Why did Containment fail in Vietnam?
How did the USA become involved in Vietnam
What was decided at the Geneva Conference of 1954?
Why did Ngo Dinh Diem refuse to hold promised elections in 1956?
How did President Kennedy widen the conflict?
Why did President Johnson continue the Vietnam War?
Why did President Johnson continue the Vietnam War?
What was the significance of the TET offensive
How did the USA become involved in Vietnam
- Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) French colony
- Nationalist movement led by communist No Chi Minh, Vietminh, attacked Japanese
- After 1945, he declared independence of Democratic republic of Vietnam
- French fought the Vietminh in 1946 tor retain control
- As cold war intensified, Truman administration began emphasizing Ho Chi Minh’s communist credentials
- Assumed he was controlled by Moscow
- USA sent military aid to help France in March 1950, Eisenhower continued this, believing in Domino Theory
- USA was funding 80% of war by 1954
- French finally defeated at battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954
What was decided at the Geneva Conference of 1954?
- Geneva Accords decided France would withdraw, Vietnam would be divided at 17th parallel
- Ho Chi Minh given control of North
- Free elections to unite Vietnam in 1956,
- No foreign bases
- Laos and Cambodia recognized as independent states
- USA refused to sign accords
- Started to strengthen south of Vietnam and non-communist government led by Ngo Dinh Diem
- Established the SEATO in 1953 which included South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia as ‘protected areas’
- USA and SEATO allies would response to an attack on these areas
Why did Ngo Dinh Diem refuse to hold promised elections in 1956?
- In Oct 1955, Diem proclaimed the Republic of Vietnam with himself as president
- USA gave million in economic support and trained South Vietnamese Army (ARVN)
- 1000 US military advisors by 1960
- Diem (US educated, Catholic) and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu (chief of police) were ruthless, crushed opposition, refused land reforms, promoted Catholic faith
- Dictatorship emerged
- He refused to hold elections, with US support
- Claimed communist couldn’t be trusted to hold fair election in North
- In reality afraid election would have led to communist victory
- estimated No Chi Minh had 80% support
- Military opposition to Diem only option left in South, communist formed military groups known as the ‘Vietcong’ (VC)
- Communist political wing became known as National Liberation Front (NLF)
- North Vietnam supported VC, as did most of local population
- USA became increasing concerned by Diem’s popularity, doubted Diem’s ability to hold off communist growth
How did President Kennedy widen the conflict?
- Kennedy elected in November 1960; policy towards containment called ‘flexible response’; expanded mean of fighting against communism:
- Increased military advisors in South (17,000 by 1963)
- Started counter-insurgency operations against VC in South
- Included ‘Search and Destroy’ missions
- Spraying chemical defoliants like Agent Orange to destroy jungle
- Resettled villagers in the ‘Strategic Hamlets Program’
- Created ‘Green Berets’ guerilla fighting force
- Encouraged Diem to introduced social and political reforms
- Methods alienated Vietnamese local peasants
- Diem continued unpopular policies
- Anti-Buddhist- in 1963 there was crisis over banning celebration of Buddha’s birthday
- Monks began ‘self-immolations’ – led to international reaction
- Madam Nhu (Diem’s sister in law) said ‘let them burn and we shall clap our hands’
- Anti-Buddhist- in 1963 there was crisis over banning celebration of Buddha’s birthday
- Kennedy cut off aid to Diem, but Diem and Ngo killed in 1963 coup
- Known
Why did President Johnson continue the Vietnam War?
- Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) took over in November 1963
- Inherited Kennedy’s problems and advisors
- Likely he would continue war
- Determined to win war against communism
- Stop domino effect
- Situation deteriorating 1964, needed congressional and Public support for increase in troops; Gulf of Tonkin incident on 2nd of August 1964 gave him excuse
- US destroyer Maddox fired upon by North Vietnamese Patrol boats
- Two days later, happened again (no evidence though)
- Johnson said ‘open aggression o the high seas’
- Immediately bombed North Vietnam
- Addressed Congress the next day
- Passed ‘Gulf of Tonkin Resolution”
- President can ‘take all necessary measures to repel any armed attacked against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression = legal basis for war
Why did President Johnson continue the Vietnam War?
- US now launched ‘Operation Rolling Thunder;
- Continual bombing of North Vietnam
- Sent 100,000 troops to South Vietnam in 1965
- Led by General Westmoreland
- US soldiers carry out ‘search and destroy’ mission in South
- 520,000 troops by 1968
- Bombing of targets in South also increased including napalm attacks
- Effected local population
- War diverted Johnson’s attention away from his domestic fights
- He wanted to fight against poverty and social injustice in US
- Called the programme the ‘Great Society’
- It involved improving civil rights
- Eradicating poverty
- Increasing access to health and education
- Creating a cleaner environment
What was the significance of the TET offensive