THE BEGINNINGS OF THE VIETNAM WAR

LO - to understand the origins of the Vietnam conflict

The origins of the conflict• Since the late 19th C Vietnam had been ruled by France

– known as Indochina.

• During WW2 Japan took control of the main resources of Vietnam (Coal, Rice, Rubber).

• At this time a strong Anti-Japanese movement emerged – called the Viet Minh; under the leadership of Communist Ho Chi Minh (ex teacher).

• Ho was a great individual – inspired people to fight

• Independent Vietnam declared 2nd September 1945

Ho Chi Minh

• In 1945 the Viet Minh entered the city of Hanoi and declared Vietnam independent.

• The French had other ideas = fight • Ho had not fought the Japanese to give power back to

France.• 1946 = war.

• By 1949 Communists had taken over China - now the US saw the Viet Minh as the puppets of Mao Tse Tung (China). They feared a Communist plan to dominate all of south east Asia.

• US poured support into the French war effort with $3 billion in financial aid.

• The war dragged from 1946 – 54. The French generally controlled the towns. The Viet Minh, the countryside.

• The Viet Minh guerilla tactics made them impossible to beat- tied up troops in hit and run raids -90,000 casualties.

• 1954 – French were defeated at a place called Dien Bien Phu. (first time a small Asian state had defeated a European state).

1954 Geneva Agreement

• Gave Vietnam independence

• Split North (Communist) & South (Capitalist)

• Demilitarised zone between the two

• North – led by Ho Chi Minh• South – Ngo Dinh Diem

HO CHI MINH

• Did not accept the division of Vietnam

• Set up the National Liberation Front (NLF) in the South

• Diem called them “Vietnamese Commies” (Vietcong for short)

• ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) was unable to defeat them

Diem Govt• VC were largely based in the Countryside

– so Diem moved peasants to ‘safe’ villages (basically Concentration camps)

• US helped Diem by sending 1000 advisors to train the ARVN

• May 8th 1963 - Buddha’s birthday – Buddhists monks wanted to fly flags

• Diem refused = demonstration

Diem’s Govt

• ARVN attacked monks

• June 11th – Monk protested – Thich Quang Duc set fire to himself – worldwide outcry

• Nov 1963 – Diem assassinated – CIA arranged Government Coup (military takeover)

In protest of South Vietnamese attacks on Buddhist shrines (1963).

I was to see that sight again, but once was enough. Flames were coming from a human being; his body was slowly withering and shriveling up, his head blackening and charring. In the air was the smell of burning human flesh; human beings burn surprisingly quickly. Behind me I could hear the sobbing of the Vietnamese who were now gathering. I was too shocked to cry, too confused to take notes or ask questions, too bewildered to even think ... As he burned he never moved a muscle, never uttered a sound, his outward composure in sharp contrast to the wailing people around him.

- David Halberstam, The Making of a Quagmire (1965)

GULF OF TONKIN• 2nd August 1964, in the gulf of Tonkin, the USS Maddox

fired on a North Vietnamese boat which came too close

• ¾ August – Sailors panicked thinking they were under attack again

• 7th August – congress also LBJ to esculate US involvement

• Between 1964 – 1975 the US sent 2.8million soldiers

• Problem – not sure if USS Maddox was ever attacked – LBJ said:

“those dumb sailors were shooting at flying fish”

LBJ Speech

1. What are the reasons cited for escalating the Vietnam War?

2. Do they match up with your understanding of why the US got involved?

3. What are LBJ’s mannerisms when delivering the speech? i.e. Was it a passionate delivery? Did you find him trustworthy? Shifty? Etc.

Why did US get involved?

1. French had been driven out

2. Initially to support Diem’s Govt

3. To stop the Communists

4. To stop further communist successes (domino theory)

5. Gulf of Tonkin incident

6. Once they became more involved – the US had to escalate to try and beat the VC

7. UN would not get involved – Russian Veto