Focus Questions Mamaux, The Cold War: Superpower Tensions & Rivalries, Oxford (2015) Case Study: Vietnam and the Cold War (p.172-185) - - - - - 1. How early was French intervention in IndoChina and why were they involved there? 17th Century - French Catholic missionaries attempted to convert the indigenous population with no success French colonization began in 1859 - Series of military campaigns - Established a protectorate over Indo-China - Interested in - Strategic location - Proximity to China - Rubber production 2. When did Ho Chi Minh proclaim North Vietnam was created? September 2, 1945 - Japan had occupied indochina - Ho Chi Minh had created the Viet Minh and helped win back control from Japan - Established the Democratic People’s Republic of Vietnam 3. Describe the importance of the First Indo-China War. French tried to recongnize North Vietnam as an independent state within the French Union - Did not work - Viet Minh fought against French in the First Indo-China War Began in Nov, 1946 - 1954 Long period of War that would eventually lead to the battle of Dien Bien Phu - French would lose the war and agree to the Geneva Accords 4. What were the main effects of the Geneva Accords in 1954? A set of non-binding agreements - Est. of a ceasefire line in Vietnam along the 17th parallel - 300 days for the withdrawal of troops from both sides - Viet Minh evacuation from Cambodia and Laos - Evacuation of foreign troops - - - - - - Prohibition of foreign arms and munitions ot the region Free elections in Cambodia and Laos in 1955 These were to be conducted by reps from Canada, India, and Pakistan 5. What was the situation in North Vietnam following Geneva? Viet Minh retained control Ho Chi Minh’s grip was strengthened Consolidated Communsit power by getting rid of and often killing enemies to the party Whole villages began to flee to the South (Catholics) Implemented policies of land reform Founded the national liberation front to assist southern communist and Viet cong Created the Ho Chi Minh trail 6. What was going on in South Vietnam following Geneva? pro -western regime est. with the support of the USA Inept and corrupt leaders (Bao Dai, Dinh Diem) Bao - Supported by France - Too weak and too corrupt to maintain control - French backed off Diem - USA began to intervene because of the threat of communism - Gave $3 billion to france to fund its war against the Viet Minh - Found a stronger leader in Dinh Diem - Regime became corrupt and brutal - Land distribution was big - Forced peasants to buy their land and to pay rent - Extremely costly for the peasants - Refused to hold elections in 1956 - Favored Catholics over the Buddhist majority - Imprisoned opposition leaders Viet cong - Began to organize resistance against Diem - Peasant alienation helped them - Began assassinating political leaders USA - Alarmed by Diem’s brutality - Suppression of Buddhist monks horrified Americans - Thieu - Came up with a plan to assassinate Diem General Thieu became president Land reform Gave 50,000 families government land Tried to do the opposite of Diem March 1970 - Land-to-the-Tiller Act - Ended rent payments for those who worked the land Determined the max land that could be owned was 37 acres - 7. Describe the importance and major events of the Second Indo-China War (1959-1975). Viet cong began guerilla operations and assassinations of public officials in 1957 ARVN were too traditional in their fighting styles Northern party leadership met in July 1959 and determined that war was necessary for socialism to be dominant in the North (Central Committee's Workers Party) USA began to fill the gap for the South Tet Offensive - Formal attack by the Viet Cong with around 70,000 to 100,000 men - Led to disastrous casualties for the Viet Cong - Led to US withdrawal Peace talks began in paris in 1968 and lasted until 73 - 8. Why did North Vietnam defeat South Vietnam in 1975? US troops had withdrawn in 1973 and the two sides had reached a ceasefire Government in Saigon collapsed Took city after city once Thieu had resigned - - 9. Why did Vietnam become a Socialist state? North sought to impose communist policies Centrally planned economy collectivization and heavy development on the heavy industry Peasants were forced onto government owned collectives Private business was seized by the government Entire economy directed by the government Secret police called the Cong An - - Censorship of the arts and media Religion was brought under government control 10. How did Vietnam affect Cold War tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union? Served as a bridge between the PRC and the USSR Wanted to withdraw from relations with the Chinese USSR provided vietnam with military assistance
