history - vietnam

• what was the cold war

  • The Cold War was an ideological conflict between capitalism and communism
  • Capitalism is a system where the government interferes in the economy and people’s lives as little as possible.
  • People with more ‘capital’ (money) can buy more things.
  • The freedom to earn more money, to spend it as you wish and live as you wish is seen as the most important principle.
  • America believed in capitalism.
• what was the cold war (2)

  • Communism was a completely different system. The government runs the economy and society on behalf of the people, trying to ensure that everyone has what they need and that money and goods are shared fairly.
  • The USSR (Russia), Eastern Europe China were all communist by 1949. Communism was running a lot of the globe and had played a major part in defeating Hitler – many Americans felt there was a real threat that communism would spread.
  • For communists capitalism is seen as encouraging greed, and the exploitation of the poor
• what was the cold war (3)

  • For capitalists communism is seen as limiting freedom and stealing from the wealthy.  
  • During the Cold War America and the USSR hated each other, but tried to avoid directly fighting each other since both had nuclear weapons. Instead they tried to make sure each had as many allies as they could, tried to prevent each other from spreading their ideas and supported countries that were fighting the other ideology.
  • They also tried to make sure they had more and better weapons that the other (spending vast fortunes in the process). This was called the Arms Race.
• causes of the korean war: nationalism in korea

  • Korea had suffered a brutal occupation by the Japanese during World War II, and after the war wanted an independent future. The problem was that there were very different visions of how that future should be.
• causes of the korean war: US relations with china

  • America refused to recognise the new Communist government in China (led by Mao), and became increasingly frightened about the spread of communism in Asia. They had supported the nationalists fighting against Mao with $2B. America was very clear that they did not want to see any more countries in Asia become communist.
  • In Europe America had used the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan to send huge sums of money to Western Europe to make sure they did not become communist. Many in America felt they should do the same in Asia.
• the causes of the korean war: the division of korea at the end of WW11

  • Korea had been taken over by Japan during World War II, and at the end of the war the northern half was liberated by the USSR (communist) and the south by America (capitalist). Neither side was willing to give any land to the other and so Korea was divided in half along the 38th parallel, as it remains to this day.
• causes of the korean war: kim ll sung

  • Kim Il Sung fought for the USSR against Japan during World War II, and in 1945 he took control over North Korea.
  • In 1948 he declared that North Korea was a Communist republic
  • That meant that no political parties other than the communist party would be allowed, and a communist state would be set up.
• causes of the korean war: syngman rhee

  • Rhee had studied in the US and lived in the USA for most of the war
  • He won elections in South Korea in 1948 and America supported his government.
  • However, he was not very democratic and ruled as a corrupt dictator, but because he was anti communist America was happy to support him
• causes of the korean war: invasion by the north in june 1950 (1)

  • In 1950 Kim Il Sung misunderstood American intentions and thought he could invade South Korea without America getting involved. This would help set him up as a great Communist hero along with Stalin (USSR) and Mao (China).
  • The USSR provided some resources, but were not very keen on getting involved. They worried that if America sent troops to support Rhee they would also have to and the Cold War could turn into an actual war between America and the USSR.
• causes of the korean war: invasions by the north in june 1950 (2)

  • China felt they had to help since many Korean communists had helped the Chinese communists during their civil war after World War II – but they were not keen on getting too involved unless Russia was also going to help
  • By September 1950 almost all of Korea was under Communist control.
• responses to the outbreak of war in korea

  • President Truman of the US sent advisors, supplies and warships to the area.
  • He also tried to persuade the United Nations (UN) to condemn the North Korean actions.
  • Normally the USSR would have been able to veto the UN condemning North Korea, but they were boycotting the UN at the time because America had blocked communist China from being a part of the UN.
• responses to the outbreak of war in korea (2)

  Since the USSR was not at the UN, and the USA was by far the biggest contributor to the UN budget it was unsurprising that the US resolution passed. The UN was now committed to using force to push the North Korean army out of South Korea.
• The Development of the war in Korea: UN in South and North Korea; Inchon Landings  and the recapture of South Korea

  • United Nations forces (mostly American) landed at Inchon in September 1950.
  • North Korean troops were quickly pushed back beyond the 38th parallel, and by the end of September General MacArthur had recaptured Seoul.
  • The UN then approved a plan to carry on into North Korea, despite Chinese threats to join in the war to support North Korea if this happened.
• The Development of the war in Korea: UN in South and North Korea; Inchon Landings  and the recapture of South Korea (2)

