The Vietnam War

Vietnam
In the world today

SE Asia
Location
of Vietnam

French Indo-China
at the start of WW2
in 1939

By 1954 the Geneva

Accord created the
17th parallel
Demilitarised zone.
North Vietnam:
Ho Chi Minh
South Vietnam
Ngo Dinh Diem
Elections to be held
in 1956 and reunite
the country

 http://documentaryheaven.com/vietnam
-the-ten-thousand-day-war/

A brief introduction to the conflict

The Vietnam War was really a civil war between the Communist North, led by Ho
Chi Minh and the non Communist South rules by Ngo Dinh Diem. However, the
conflict between these groups developed from Vietnams colonial history.
Before WWII Vietnam had been ruled by the French who fled the country when the
Japanese invaded. The Vietnamese people rose up and defeated the Japanese.
The Vietnamese under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh were free to rule themselves.
He declared Vietnam to be an independent democratic republic. However, at the
end of WWII, the French tried to reclaim Vietnam and invaded the country again.
The French took the South (capital Saigon) and pushed Ho Chi Minh into the North
of the country. Ho Chi Minh launched a guerrilla war against the French and tried to
unite Vietnam again.

The war lasted until 1954. The worlds leading powers

met in Geneva to stop the conflict. The French
withdrew its troops, but Vietnam was temporarily
divided in two. The South would be ruled by Ngo Dinh
Diem, and the North was to be ruled by Ho Chi Minh.
Elections were promised in 1956 and the country would
be re-united.

However, these elections never took place, and the country was not united.
Why? Mainly because of the actions of the USA. The problem was that Ho
Chi Minh was incredibly popular in the North and the South of the country. If
elections had been held, he would have come to power. Why was that a
problem? Because he was communist, and the USA were embroiled in the
Cold War.

That meant that the USA supported Ngo Dinh Diem a

really unpopular leader who was cruel to his people. Diem
was Catholic in a predominantly Buddhist country and
punished those who were not Christian. He also refused to
introduce land reforms, so the majority of land was in the
hands of a rich corrupt few, while the rest of the peasant
population struggled. He hunted down his opponents,
imprisoned them and executed those who failed to give up
their views.

So Ho Chi Minh launched a

guerrilla war on South Vietnam
The Northern Army was called the
Vietminh (after Ho Chi Minh), but they also
attracted supporters from the South. The
army working to overthrow Diem in the
South were called the Vietcong.

America Gets involved

At first America just sent in advisors and military
aid (money and weapons).
Their commitment gradually developed until
President Lyndon B Johnson eventually sent in
ground troops (fighters) in 1965 in response to
Gulf of Tonkin incident (1964).

Despite US expectations that the Vietcong would be

defeated by Americas superior technology and wealth, the
war dragged on to 1973. As death rates rose and horrific
images of war were beamed all over America by TV, many
people started to protest against the war.

In 1973 the American government brokered a ceasefire

and pulled out of the country. After the loss of 47,000 US
soldiers and around 1,100,000 opposition fighters, the
war ended with both sides agreeing on the borders
established in 1954. America withdrew its forces and
refused to grant more money to the South to protect itself.
Just months later, the North Vietnamese invaded the
South and united Vietnam under Communist rule.

The Two Sides

North Vietnamese
Vietcong/Vietminh
Ho Chi Minh leader (very popular)
Communist
Supported by North Vietnamese
Wanted to set up a democratic republic
Included NLF (National Liberation Front) from South Vietnam12 different
nationalist groups including Buddhists
Helped financially by China and Russia.
South Vietnamese
Ngo Dinh Diem leader (very unpopular). The USA eventually supported a
coup to remove corrupt Diem, but leaders unstable and temporary.
USA gave financial and advisory support and then troops
Army of the Republic of Vietnam

