Background of Vietnam:
Japan invaded Vietnam and was defeated in 1945
Ho Chi Minh declared independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
1946, Roosevelt (US) pressured French to leave Vietnam
Falling Domino Principle Speech
1954, French Defeated
Peace agreement drawn up at Geneva, Geneva Accords
US did not sign the Geneva Accords, but wanted to strengthen South Vietnam
South Vietnam
Why Vietnam didn't have elections in 1956
Military opposition
VC: Vietcong
Flexible Response
Counter-insurgency operations
1963, Diem passed anti-buddhist law
Kennedy decided to cut of aid to Diem's regime
In what ways did Kennedy broaden the USA's commitment to Vietnam?
Could the USA have withdrawn from Vietnam in 1963?
- Ruled by the French until 1945
Japan invaded Vietnam and was defeated in 1945
- Defeated because Ho Chi Minh led a movement Vietminh against the Japanese
- French didn't want Vietnam to gain independence
- Conflict between French and Vietminh
Ho Chi Minh declared independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
- Nationalist
1946, Roosevelt (US) pressured French to leave Vietnam
- 1947, Truman became president
- Had plans of containing communism Asia
- USA started seeing Ho Chi Minh as communist directed from Moscow (assumption)
- Sent military aid to France to defeat Vietminh
- 1950, Einsenhower continued this until 1954+
Falling Domino Principle Speech
- Einsenhower
- Once the first country falls into Communism, it is almost certain that the last neighbouring country into Communism quickly
- Intensified the situation
- Identified Vietnam as the "key domino"
- Domino of Communism would affect Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Malaya, Indonesia, Singapore and Japan
1954, French Defeated
- Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Peace agreement drawn up at Geneva, Geneva Accords
- French had to withdraw from indoChina
- There will be a temporary division in Vietnam at the 17th Parallel
- Ho Chi Minh would control the North
- Free elections in 1956 to unite Vietnam
- No foreign bases inside Vietnam
- Laos and Cambodia would be recognised as independent states
US did not sign the Geneva Accords, but wanted to strengthen South Vietnam
- Established SEATO
- South East Asia Treaty Organisation
- Signed by Australia, Britain, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand
- Agreed to meet if there was an armed attack on one of them
- If anyone agreed on something they would all take action
- Included South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as its protected areas
- Legal basis for future US action in Vietnam
South Vietnam
- US backed catholic educated in USA to lead the South called Ngo Dinh Diem
- Had military and financial support
- Diem turned out to be a ruthless leader
- Crushed opposition brutally
Why Vietnam didn't have elections in 1956
- With his brother Nhu, Diem became a family dictatorship in the South
- 1956, free elections, however Diem refused to hold elections
- Reasons for Geneva was that he didn't think that the Communists would honour a free election
- In reality, both Diem and US believed that if the held the elections, Ho Chi Minh would win
Military opposition
- Was the only alternative in South due to no elections
- Two Groups formed in the South
VC: Vietcong
- Groups of Communist
- Formed themselves into military units with NLF (National Liberation Front)
- North Vietnam supported VC as well as people in the south
- USA was concerned as Diem was losing his power
Flexible Response
- 1960, Kennedy became President
- Adopted new policy to contain communism, Flexible Response
- Expanding available means to fight against communism
- Including increased number of military advisors in South Vietnam
- Started counter-insurgency operations
- Consequence bad
- Only alienated local peasant population further
- Diem's unpopular actions continued to generate mass discontent
- Promote Catholic Faith, however most Vietnamese were Buddhists
- Did not carry out land reforms
Counter-insurgency operations
- When groups get weapons to overthrow the government against the South
- Search-and-Destroy Missions against VC
- Sprayed defoliants: Chemicals sprayed on plants so that leaves would come off
- Strategic Helmets Programme: Sending villagers into 4-5 villages to be safe from communists
- Introduced new US military force: Green Berets, trained in guerrilla fighting
- Tried encouraging Diem to have social and political reforms
1963, Diem passed anti-buddhist law
- Banning celebration of buddhists birthday
- Mass protest by buddhists
- Hunger Strikes, Rallies and self-emulation (setting themselves on fire)
Kennedy decided to cut of aid to Diem's regime
- But at the end of 1963, Diem and Nhu were killed in a coup
- US intelligence units knew about it but didn't stop it
- Getting rid of Diem didn't improve situation
- Diem's assassination morally locked the US into Vietnam
In what ways did Kennedy broaden the USA's commitment to Vietnam?
- Issued Flexible Response
- Increased number of military advisors in South Vietnam
- Help finance an increase in the size of the South Vietnamese Army
Could the USA have withdrawn from Vietnam in 1963?