  • By October UN troops were at the Yalu river on the border with China. It seemed the plan was to drive communism out of Korea entirely.
  • In October 1950 200, 000 Chinese troops (‘Peoples’ Volunteers’) arrived in North Korea with Russian military supplies such as tanks.
  • In January 1951 the UN forces were driven out of Seoul again. It took weeks for fighting to push the Chinese forces back across the 38th parallel.
• The Development of the war in Korea: (3)

   

  • At this point there was a stalemate. Neither side was making any progress, and both were enduring heavy casualties.
  • MacArthur wanted to invade China and use nuclear weapons if necessary. Truman wanted to secure South Korea and leave without too many casualties.
  • March 1951: MacArthur ignored Truman and threatened to invade China.
  • April 1951: Truman sacked MacArthur.
  • This emphasised that America’s policy was containment. Communism would not be allowed to spread, but America would not go beyond that commitment
• the 'end' of the war in korea: Military stalemate at the 38th parallel; Peace talks and the armistice

  • In early 1951 there was a stalemate – neither side was making progress.
  • Attempts at peace talks were not successful as there were disagreements over the treatment of prisoners of war.
• the 'end' of the war in korea: In 1952 2 events happened that changed the situation:

  • Eisenhower was elected as President of America, and came to power promising to end the war in Korea.
  • Stalin died in the USSR. There was a power struggle over who would take over, and the Chinese worried that a new leader may not provide the same level of support.
  • In July 1953 an armistice (agreement to stop fighting) was signed.
• the 'end' of the war in korea: impact on korea

  • Korea remains divided along the 38th parallel.
  • About 1.3m casualties, including about 1/10 of the civilian population.
  • Most of Korea’s industry was destroyed, as well as many agricultural areas.
  • Millions of people became refugees.
• the 'end' of the war in korea: impact of the war on the UN

  • The UN appeared to have acted effectively, taking swift action and working collaboratively.
  • However, really it was only able to act because the USSR has been boycotting the UN when the vote was taken.
  • 30, 000 casualties, mostly American.
• the 'end' of the war in korea: china-american relations

  • America boasted they had ‘saved’ South Korea from communism, and MacArthur had threatened to use nuclear weapons as part of an invasion of China.
  • China and the USSR had worked effectively together, which was very alarming for the USA.
  • The USA increased military spending increased from 12 to 60 billion dollars.
  • In 1954 SEATO was formed. This was a copy of NATO in Europe, and was designed to contain communism within Asia. To China and the USSR it appeared that the US was forming aggressive anti – communist alliances around the world
• vietnam key terms

  • North Vietnamese Army – the official army of North Vietnam (communist)
  • National Liberation Front – communist guerrilla army nicknamed the Viet Cong (Vietnamese Communists) by President Diem.
  • Viet Cong – Guerrilla army fighting for North Vietnam, mainly in South Vietnam.
  • Hanoi: Capital of North Vietnam
  • SVA: South Vietnamese Army (not communist)
  • Saigon: Capital of South Vietnam.
• background to the vietnam war: end of french colonial rule

  • Before World War II Vietnam was part of the French empire.
  • During World War II Vietnam was occupied by the Japanese.
  • Resistance to the Japanese was led by a communist called Ho Chi Minh, who had trained in guerrilla warfare in the USSR.
  • At the end of the war Ho Chi Minh captured the capital Hanoi, and declared Vietnam to be an independent communist state.
  • The French wanted Vietnam back, and for 9 years fought against Ho Chi Minh. America supported the French with $500m a year, and the Chinese supported Ho Chi Minh’s forces
• background to the vietnam war: dien bien phu + consequences

  • In 1954 the French were defeated at the battle of Dien Bien Phu, losing 8000 troops in that battle alone.
  • Having lost 73, 000 troops over 9 years, the French surrendered.
• background to the vietnam war: 1954 geneva agreement

  In Geneva in 1954 it was agreed that Vietnam would be temporarily divided along the 17th parallel into communist North Vietnam led by Ho Chi Minh, and non-communist South Vietnam led by President Diem.  There would be elections across all of Vietnam in 1956 to decide the future.
• opposition to diem

  • President Diem was very unpopular. He was corrupt, brutal and very unpopular. He imprisoned political opponents, and was Catholic (almost all Vietnamese were Buddhist).
  • Buddhist monks protested at the attacks on Buddhism, including famous cases of monks publicly setting fire to themselves.
  • America continued to support Diem, because he was anti communist.
• the vietcong: part 1

  • Ho Chi Minh was very popular, had elections actually been held in 1956 he almost certainly would have won.
  • Ho wanted to unite Vietnam and in 1960 helped form the National Liberation Front with the aim of uniting Vietnam. Diem called the NLF the ‘Vietnamese Communists’ – Viet Cong and this name stuck.
• the vietcong: part 2