A brief introduction to the

conflict
The Vietnam War was really a civil war between the Communist
North, led by Ho Chi Minh, and the non Communist South ruled
by Ngo Dinh Diem. However, the conflict between these groups
developed from Vietnams colonial history.
Before WWII Vietnam had been ruled by the French, who fled
the country when the Japanese invaded. The Vietnamese
people rose up and defeated the Japanese. The Vietnamese
under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh were free to rule
themselves. He declared Vietnam to be an independent
democratic republic. However, at the end of WWII, the French
tried to reclaim Vietnam and invaded the country again. The
French took the South (capital Saigon) and pushed Ho Chi Minh
into the North of the country. Ho Chi Minh launched a guerrilla
war against the French and tried to unite Vietnam again.
The war lasted until 1954. The worlds leading powers met in
Geneva to stop the conflict. The French withdrew its troops, but
Vietnam was temporarily divided in two. The South would be
ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem, and the North was to be ruled by Ho
Chi Minh. Elections were promised in 1956 and the country
would be re-united.
However, these elections never took place, and the country was
not united. Why? Mainly because of the actions of the USA. The
problem was that Ho Chi Minh was incredibly popular in the
North and the South of the country. If elections had been held,
he would have come to power. Why was that a problem?
Because he was communist, and the USA was embroiled in the
Cold War.

That meant that the USA supported Ngo Dinh Diem a

really unpopular leader who was cruel to his people. Diem
was Catholic in a predominantly Buddhist country and
persecuted many non-Christians. He also refused to
introduce land reforms, so the majority of land was in the
hands of a rich, corrupt few, while the rest of the peasant
population struggled. He hunted down his opponents,
imprisoned them and executed those who failed to give up
their views.
The Northern Army was called the Vietminh (after Ho Chi Minh),
but they also attracted supporters from the South. The US
called the army working to overthrow Diem in the South the
Vietcong, or Vietnamese Communists.
At first America just sent in advisors and military aid (money
and weapons). Their commitment gradually developed until
President Lyndon B Johnson eventually sent in ground troops
(fighters) in 1965 in response to Gulf of Tonkin incident (1964).
Despite US expectations that the Vietcong would be defeated
by Americas superior technology and wealth, the war dragged
on to 1973. As death rates rose and horrific images of war were
beamed all over America by TV, many people in the USA
started to protest against the war.
In 1973 the American government brokered a ceasefire and
pulled out of the country. After the loss of 47,000 US soldiers
and around 1,100,000 opposition fighters, the war ended with
both sides agreeing on the borders established in 1954.
America withdrew its forces and refused to grant more money
to the South to protect itself. Just months later, the North
Vietnamese invaded the South and united Vietnam under
Communist rule.

Timeline
Either students to sort into chronological
order and write out or just print out slide
30.
Students then to answer questions on
slide 31.

Timeline of events in the Vietnam

War
Below are the key events of the Vietnam War. The first date is in the correct
position. The others are mixed up. Create a timeline on an A3 Sheet/double page
spread in your book. Leave 1cm between each year and write vertically.
1945 Japan defeated in WWII and withdraw from Indo-China
(including Vietnam). Vietminh take control.
1965 (Feb) - US start bombing campaign called Operation Rolling
Thunder. 200,000 US ground troops sent in to help South.
1970 (May) Kent State Massacre
1954 Vietminh win decisive battle over French at Dien Bien Phu.
International meeting is held and divides Vietnam in two temporarily
until elections can be held. The North is communist (run by Ho Chi
Minh, and the Vietminh now called Vietcong). The South is ruled by
Diem and is non-communist.
1973 Peace Agreement. Last US troops leave Saigon
1968 (May) - Burning of the draft cards Catonsville Nine
1956-1959 The South, backed by America refuses to hold elections.
Civil War breaks out between Communists North and non-communist
South.
1968 (March) Mai Lai Massacre. Public only found out about in
November 1969.
1964 (August) Gulf of Tonkin Incident.
1968 (January) Tet Offensive

April 1970 Nixon spreads war to Camboldia

1968 President Lyndon Johnson decides not to run for re-election. He
ends Operation Rolling Thunder.
1975 North Vietnam Army takes over South. All Americans living in
Vietnam airlifted out of Saigon.
1969 Richard Nixon elected promising to end the war. He starts
process of Vietnamisation.
1971 (Feb) Nixon spreads war to Laos
1967 Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) formed in the USA
1971 Operation Phoenix exposed
1945 French try to regain control over Vietnam. Guerrilla war breaks
out.

