Vietnam War
Long term causes
History of Vietnam

Long History of Conflict with China
China Ruled from about 100 BC to 900 AD
 Confucianism and Buddhism major
influence
 Many revolts and history of resistance to
Chinese domination


First Europeans Arrived around 1500
Portugese establish trading post at Da Nang
 Catholicism introduced

French Arrival

French Jesuit priests arrive in the late
sixteenth century


Create romanized alphabet for vietnamese
In 1802 a local warlord unites warring
clans with French assistance founding
the Nguyen Dynasty

In exchange for help Catholicism is spread
Anti-Christian policy prompts French to
use force to protect citizens and
investments in 1843
 By 1887 they had consolidated their rule
over Vietnam as well as Cambodia and
Laos – it was called French Indochina
 Resistance to French rule continued
sporadically until France was defeated
by Germany in 1940

Japanese Occupation
Japan occupied French Indochina in
1940
 They kept the French colonial
government intact until 1945 when they
instituted direct rule

The Viet Minh
Established in 1941 by Ho Chi Minh to
fight Japanese occupation and French
Colonialism
 Received aid from US and China
throughout war



FDR opposed return of French colonies
When Japan surrendered in 1945 Ho Chi
Minh declared the Democratic Republic
of Vietnam on Sept 2.
Ho Chi Minh
Born in 1890 in Vietnam
 Traveled abroad until 1917 ended up in
France
 Appealed to Wilson for help achieving
independence – was ignored
 Embraced communism and was
founding member of French Communist
Party – traveled to Moscow.

From 1923 until returning to Vietnam in
1941 he traveled from USSR to China
representing the Comintern
 From 1941 on he remained pretty much
in Vietnam

The 1st Indochinese War

After declaring independence the
Chinese occupied Northern Vietnam


French Government officials return to reestablish French rule
An agreement to establish a “free”
Vietnam within a French Union made in
march 1946 broke down following the
withdrawal of Chinese Army
The Viet Minh purge non communist
nationalists from their ranks - begin
fighting French forces
 France asks for and receives aid from the
US in 1946 to fight communist insurgency
 Early efforts by Viet Minh are largely
unsuccessful

Vo Nguyen Giap emerges as the Viet Minh
military leader
 Inexperience and lack of equipment hinder
effort


In 1949 China becomes communist
Viet Minh begin receiving aid and training
from Chinese Communists as well as
sanctuary for attacks against French forces
 Begin to build up forces and begin inflicting
defeats against the French by 1950


Captured border forts
France received major infusion of US aid
after the Korean War began
 Fighting continues until 1954

Dien Bien Phu
The French established a base deep
inside Viet Minh controlled territory in
northern Vietnam at Dien Bien Phu
 Intended as a base to lure Viet Minh
guerilla forces into attacking then
destrying the with superior firepower
 The Viet Minh Under Giap had
transformed into a more conventional
force with artillery

Giap cuts off French and begins siege
 The french unable to re-supply by air
 With artillery support Viet Minh forces
over run the fench and capture surviving
fecnh forces
 France decides to cut losses and talks
begin in Geneva

Geneva Accords

1. Vietnam provisionally divided along 17th
parallel


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2. Elections are to be held within 2 years


Viet Minh are in North
French retain control of south until country is reunited
Country to be united under whichever type of
government the people decided
Respective Militaries are separated and no
outside assistance s to be recieved