  • The NLF used guerrilla tactics against Diem and in 1961 there were 20, 000 NLF guerrilla fighters in South Vietnam.
  • The Viet Cong treated local populations well, and became hugely popular in South as well as North Vietnam
  • In 1963 Diem was killed by his own troops, and over the next 2 years South Vietnam had 10 different governments
• the vietcong

  • Aims: A united communist Vietnam
  • Support: Very popular in the North and South. Ho Chi Minh was an inspirational leader, and local civilians were treated well. Plus most leaders would have looked great next to Diem.
  • Leadership: Ho Chi Minh, committed communist; defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu; Very charismatic and popular. Had seen how effective guerrilla tactics could be in China.
• guerrilla tactics: part 1

  • The Viet Cong were trained in guerrilla tactics such as surprise attacks; ambushes; laying traps; disappearing into the jungle.
  • In 1959 the Ho Chi Minh trail was created through Cambodia to send supplies from the north to the south. This was a network of paths and single track trails through the jungle, almost impossible to find, and if one part was broken a new path would be quickly created. Many supplies were taken by people walking along narrow trails, which took 2 months
• guerrilla tactics

  • In 1965 the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) had 170, 000 soldiers and was pretty well equipped from China and the USSR. However, they were outnumbered and out gunned by South Vietnam and America.
  • However, by applying the principles of guerrilla warfare they proved unbeatable. These principles were: retreat when the enemy attacks; raid when the enemy camps; attack when the enemy tires; pursue when the enemy retreats. The aim of this was to destroy the Americans’ morale, and it was very effective. Soldiers lived in constant fear of ambushes or booby traps.
• guerrilla tactics: part 3

  • Booby traps were often made at little or no cost- such as pits with sharpened bamboo sticks at the bottom. These caused 11% of US casualties
  • Guerrilla fighters did not wear uniform, had no obvious base, they worked in small groups and were usually impossible to differentiate from the villagers.
• guerrilla tactics: part 4

  • The Viet Cong tried to only fight US troops in small scale close combat as this meant the US could not use air power as support because of the risk to their own troops. This was called ‘hanging on to the American belts’. 51% of American casualties came from these skirmishes.
  • The Viet Cong developed a network of tunnels, about 240 km of them to allow them to hide from American bombing.
• guerrilla tactics: part 5

  • Viet Cong were always expected to be respectful to civilians, and help villagers where they could. However, they were ruthless with anyone who co-operated with the Americans, and attacked anyone employed by the South Vietnamese government such as police or teachers. Between 1966 and 1971 the Viet Cong killed about 27, 000 civilians.
• guerrilla tactics: part 6

  Their greatest strength was determination. At the height of the US bombing it took 40, 000 men to keep the Ho Chi Minh trail open, and the total Viet Cong and NVA loses are estimated at about a million people – far higher than the US and South Vietnam. However, for Ho Chi Minh, it was worth it whatever the cost.
• Reasons for American Involvement including Domino Theory

  • Eisenhower was convinced that China and the USSR planned to spread communism throughout Asia. If Vietnam ‘fell’, then it would become inevitable that Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and even India would follow like a row of dominoes.
  • Hence the phrase ‘domino theory’.
  • The Truman Doctrine said that America would intervene to prevent the spread of communism
• Reasons for American Involvement including Domino Theory

  • It was politically popular in the 1960s to take a firm stand against communism, McCarthyism had had massive support in the 1950s.
  • It was widely assumed that it would be easy to defeat communists from a poor country in Asia that had just come out of a war against the French.
• eisenhower

  • Between 1954 and 1960 $1.6 billion were sent to South Vietnam.
  • Military advisors helped the South Vietnamese army. By 1962 there were 11, 000 of these.
• Kennedy including ‘strategic hamlet’ programme

  • The ‘Strategic Hamlets’ programme moved peasant villages away from Viet Cong controlled areas. The Americans supplied building materials, money and food.
  • However, often corrupt local officials pocketed the money given by the Americans, and villagers resented being made to build a new village to protect them from people they did not view as an enemy. Many such villages became Viet Cong supporters as a result
• gulf of tonkin

  • In August 1964 North Vietnamese ships opened fire on US ships in the gulf of Tonkin.
  • In response Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave Johnson the power to ‘take all necessary measures’. This gave him the ability to launch a full scale war.
  • On 8th March 1965 3, 500 US marines arrived at Da Nang, these were combat troops not advisors. America was now officially at war in Vietnam.
• search and destroy

  • From their bases US troops would launch ‘Search and Destroy’ raids by helicopter. They would arrive in a village and kill any Viet Cong soldiers they found.
  • However, America had very poor information, so frequently they arrived in villages and did not find Viet Cong, or walked into booby traps.
  • About 6 civilians were killed for every 1 VC soldier on these raids