Geopolitical Developments Flashcards
context for vietnam
vietnam was divided into north and south by the 17th parallel
communist government led by Ho Chi Minh in the North and an anti-communist government led by Ngo Dinh Diem in the south
after china became communist in 1949, america was worried about the domino effect
origins of the vietnam war
in 1959, Ho Chi Minh declared war on South vietnam in an attempt to unite Vietnam under Communist control
the vietcong - the national liberation front- were supported by the north and strongly opposed Diem. They began Guerrilla warfare in the north
america’s involvement in vietnam
august 1964 - a US navy vessel was attacked by north vietnam at the Gulf of Tonkon
america used traditional warfare tactics while vietcong used guerrilla warfare tactics
america used napalm - devastating effect on vietnamese civilians
My Lai Massacre
vietcong launched surprise attacks against cities and military targets in south Vietnam
By 1968, there were 536,000 American troops in Vietnam
My Lai Massacre
My lai massacre saw American troops brutally kill civilians in the village of My lai
tet offensive quote
“The Tet offensive was the decisive battle of the Vietnam War because of its profound impact on American attitudes about involvement in Southeast Asia. In the aftermath of Tet, many americans became disillusioned. “ (Wirtz 1991)
end of American involvement in vietnam
the vietnam war had bogged america down for a decade and divided the public. it was the first televised conflict and by the late 1960s peace movements were growing.
1969 - nixon becomes president and Ho Chi Minh dies
Vietnamisation - the process of withdraw US troops and handing the war effort over to south vietnamese troops - begins
North Vietnam is victorious and vietnam is united under a communist government in 1975
impacts of the Vietnam War
widespread environmental destruction
extensive damage to infrastructure
loss of estimated 1-4 million vietnamese people
birth defects in children due to harmful chemicals
severe social stagnation
success of communism in vietnam
failure of containment with an economic cost of over $100 billion
estimated 59,000 American soldiers killed and a further 700,000 affected by physical or psychological injury
media coverage of the war held the US accountable for the war crimes and atrocities committed
early sino-soviet relations + changing relation
USSR assisted china until they gained strength and stability, however there was ideological conflict
soviet socialism thought industry was at the centre of the revolution, while chinese socialism thought agriculture was at the centre of the revolution
by the 1960s, china and russia began to disagree over policies including attitudes towards the west and spheres of influence.
By 1965, the Soviet Union cut all ties with China including financial and political support
impact of sino-soviet split on US-China relations
fostered better relations between china and the US
in 1971, US secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, made a secret trip to China to set up a plan for nixon to visit in 1972
quote about kissinger
“He believed that the balance of power was still the key to understanding the world and that peace could only be brought by judicious manipulation of that balance. He was a devout believer in the Soviet threat but came to think that it was best dealt with by raising up China and that all major diplomatic programs could be made to yield the logic of power” - Brogan (1999)
impact of brezhnev doctrine on sino-soviet relations
Brezhnev doctrine was seen as a threat to chinese independence and both countries vied for leadership of World Communism
USA reasons for involvement in the middle east
ideological - israel established as Jewish homeland after WW2, which US sought to protect
political - israel was a stronghold of democratic capitalism in the middle east, allowing US to maintain the policy of containment
economic - supporting israel would allow the US to protect is economic interests in the region
USSR reasons for involvement in the Middle East
ideological - USSR wanted to spread communist ideology in the middle east
political - ussr wanted to prove their superpower status, developing an empire that could match America’s
economic - soviets also wanted to protect their supply of oil and gain access to Black Sea Ports
Suez Crisis
1956
Egyptian President Nasser nationalised the Suez canal so Israel, Britain and France invaded.
both soviets and US condemned the attack, and the USSR sent aid and threatened to drop nuclear bombs on britain and france
US was annoyed that they had been excluded bu the European powers
Six Day War
1967
fought between Israel and Egypt, Syria and Jordan
came after years of mounting arab-israeli tensions and territorial disputes
israel was able to destroy the armies of the arab states and capture the Sinai peninsula
did not improve relations in the middle east
