Transcript Vietnam War - St. Roch's Secondary School

Vietnam War
A Background to the War
Brief History of Vietnam
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France assumed control over the whole of Vietnam after
the Franco-Chinese War (1884-1885). French Indochina
was formed in October 1887 from Vietnam, and
Cambodia, with Laos added in 1893.
In the early 20th century, Vietnamese patriots realised
that they could not defeat France without modernisation.
In 1940, during World War II, Japan invaded Indochina
The Vietnam Revolutionary League (Vietminh) was
established by Ho Chi Minh while living in China on the
Vietnam border
With Paris already occupied by Germany, the French
troops decided it was not worth putting up a fight and
they surrendered to the Japanese. Ho Chi Minh and his
fellow nationalists saw this as an opportunity to free
their country from foreign domination. Under the military
leadership of General Vo Nguyen Giap, the Vietminh
began a guerrilla campaign against the Japanese
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The Vietminh received weapons and ammunition
from the Soviet Union, and after the bombing of
Pearl Harbour, they also obtained supplies from
the United States. During this period the
Vietminh leant a considerable amount about
military tactics which was to prove invaluable in
the years that were to follow.
When the Japanese surrendered to the Allies
after the dropping of atom bombs on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki in August, 1945, the Vietminh was
in a good position to take over the control of the
country
In 1944-1945, millions of Vietnamese people
starved to death in the Japanese occupation of
Vietnam
Who should control Vietnam?
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In August 1945, the Japanese surrendered to the
Allies, creating a power vacuum in Vietnam.
The Việt Minh launched the "August Revolution"
across the country to seize government offices.
Emperor Bảo Ðại abdicated on August 25, 1945,
ending the Nguyễn Dynasty
On September 2, 1945 Hồ Chí Minh declared
Vietnam independent under the new name of
Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) and held
the position of Chairman.
End of French Rule?
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In 1947, full scale war broke out between Viet
Minh and France. Realizing that colonialism was
coming to an end worldwide, France fashioned a
semi-independent State of Vietnam, within the
French Union, with Bảo Đại as Head of State
As the Communists under Mao Zedong took over
China, Viet Minh began to receive military aid
from China
The United States became strongly opposed to
Hồ Chí Minh. In the 1950s the government of Bảo
Ðại gained recognition by the United States and
the United Kingdom.
The Việt Minh force grew significantly with
China's assistance
Dien Bien Phu
As the Civil war dragged on into the
1950s, it became clear that victory was
impossible against a guerrilla force that
was often difficult to locate.
 By 1953 the French Government was
unwilling to continue the war. French
public was tired of a war that swallowed
up vast sums of money and soldiers.
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French wanted to withdraw with
honour and therefore force the
Vietminh to the negotiation table
 The Battle of Dien Bien Phu marked
the end of French involvement in
Indochina. The Viet Minh and their
mercurial commander Vo Nguyen
Giap handed the French a stunning
military defeat.
End of France in Asia
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The Western fear of a
Communist extension in
Southeast Asia, named the
Domino Theory by Dwight
D. Eisenhower during the
Dien Bien Phu siege and
the departure of the
French from Laos,
Cambodia and Vietnam,
was a factor leading to the
direct American
intervention in South
Vietnam.
Geneva Agreements 1954
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Arranged a settlement which brought an end to
the French war in Indochina.
A ceasefire was signed and French forces agreed
to withdraw from the region.
Vietnam was to be temporarily divided along the
17th Parallel until elections could be held to unite
the country.
These elections were never held
Vietminh established a Communist state in the
North.
The South was ruled by a right-wing government
with US support.