Vietnam War
Hassan Akhtar
Introduction:
The Vietnam War, or otherwise known as the second Indochina war, was a war which took place between November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975 between communist North Vietnam and the government of South Vietnam. North Vietnam was supported by fellow communist countries and nations such as the People’s Republic of China, as well as the Soviet Union. South Vietnam was mainly supported by the U.S, as well as countries such as Australia, South Korea and Thailand. Although there is no main reason the war began, a main contributing factor towards the war starting is the fact that the U.S did not want communism to spread throughout Southeast Asia.
The Vietnam War, or otherwise known as the second Indochina war, was a war which took place between November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975 between communist North Vietnam and the government of South Vietnam. North Vietnam was supported by fellow communist countries and nations such as the People’s Republic of China, as well as the Soviet Union. South Vietnam was mainly supported by the U.S, as well as countries such as Australia, South Korea and Thailand. Although there is no main reason the war began, a main contributing factor towards the war starting is the fact that the U.S did not want communism to spread throughout Southeast Asia.
Before the War:
Before World War II, Vietnam was occupied by the French. However, during World War II, countries such as the Philippines, and Vietnam were occupied by the Japanese. After the WWII had concluded, there was no individual ruling Vietnam, thus causing Ho Chi Minh to rise. Ho Chi Minh was a Vietnamese revolutionary and communist who wanted freedom for Vietnam. However, the anti-communists within Vietnam all agreed that the country belonged to the French.
As time passed, Ho Chi Minh’s followers began to rebel and protest against the French. His soldiers were named the “Viet Minh”. Ho Chi Minh later attempted to ally with the U.S, however the U.S declined as they were worried about communism spreading throughout Southeast Asia. Later on, the Viet Minh were becoming increasingly successful with their protests and the French began to lose control of the situation, thus resulting in the U.S to be forced to get involved. In 1950, the U.S began the deployment of aid to the French within Vietnam in order to control the situation at hand.
Before World War II, Vietnam was occupied by the French. However, during World War II, countries such as the Philippines, and Vietnam were occupied by the Japanese. After the WWII had concluded, there was no individual ruling Vietnam, thus causing Ho Chi Minh to rise. Ho Chi Minh was a Vietnamese revolutionary and communist who wanted freedom for Vietnam. However, the anti-communists within Vietnam all agreed that the country belonged to the French.
As time passed, Ho Chi Minh’s followers began to rebel and protest against the French. His soldiers were named the “Viet Minh”. Ho Chi Minh later attempted to ally with the U.S, however the U.S declined as they were worried about communism spreading throughout Southeast Asia. Later on, the Viet Minh were becoming increasingly successful with their protests and the French began to lose control of the situation, thus resulting in the U.S to be forced to get involved. In 1950, the U.S began the deployment of aid to the French within Vietnam in order to control the situation at hand.
The French Leave the War:
In 1954, the Viet Minh were becoming very successful in battling the French. Soon, the French decided they couldn’t keep Vietnam, and decided to leave. As a result, the country was split into a communist North Vietnam, and a government South Vietnam, and were divided at the 17th parallel. As the U.S didn’t want the spread of communism throughout Southeast Asia, they were forced to join the war, resulting in them electing Ngo Dinh Diem as the president of South Vietnam. |
Sides and Allies:
The Vietnam war was fought between communist North Vietnam, and anti-communist South Vietnam. At the time, South Vietnam had the support of several anti-communist countries and members of the South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO). This included countries such as the U.S, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Thailand, Khmer Republic, Kingdom of Laos, and Republic of China (Taiwan). Whereas North Vietnam had the support of communist based countries such as the People’s Republic of China, Soviet Union, Pathet Lao, Khmer Rouge, and North Korea. |
Major Events Timeline:
March 1959
In this month, Ho Chi Minh declared war against the South Vietnamese/U.S in order to create one nation under one rule.
December 1961
In this month, the U.S military begin to get involved further in the war.
August 1964
Due to two U.S Destroyers being ambushed by the North Vietnamese army, the U.S Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This resolution allowed the U.S to deploy their troops to assist the situation in Vietnam.
March 8, 1965
The U.S troops arrive in Vietnam to aid the situation. The U.S then begins ‘Operation Rolling Thunder’, a series of bombing in North Vietnam.
January 30, 1968
North Vietnam began a military campaign known as the ‘Tet Offensive’ which destroyed over 100 cities in South Vietnam.
July 1969
Richard Nixon becomes the 37th U.S President and orders the withdrawal of U.S troops in Vietnam.
March 1972
In this month, the North Vietnamese army ambush and attack across the border in another military campaign known as the ‘Easter Offensive’.
March 1959
In this month, Ho Chi Minh declared war against the South Vietnamese/U.S in order to create one nation under one rule.
December 1961
In this month, the U.S military begin to get involved further in the war.
August 1964
Due to two U.S Destroyers being ambushed by the North Vietnamese army, the U.S Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This resolution allowed the U.S to deploy their troops to assist the situation in Vietnam.
March 8, 1965
The U.S troops arrive in Vietnam to aid the situation. The U.S then begins ‘Operation Rolling Thunder’, a series of bombing in North Vietnam.
January 30, 1968
North Vietnam began a military campaign known as the ‘Tet Offensive’ which destroyed over 100 cities in South Vietnam.
July 1969
Richard Nixon becomes the 37th U.S President and orders the withdrawal of U.S troops in Vietnam.
March 1972
In this month, the North Vietnamese army ambush and attack across the border in another military campaign known as the ‘Easter Offensive’.
