Vietnam and US prior to the war Flashcards
what is Ho Chi Minh’s background?
born in 1890 in vietnam (still part of French Indochina) and from 1911-1919 travels the world ending up at the Versailles conference.
what did Ho Chi Minh do at the versailles conference?
he appealed to president Wilson after hearing his 14 point peace plan and was part of a group of Viet nationalists committed to overthrowing the French. But his plea was ignored.
what was Ho Chi Minh’s background in the community party?
he joins the party in 1931 and formed the viet Minh in 1941 at this time he also provided to be a capable leader in providing aid during a famine inflicted by the Japanese.
He also received support from the US making him and OSS asset.
when did Vietnam declare its own independence?
1945 Ho was declared leader of the republic of Vietnam and had own declaration of independence inspired by the US document.
some see this as the first mistake by the US to not make them an ally.
what was happening in the US prior to Vietnam intervention?
during the 1950s and 1960s saw prosperity with increase in college enrolment and income equality at its lowest. the US was also one of two superpowers
what was US foreign policy prior to Vietnam?
during the Cold War there was policy of containment for the communist powers. economic aid was sent to Europe to prevent the spread of communism.
the Korean War during the 1950s resulted in the creation of a communist state of North Korea.
what was the foreign policy thought consensus at this time?
general idea that US intentions were good, communism was bad and should never appease and aggressor after ww2. and with nuclear weapons all out war was impossible, had to be fought through proxy wars and other means.
when was the war of decolonisation from the French.
French Indochina war lasted from 1946-1954
what was the US attitude towards the French Indochina war?
even though the US had adocated against colonialism they would support the French in Vietnam with weapons and money to fight the Viet Minh. (because they were seen as communists)
what was the domino theory?
the idea that if one country fell to communism the others in that region would fall like dominoes. in this case Vietnam then the rest of Asia.
what happened at Dien Bien Phu?
1954 the French dig themselves in at an airstrip in the mountains. but 200,000 of the Viet Minh and peasants are moving supplies by hand up the mountain. with the Vietnamese bombarding the French with Artillery.
what was the result of Dien Bien Phu?
the French surrendered and the Vietnamese victory was huge morale boost.
what was the Geneva Agreement 1954?
the agreement divided Vietnam into the democratic republic of Vietnam led by Ho Chi Minh and the Republic of Vietnam led by Ngo Dinh Diem. the DMZ was created along the 17th parallel.
who was Ngo Dinh Diem?
he was opposed to the French and was a strong anti communist. but he was a catholic in an overwhelmingly buddhist country and enacted his intolerance upon them.
he later carried out politcal purges which could end up in execution within days.
what happened to Diem?
as the NLF/Vietcong became more popular in the countryside of south Vietnam the country was flung into civil war. as the south was losing the war and his policy towards buddhist became more brutal he was losing support with the US considering a coup against him. the US decided they wouldn’t start a coup but they also wouldnt stop one.
Diem was overthrown and murdered.