interests? DEFEND W)

EVIDENCE & LOGIC #2 Capture the essence of the French position. Agree or Disagree with arguments/interests? DEFEND W)

EVIDENCE & LOGIC #3 Capture the essence of the PRC position. Agree or Disagree with arguments/interests? DEFEND W) EVIDENCE

& LOGIC #4 Capture the essence of the U.S. position. Agree or Disagree with arguments/interests? DEFEND W) EVIDENCE &

LOGIC * essence definition:   significance

Synonyms:   attribute, basis, core, form, nature, structure, substance

Geneva Conference

France, Great Britain, U.S., USSR, China, Laos, and Cambodia met in Genevawith the Vietminh and South Vietnam’s anticommunists to reach a peace agreement.

Divide Vietnam at 17th parallel. Elections to be held in 1956 to unify country.

Both sides get to establish “their country” & the elections will allow the people to choose.

Ngo Dinh Diem

Problems From the Beginning

Diem wins rigged election in the south – can’t win an election against Ho Chi Minh.

Cancels the July, 1956 elections (US agrees).

Does not redistribute the land– alienates the peasants.

Alienates the Buddhistsas he restricts their activities (He is Roman Catholic).

Opposition Grows

By 1957 a Communist group in the South is formed – Vietcong: who attack Diem & his government.

1959 – Ho Chi Minh supports the Vietcong.

The Ho Chi Minh Trail develops to bring supplies from the North to the South.

Kennedy becomes President in 1960 continues Eisenhower’s support of Diem.

Ho Chi

Minh Trail

The End of Diem

Diem’s unpopularity with his people, especially the Buddhists led to American dissatisfaction with his leadership.

November 1, 1963, a US-supported military coup overthrew Diem’s govt. He was killed.

November 22, 1963 – JFK is assassinated.

The South grows more UNSTABLE.

Combatants

•Republic of Vietnam

•United States of America

•Republic of Korea (SK)

•Thailand

•Australia

•New Zealand

•The Philippines

•Democratic Republic ofVietnam

•National Front for the Liberation of SthVietnam

•People’s Republic of China

•Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (NK)