Fall of Saigon:
The Fall of Saigon is an event which took place on April 30, 1975. This marks the day in which the Viet Minh captured the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon. This marked and concluded the end of the Vietnam War. |
End Results:
The U.S’s contribution towards the Vietnam War ended due to President Nixon. He began ordering the return of U.S troops from Vietnam within July of 1969. Several years later, South Vietnam eventually ran out of supplies, etc., thus causing them to be forced to surrender to North Vietnam. After these events, Vietnam was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and was now officially a communist country. Therefore, the U.S was not able to win the war for South Vietnam, which affected the outcome of the Cold War drastically.
Ngo Dinh Diem (U.S elected President of South Vietnam), was later identified as a terrible leader, and was thus executed by the Vietnamese during the war in 1963. In total, approximately 58,000 U.S soldiers died in the Vietnam war and around a million of Vietnamese civilians/soldiers died within the war.
The U.S’s contribution towards the Vietnam War ended due to President Nixon. He began ordering the return of U.S troops from Vietnam within July of 1969. Several years later, South Vietnam eventually ran out of supplies, etc., thus causing them to be forced to surrender to North Vietnam. After these events, Vietnam was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and was now officially a communist country. Therefore, the U.S was not able to win the war for South Vietnam, which affected the outcome of the Cold War drastically.
Ngo Dinh Diem (U.S elected President of South Vietnam), was later identified as a terrible leader, and was thus executed by the Vietnamese during the war in 1963. In total, approximately 58,000 U.S soldiers died in the Vietnam war and around a million of Vietnamese civilians/soldiers died within the war.
The Domino Theory:
The ‘Domino Theory’ was a theory established from the 1950’s until the 1980’s. This theory claimed that if one country/nation/region was under the influence of communism, the surrounding/allied countries will fall under the influence of communism as well. This is known as the ‘Domino Theory’, as if one domino falls, many others fall after it as a sequence or chain of events. In the Vietnam War, the U.S was strongly against communism due to the domino theory. The U.S believed that the influence of communism could pose a greater threat to them in the future as majority of the countries within South Asia would eventually be under the influence of communism. |
Relationship to Cold War:
The Cold War was a time period of military and political tension between the West (U.S), and the East (Soviet Union). The Vietnam War played a significant role in the Cold War. The United States involved themselves in the Vietnam War due to the Domino Theory created by Dwight Eisenhower. As the theory believed if a single country fell under the influence of communism, neighbouring countries would soon follow the communist belief; the United States feared the spread of communism, and decided to participate in the Vietnam War. Furthermore, the Soviet Union also convinced Vietnam to fall under the communist rule. The Vietnam War affected the Cold War as the U.S was humiliated, and the Soviet Union was confident. This is because Soviet Union didn’t dispatch army troops within Vietnam, yet still won the war. This caused the U.S’s public image to be ruined, as this was the first war to be aired on T.V.
The Cold War was a time period of military and political tension between the West (U.S), and the East (Soviet Union). The Vietnam War played a significant role in the Cold War. The United States involved themselves in the Vietnam War due to the Domino Theory created by Dwight Eisenhower. As the theory believed if a single country fell under the influence of communism, neighbouring countries would soon follow the communist belief; the United States feared the spread of communism, and decided to participate in the Vietnam War. Furthermore, the Soviet Union also convinced Vietnam to fall under the communist rule. The Vietnam War affected the Cold War as the U.S was humiliated, and the Soviet Union was confident. This is because Soviet Union didn’t dispatch army troops within Vietnam, yet still won the war. This caused the U.S’s public image to be ruined, as this was the first war to be aired on T.V.
Works Cited:
Information:
"The Vietnam War." Vietnam War. Wikipedia, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
History.com Staff. "Vietnam War History." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
"VIETNAM WAR." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
@HistoryNet. "Vietnam War | HistoryNet." HistoryNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
By 1958, Communist-led Guerrillas, Known as the Viet Cong, Had Begun to Battle the South Vietnamese Government. "Digital History." Digital History. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
"THE VIETNAM WAR (1945–1975)." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
By Putting Limits on the Troops and Not Allowing Them to Attack Northern Vietnam from 1965 to 1969, the US Had No Chance to Win. "The Cold War." Vietnam War for Kids. Ducksters, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Images:
Fall of Saigon. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Ho Chi Minh. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Ngo Dinh Diem. Digital image. Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Ho Chi Minh City. Digital image. Vietnam Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
The Domino Theory. Digital image. Geography. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
French Indochina. Digital image. Humboldt. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
17th Parallel. Digital image. BBCI. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Vietnam War. Digital image. New York Daily News. Nydailynews, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Information:
"The Vietnam War." Vietnam War. Wikipedia, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
History.com Staff. "Vietnam War History." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
"VIETNAM WAR." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
@HistoryNet. "Vietnam War | HistoryNet." HistoryNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
By 1958, Communist-led Guerrillas, Known as the Viet Cong, Had Begun to Battle the South Vietnamese Government. "Digital History." Digital History. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
"THE VIETNAM WAR (1945–1975)." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
By Putting Limits on the Troops and Not Allowing Them to Attack Northern Vietnam from 1965 to 1969, the US Had No Chance to Win. "The Cold War." Vietnam War for Kids. Ducksters, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Images:
Fall of Saigon. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Ho Chi Minh. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Ngo Dinh Diem. Digital image. Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Ho Chi Minh City. Digital image. Vietnam Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
The Domino Theory. Digital image. Geography. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
French Indochina. Digital image. Humboldt. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
17th Parallel. Digital image. BBCI. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Vietnam War. Digital image. New York Daily News. Nydailynews, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.