Vietnam in Context

To stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, the To stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, the United States uses its military to support South Vietnam.United States uses its military to support South Vietnam.

(Corresponds to 22.1)(Corresponds to 22.1)

Vietnam & Ho Chi MinhVietnam & Ho Chi Minh

Vietnamese oppressed under Vietnamese oppressed under French ruleFrench rule

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

Went to school in FranceWent to school in France– Claimed greatest hero was George Washington Claimed greatest hero was George Washington

Ho pursues independence Ho pursues independence – Wrote letters Wrote letters to the French governmentto the French government– Tried to get a French government job Tried to get a French government job to work to work

within the system within the system – Traveled all over the world seeking help 1930 Traveled all over the world seeking help 1930

Ho Chi Minh makes the Indochinese Ho Chi Minh makes the Indochinese Communist PartyCommunist Party

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

Drew eight-point plan for Drew eight-point plan for independence in January independence in January 19191919

Ho tried to argue the Ho tried to argue the case with Wilsoncase with Wilson

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

Contacted Woodrow Wilson:Contacted Woodrow Wilson:

"equal rights for Vietnamese and French in "equal rights for Vietnamese and French in Indochina, freedom of press and opinion, Indochina, freedom of press and opinion, freedom of association and assembly, freedom of association and assembly, freedom to travel at home and abroad, and freedom to travel at home and abroad, and substitute rule of law for government by substitute rule of law for government by degree.“degree.“

Was shown the doorWas shown the door

Vietnam & pre WWIIVietnam & pre WWII

French return to rule after WWIFrench return to rule after WWI

Ho Chi Minh founds Viet MinhHo Chi Minh founds Viet Minh– Việt Nam Ðộc Lập Ðồng Minh HộiViệt Nam Ðộc Lập Ðồng Minh Hội – League for the Independence of Vietnam League for the Independence of Vietnam

Viet MinhViet Minh has two has two purposespurposes::– Rid Vietnam of foreign ruleRid Vietnam of foreign rule– Declare independenceDeclare independence

Vietnam and WWIIVietnam and WWII

1940, Japanese control Vietnam1940, Japanese control VietnamViet MinhViet Minh – Rescued American pilotsRescued American pilots – Gathered intelligenceGathered intelligence– Wage guerrilla campaignWage guerrilla campaign

FDRFDR sided with Chiang Kai-Shek sided with Chiang Kai-Shek and Stalinand Stalin– Indochina should be turned Indochina should be turned

over to a trusteeship for over to a trusteeship for independenceindependence

Vietnam and WWIIVietnam and WWII

FDR forced to support FrenchFDR forced to support French– Indochina returned to FrenchIndochina returned to FrenchFebruary 1945 Ho writes President Truman: February 1945 Ho writes President Truman: 

– We ask what has been graciously granted to the We ask what has been graciously granted to the Philippines.  Like the Philippines our goal is full Philippines.  Like the Philippines our goal is full independence and full cooperation with the United independence and full cooperation with the United States.  We will do our best to make this independence States.  We will do our best to make this independence and cooperation profitable to the whole world.and cooperation profitable to the whole world.

– Letter declassified in 1972.Letter declassified in 1972.

September 2, 1945 - Ho Chi Minh declares September 2, 1945 - Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnamese independenceVietnamese independence

Post WWIIPost WWII

French & Americans don’t help Ho – French & Americans don’t help Ho – Communists willCommunists will

America further disinclined to support Ho America further disinclined to support Ho b/c of Communist affiliationb/c of Communist affiliation– Analysts can’t draw links b/w Ho and Analysts can’t draw links b/w Ho and

MoscowMoscow

Reestablishing French ControlReestablishing French Control

French troops move into VietnamFrench troops move into Vietnam– French regain SouthFrench regain South– North left under defacto control of Ho North left under defacto control of Ho

1950 – US provides economic aid to France1950 – US provides economic aid to France– Truman DoctrineTruman Doctrine

Transitioning PowerTransitioning Power

1950 – French give power to Bao Dai  1950 – French give power to Bao Dai  US recognized him - Vietnamese didn’tUS recognized him - Vietnamese didn’t In 1954 President Eisenhower wrote:In 1954 President Eisenhower wrote:

– I have never talked or corresponded with a I have never talked or corresponded with a person knowledgeable in Indochinese person knowledgeable in Indochinese affairs who did not agree that had elections affairs who did not agree that had elections been held at the time of the fighting, been held at the time of the fighting, possibly 80 percent of the population would possibly 80 percent of the population would have voted for Communist Ho Chi Minh as have voted for Communist Ho Chi Minh as their leader rather then Chief of State Bao their leader rather then Chief of State Bao Dai.Dai.

Why didn’t most Why didn’t most Vietnamese Vietnamese recognize Bao Dai, recognize Bao Dai, King of Annam and King of Annam and Emperor of Emperor of Vietnam?Vietnam?

Annam means Annam means “mountain people”“mountain people”

Dien Bien Phu

1954 – French 1954 – French defeated at Dien Bien defeated at Dien Bien PhuPhu

Geneva Accords divide Geneva Accords divide Vietnam at 17th Vietnam at 17th parallelparallel

Election to unify Election to unify country in 1956country in 1956

US appoints Ngo Dinh US appoints Ngo Dinh Diem as presidentDiem as president

Trouble BeginsTrouble Begins

Diem Cancels ElectionsDiem Cancels ElectionsUS promises military aidUS promises military aid– Ensures stable government in Ensures stable government in

SouthSouthDiem corrupt, stifles oppositionDiem corrupt, stifles oppositionDiem attacks BuddhismDiem attacks Buddhism– Monks burn themselves in protest Monks burn themselves in protest

Ho forms the VietcongHo forms the Vietcong

Viet CongViet Cong

Viet Minh termed “Viet Cong” in South VietnamViet Minh termed “Viet Cong” in South Vietnam– Vietnamese CommunistsVietnamese Communists– US troops referred to them using the phonetic alphabet – US troops referred to them using the phonetic alphabet –

“Victor Charlie”“Victor Charlie”– Shortened to “Charlie” Shortened to “Charlie”

Vietcong receive arms and equipment via the Ho Vietcong receive arms and equipment via the Ho Chi Minh TrailChi Minh Trail

VietcongVietcong– Engage in guerilla warfareEngage in guerilla warfare– Kill S. Vietnam officialsKill S. Vietnam officials– Kill AmericansKill Americans

US & VietnamUS & Vietnam

Eisenhower & JFK back Diem financiallyEisenhower & JFK back Diem financially

US sends military advisers US sends military advisers

Diem's popularity plummetsDiem's popularity plummets

Strategic hamlet program to fight Vietcong Strategic hamlet program to fight Vietcong

JFK orders Diem assassinatedJFK orders Diem assassinated

Strategic Hamlet Strategic Hamlet ProgramProgram

Villagers resent Villagers resent movement from movement from ancestral homesancestral homes

Govt. appointed Govt. appointed “mayors” of “mayors” of townstowns

Literal prison Literal prison campscamps

Tonkin Gulf Incident

August 2August 2ndnd & 4 & 4thth 1964 1964North Vietnamese North Vietnamese allegedly fire upon US allegedly fire upon US DestroyerDestroyerLBJ asks for power to LBJ asks for power to repel enemyrepel enemy 1965 – Americans killed1965 – Americans killed– LBJ orders sustained LBJ orders sustained

bombing of Northbombing of North– Operation Rolling ThunderOperation Rolling Thunder