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US involvement in the Vietnam war (1954-1975) (What were the origins of…
US involvement in the Vietnam war (1954-1975)
Why was the USA so scared of communism???
The US helped evict Japan from Vietnam in WW2
Domino theory
the idea that once a certain area (Vietnam) became communist all the surrounding countries would also, spreading communism around the world.
After 1945 countries that became communist were:
-Poland
-Romania
-Bulgaria
-Hungary
-East Germany
-Czechoslovakia
-Russia
Russian revolution (1917)
Tsar Nicholas II was abdicated
a temporary government was installed which was later overthrown
The Bolshevicks overthrew the temporary government and Vladimir Lenin led the country in a communist way
Red Scare
America was afraid that they would be forced into Communism and their power was threatened
Capitalism vs Communism
The US was terrified over the threat of the soviet union who were referred to as the 'reds'
What were the origins of the conflict
before WW2: Vietnam was part of French Indo-China. French rule was harsh and unpopular
during WW2: Japan invaded French Indo-China in 1940. Vietnamese saw this as opportunity to overthrow the French. Ho Chi Minh and Ngyun no Giap set up League for Independence.
Ho Chi Minh: born in 1890 established Indo-Chinese communist party, joint founder of Vietminh and president of North Vietnam for 15 years
After WW2: French moved 50,000 troops into Indo- China & got control of south
development in china: in 1949 the communist party led by Mao Zedong win. China sends artillery to Vietminh. USA gives France 3 billion over 4 years to help them get control.
Dien bien Phu: 3,000 out of 16,500 deployed French soldiers survive as Vietminh cut off supply route
Presidential involvement
Eisenhower
The Geneva agreement
May 1954: Britain, France, China, Soviet Union, USA and Vietnam met in Switzerland to decide future of vietnam
they agreed:
-Vietnam would temporarily be divided in 2 (17th parallel)
-NV led by Ho Chi Minh and SV led by Ngo Dinh Diem
-Elections in July 1956 to elect a government and unite the country
Diem's election
was rigged 605, 000 voted but population of 450,000 in Saigon
No intention of following Geneva agreement
weaknesses in Diem's government
persecuted Buddhists e.g. 73 yr old Buddhist monk set himself alight in protest against Diem's religious policy
was a dictator
Took land from peasants and gave it to his supporters
Domino Theory
was believed by Eisenhower
If South Vietnam became communist then all the surrounding countries would to
growth of opposition
Diem had eliminated most of Vietminh supporters in south by end of 1950's
4,000 SV officials were assassinated a year by Vietminh
NLF (national liberation front) was set up and was made up of 12 different nationalist groups
NLF was almost completely south Vietnamese people
Kennedy
his aims
increase number of military experts (16,000)
increase ARVN by 20,000 soldiers to 170,000
overthrow of Diem
1st November 1963 Diem was overthrown and shot
in 1963 the Vietcong had 170,000 members compared to the 23,000 it had at the beginning of the year
increase in guerilla attacks (50 to 150)
no stable government after (another overthrow in 3 months)
strategic hamlet
3,000 were set up
moved peasants into villages guarded by troops caused anger
Vietcong/ NLF members were moved around to spread their ideas to more people- plan back fired
Johnson
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Ho Chi Minh trail meant that the 60,000 guerilla fighters were supplied with weapons from NV
Gulf of Tonkin
2 August 1964: Maddox (US ship) was fired at by NV patrol boats
2 days later there was another alleged attack- no evidence
Johnson used this to convince congress to increase US involvement
changes made
in March 1965: 3,500 US troops were sent, increased to 200,000 by end of year
1968 there was 500,000 troops
Nixon's policies
Vietnamisation
June 1969 US withdrew 60,000 troops
aimed to train the ARVN to take the place of the US army
no match for VC
mad man theory
to convince the Hanoi government that Nixon hated communism so much that he would use nuclear weapons on NV
The ploy did not work
Attacks on Laos and Cambodia
in spring of 1970 Nixon ordered a bombing raid on Laos and Cambodia
3 million tons of bombs were dropped
100,000 were killed and 2 million made homeless
in 1971 2,500 US/ ARVN elite troops were killed during invasion of Laos when they were met by VC/ NVA fighters with Soviet Union weapons and were defeated
bombing of the north
On 18th of December (12 days long) Operation Linebacker II resulted in the death of 1,700 civilians in Haiphong and Hanoi
Increased air raids after 1971 and b52 bombers attacked NV for the first time since 1967
Vietcong fighting
guerilla warfare
Tactics:
-retreat when enemy attacks
-raid when the enemy camps
-attack when enemy tires
-pursue when enemy retreats
use of peasents
peasants hid the Vietcong
Vietcong killed 27,000 civilians between 1966- 1971
Vietcong helped peasants during busy farming periods were respectful and courteous to those who shared their views
tactics
effective: US soldiers lived in fear of booby traps/ ambushes
hid among villagers- were impossible to identify
booby traps
11% off deaths were caused by them
US soldiers lived in fear of them
were cheap for the Vietcong to make and effective
tunnels
Saigon tunnels ran 320km
had dormitories, headquarters, workshops, kitchens, hospitals
safety from US bombing raids
small for the Vietnamese soldiers but too small for americans
US fighting
operation rolling thunder
7 February 1965: widespread bombing raids on military and industrial targets in NV
lasted until 1968
dropped more bombs than were dropped by Allies in WW2
Chemical weapons
Agent Orange- toxic weed killer used to destroy jungle. US used 82 million litres
Napalm- a bomb which released jelly that sticks to skin and burns at 800 degrees
ground tactics
troops patrolled 80km around bases (defensive strategy)
November 1965 NV and US had a pitched battle. 1,800 NV soldiers and 240 US soldiers
Search and destroy
used helicopters and descended on Vietcong villages and destroyed them
most villages had no connection with Vietcong, innocent people were killed
Tet offensive
On 31 July 1968 the VC launched a massive attack on over 100 cities in the South during New Year
4,500 guerilla fighters held Saigon for 2 days
15 suicide squad of VC guerilla fighters held the US embassy in Saigon for
5 hours
Held Hue for
25 days
and VC killed 3,000 people
US success
killed many VC fighters (5000)
many VC fighters deserted and went to join local forces in the north instead
managed to counter all the attacks
VC success
was a strategic victory
resulted in the American's scaling back involvement in SV
caused Johnson to not stand for reelection
caused war opposition in Us to increase
1/2 of ARVN were on leave