Vietnam

Cold War: Vietnam

• Vietnamese: mainly farmers who fought against colonization from China and France.

- Ironically originated as an imperialist Chinese tribe.

First Indochina War (1946)• Colonized by the French before WWII• Taken over by the Japanese during WWII• Thought they would be freed after WWII, but

French tried to maintain control• very angry with French presence; always

fighting, revolting.• Ho Chi Minh led the Vietminh (communist anti-

French liberation group)• French lost war due to poor military tactics

(Dienbienphu)

Ho Chi Minh

Geneva Accords, 1954

• France pulled out; technical defeat• North (communist) and South temporarily

divided until they hold a unification vote• Eisenhower angry with French “loss” in war

(falling dominoes)• US felt they could do a better job than France,

also very anti-communist• US did not feel it was tied to Geneva Accords

and could still act independently. (Allen Dulles - CIA)

Why the Vietnam War?• Cold War influence:

U.S. view: stop a communist threat Vietnamese view: gain independence

• Culture Clash:U.S. view: Vietnam was a backwards

societyVietnamese view: self-sufficient

agrarian community.• Type of War:

U.S. view: another event of the Cold WarVietnamese view: Civil War

• Perception of U.S. presence:U.S. view: protect ‘Nam from communismVietnamese view: U.S. are Imperialists.

U.S. Commitment to Vietnam

• Kennedy

-JFK made initial commitment to Vietnam.

-Vietcong gaining strength, JFK could not ignore Vietnam like Eisenhower.

-by 1963, 16,000 troops in ‘Nam.

JFK’s reasons:

• save 3rd world from Communism.

• Make up for Bay of Pigs.

• Show USSR willingness and ability.

• re-election.

*before his death, JFK showed signs of wanting to leave Vietnam.

Lyndon Johnson

- Gulf of Tonkin Incident

- Tonkin Gulf Resolution

- Pentagon Papers

- Tet offensive

- My Lai Massacre

- protests

- 1st televised war

Lt. William Calley

LBJ wrongly accused of all ‘Nam responsibility.

1. already committed. (JFK)

2. advisors urged LBJ to escalate in ‘Nam.

3. Republican pressure.

Nixon tries a different approach:

LBJ’s view: stop spread of communism

result- escalation

Nixon’s view: Communism not as dangerous, establish détente.

result- ping pong diplomacy

Nixon Doctrine

• won’t help all free nations in need, only one’s where it will make a difference and there is national interest.

• “The legacy of Vietnam does not mean that we will not send our sons anywhere, it does mean that we will not send our sons everywhere.”

Vietnamization:

• slow removal of troops, attempt to negotiate peace with Vietnam

• U.S. faced a foreign policy identity crisis

• Turn over responsibility to ARVN forces