Vietnam War Case Study Notes (Chapter 9)

Name:Class:Date: Chapter 9: Case Study of the Vietnam War, 1954-1975 𝄞 ⨾/g0 ִ ໋ Origins of the Vietnam war ⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ Subjeugation → Nationalism → e.g. freedom • Vietnam ruled as part of French Indochina • French governance with French officials • Mostly resource exploitation, heavy taxes, monopoly on trade • Hence, locals have been attempting to overthrow French colonial rule since 1980s • But no success • 1940, fall of France • So Japan invaded Vietnam through armistice with French colonial government (Vichy) • Japanese Occupation = French puppet rule in Vietnam • Vietnam war = Local [civil] + superpower conflict [proxy] • USA, USSR, China played huge roles • But local responses were crucial too • French, Japanese rules were all harsh to locals • Hence, encouraged local resistance to foreign rules • Viet Minh by Ho Chi Minh • Non-communists + communists • Main goal of removing Japanese • But differ on direction of independent Vietnam • During WWII, USA, USSR, GMD China gave Viet Minh money, weapons, supplies • To fight common enemy of Japan • End of WWII, Allies + France re-occupied Vietnam • But faced with strong resistance • So Viet Minh quickly declared independence • Intensification of tensions between French and Viet Minh Prepared by Mrs Nettie Viknesh

Name:Class:Date: • 1946, First Indochina war • Viet Minh used WWII tactics • Underground warfare, stationed in mountains and forests, surprise raids • But international relations also helped Viet Minh against French • GMD lost civil war in China • China now under CCP • So CCP China supported Viet Minh • Textbook page 103 • But USA could not allow communism to fester in Vietnam • Fear of Domino Theory → USA comes in ⟡⟡⟡ • So USA started supporting French • Weapons, supplies • Superpower involvement = prolonged first Indochina war • French wanted to lure Viet Minh into open battle • 1954 = Battle of Dien Bien Phu [split into 3 phases] • But Viet Minh defeated the French • Cut off French supplies of food, medicine, ammunition • Post-1954, France lost interest in Vietnam • Cost of conflict outweighed colonial benefits • Geneva conference: Viet Minh wanted Democratic Republic of Vietnam • But USA refused a communist Vietnam • So talks dragged for weeks • Finally divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel • North: Communist under Ho • South: Non-communist under Diem • Elections to be in 1956 for final resolution • Some peace was achieved but nobody happy with partition • Basis for further fighting Prepared by Mrs Nettie Viknesh

Name:Class:Date: ⋆ . ̊ Domino Theory: prominent Cold War-era U.S. foreign policy concept, most famously articulated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954, suggesting that if one country in a region fell to communism, surrounding nations would inevitably follow, like a row of falling dominoes . 𝄞 ⨾/g0 ִ ໋ A divided Vietnam • North and South Vietnam had different visions • Led to conflict, instability • Both governments wanted to consolidate, unite Vietnam via authoritarianism 𝄞 ⨾/g0 ִ ໋ North Vietnam • Ho started consolidation of rule quickly after Geneva Conference • Scared many to flee communist rule • But pro-Communists in South Vietnam also moved to the North • Led to strengthening of Ho’s communist rule in the North • Ho: recognised a great leader in getting rid of Japanese, French • Also popular due to land reforms • Confiscated land from large landowners, show trials (rigged) for them, redistributing land to peasant farmers • But land reforms an economic failure • Low agricultural output = insufficient food supplies • Food imports also declined during this time • Led to famines in North Vietnam • Unhappiness started to brew • But Ho did not allow resistance to develop • Ho was ruthless with opponents; real and imagined • E.g. mass executions of large landowners • Harsh suppression + popular support = Ho’s stable rule 𝄞 ⨾/g0 ִ ໋ South Vietnam Prepared by Mrs Nettie Viknesh

Name:Class:Date: • Diem was strongly anti-communist • Wanted to modernise Vietnamese economy, society • Hoped to guard Vietnam against foreign intervention • So implemented modernisation programmes • E.g. universities, expanded agriculture • But Diem was unpopular ⟡⟡⟡ • Due to authoritarianism • E.g. frequent imprisonment, executions • 1955, Diem ignored Geneva agreement for elections ⟡⟡⟡ • Instead, Diem held referendum to remove Emperor Bao Dai • Installed himself as President • But referendum was rigged • Hence led to massive unhappiness towards Diem • But Diem continued ruling due to US support (willing to work with dictators) • USA wanted a strong anti-communist figure in South Vietnam • Since Diem was deeply unpopular, US tried to pressure Diem into land reforms • Redistribution of land to poor peasants • But Diem was uninterested • Wanted to focus on landlords to support his rule • So whatever land reforms stalled by 1960 • Income gap continued • Corruption also further caused lack of support for Diem • Nepotism, no elections… • Led to widespread protests • Usually by influential, well-educated Buddhist monks • Due to Diem’s lack of respect for Buddhism • E.g. Diem’s pro-catholic policies • Sometimes, protests involved self-immolation • Graphic images intensified opposition to Diem Prepared by Mrs Nettie Viknesh

Name:Class:Date: • But USA continued supporting Diem due to lack of alternatives • To no avail for Diem’s support base • But Buddhist monks not the only opposition • Opposition also from former viet minh members • Especially invested in unification of Vietnam • So when Diem cancelled 1956 reunification elections, start of insurgency • Armed resistance from former Viet Minh members = Viet cong • Diem responded with harsh repression • Communist suspects imprisoned, tortured, executed • Some successes in striking at military bases • But not a complete weeding • North Vietnam government supported Viet Cong • Ho Chi Minh Trail as central resource • Viet Cong took orders from Ho • Assassinations, attacks of South Vietnamese government ⋆ . ̊ Nepotism: the unfair practice of using power or influence to grant jobs, promotions, or special advantages to relatives or friends, rather than hiring based on merit ⋆ . Self-immolation: the act of deliberately killing oneself by fire , typically as a violent form of protest or extreme self-sacrifice. It is a rare, severe method of suicide often chosen to draw intense public attention to political, religious, or personal distress 𝄞 ⨾/g0 ִ ໋ North-South Vietnam tensions • 1960s, Viet Cong stepped up guerilla warfare • Attacks on South Vietnamese forces, officials, buildings, US Air Force