Timeline of events in the Vietnam

War

1945 Japan defeated in WWII and withdraw from Indo-China

(including Vietnam). Vietminh take control.

1968 (March) Mai Lai Massacre. Public only found out about in
November 1969.

1945 French try to regain control over Vietnam. Guerrilla war breaks
out.

1968 (May) - Burning of the draft cards in America Catonsville Nine

1954 Vietminh win decisive battle over French at Dien Bien Phu.
International meeting is held and divides Vietnam in two temporarily
until elections can be held. The North is communist (run by Ho Chi
Minh, and the Vietminh now called Vietcong). The South is ruled by
Diem and is non-communist.
1956-1959 The South, backed by America refuses to hold elections.
Civil War breaks out between Communists North and non-communist
South.
1964 (August) Gulf of Tonkin Incident.
1965 (Feb) - US start bombing campaign called Operation Rolling
Thunder. 200,000 US ground troops sent in to help South.
1967 Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) formed in the USA
1968 (January) Tet Offensive

1968 President Lyndon Johnson decides not to run for re-election. He

ends Operation Rolling Thunder.
1969 Richard Nixon elected promising to end the war. He starts
process of Vietnamisation.
April 1970 Nixon spreads war to Camboldia
1970 (May) Kent State Massacre
1971 (Feb) Nixon spreads war to Laos
1971 Operation Phoenix exposed
1973 Peace Agreement. Last US troops leave Saigon
1975 North Vietnam Army takes over South. All Americans living in
Vietnam airlifted out of Saigon.

Timeline of events in the Vietnam War

1945

1945 Japan defeated in WWII and withdraw

from Indo-China (including Vietnam). Vietminh
take control.

1975 North Vietnam Army takes over South. All Americans living in
Vietnam airlifted out of Saigon.

1973 Peace Agreement. Last US troops leave Saigon

1971 Operation Phoenix exposed

1971 (Feb) Nixon spreads war to Laos

1970 (May) Kent State Massacre

April 1970 Nixon spreads war to Camboldia

1969 Richard Nixon elected promising to end the war. He starts

process of Vietnamisation.

1968 President Lyndon Johnson decides not to run for re-election. He

ends Operation Rolling Thunder.

1968 (May) - Burning of the draft cards in America Catonsville Nine

1968 (March) Mai Lai Massacre. Public only found out about in
November 1969.

1968 (January) Tet Offensive

1967 Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) formed in the USA

1965 (Feb) - US start bombing campaign called Operation Rolling

Thunder. 200,000 US ground troops sent in to help South.

1964 (August) Gulf of Tonkin Incident.

1956-1959 The South, backed by America refuses to hold elections.

Civil War breaks out between Communists North and non-communist
South.

1954 Vietminh win decisive battle over French at Dien Bien Phu.
International meeting is held and divides Vietnam in two temporarily
until elections can be held. The North is communist (run by Ho Chi
Minh, and the Vietminh now called Vietcong). The South is ruled by
Diem and is non-communist.

1945 French try to regain control over Vietnam. Guerrilla war breaks
out.

1945 Japan defeated in WWII and withdraw from Indo-China

(including Vietnam). Vietminh take control.

Key Events in the Vietnam War

What can you learn from the

timeline?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Why did America prevent elections from happening?

Who was the leader of the Communist North?
How long did Operation Rolling Thunder Last?
When did the US send in ground troops?
When did the war end?
What evidence is there that overall the US was
unsuccessful in the war in Vietnam?
Highlight the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, Tet Offensive, Mai
Lai Massacre and Kent State Massacre. These were
all US turning points in public opinion of the war.