3179005
VIETNAM WAR
- LEADERS
- HO CHI MINH (1980 - 1969) was a communist
revolutionary leader. He became politically active first to
seek independence from the French. In 1945, he
declared the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, with him
as President, which he remained until his death. He was
also a key military figure in the People's Army of Vietnam
and the Viet Cong during the war.
- NGO DINH DIEM (1901-1963) was an anticommunist
Vietnamese statesman who refused to ally with Ho Chi
Minh after the Franco-Vietnamese War. With the support
of the United States government, Diem led South Vietnam
from 1954 to 1963, when he was assassinated alongside
his brother in a military coup. He refused to hold
countrywide elections in 1956, fearing that he would lose
to Ho Chi Minh. Diem was a terribly unpopular leader,
known for his paranoia and his ruthlessness. Many South
Vietnamese grew to resent and fear his repressive
policies, which ultimately contributed to the rise of the
NLF and the Viet Cong.
- JOHN F KENNEDY (1973 - 1963) was the President
of the United States from 1961 until his
assassination in 1963. He was part of the
Democratic Party. Kennedy said of the situation
in Vietnam in 1963: "We don't have a prayer of
staying in Vietnam. Those people hate us. They
are going to throw our asses out of there at any
point. But I can't give up that territory to the
communists and get the American people to
re-elect me"
- MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. (1929-1968) was an American
Baptist Minister, activist, and leader in the American Civil
Rights Movement. Exactly one year from his death in
1965, he made a speech called "Beyond Vietnam". King's
opposition to the war cost him significant support among
white allies, including President Johnson. One reason
that King was in opposition because it took money and
resources that could have been spent on social welfare
at home. King called the Vietnam war "one of history's
most cruel and senseless wars".
- LYNDON B JOHNSON (1908 - 1973) became President of
the US following JFK's assassination, and remained
President until 1969. He was a Democrat. Despite
promises to bring a swift end to American involvement
in Indochina, Johnson steadily increased the number of
U.S. troops deployed to Vietnam, hoping to ensure a
U.S. victory before withdrawing forces. By the end of
his second term as president, his hopes for bringing an
end to the war in Vietnam had dissolved.
- RICHARD M NIXON (1913 - 1994) was the President of the United
State from 1969 to 1974, he was a Republican. When Nixon
took office, about 300 American soldiers were dying each
week in Vietnam, and the war was broadly unpopular in the
United States, with violent protests against the war ongoing.
In mid-1969, Nixon began efforts to negotiate peace with the
North Vietnamese, and peace talks began in Paris, this did nd
not end in an agreement. In July 1969, Nixon visited South
Vietnam, where he met with his U.S. military commanders and
President Nguyen Van Thieu. Amid protests at home
demanding an immediate pullout, he implemented a strategy
of replacing American troops with Vietnamese troops, known
as "Vietnamization".
- BAO DAI (1913 - 1997), born Nguyen Vinh
Thuy, was the reigning emperor of Vietnam
from 1926 to 1945. In 1945, Ho Chi Minh and
the Viet Minh revolted against Bao Dai,
forcing the puppet ruler to surrender
leadership to the resistance. The Viet Minh
offered Boa Dai a role in the new
government of the Democratic Republic of
Vietnam, but instead the ex-emperor fled to
Hong Kong.
- NGUYEN VAN THIEU (1923 - 2001) was a
military general who served in the
French-controlled Vietnamese army during
French colonial rule in Indochina, and later
served as president of South Vietnam during
the war against the North. He became
president of South Vietnam in 1967, and served
until the final days of the war against the
North. Just before the fall of Saigon, Thieu fled
to Taiwan.
- HO CHI MINH (1980 - 1969) was a communist
revolutionary leader. He became politically active first to
seek independence from the French. In 1945, he
declared the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, with him
as President, which he remained until his death. He was
also a key military figure in the People's Army of Vietnam
and the Viet Cong during the war.
- IDEOLOGIES
- NATIONALISM while not an official
"ideology" of America or Vietnam,
extreme pride in one's own country
definitely played a part in the war. The
United States intervened in Vietnam
without appreciating the fact that the
Vietnamese people had a strong
nationalistic spirit rooted in centuries of
resisting colonial powers.The
Vietnamese Communists and
Nationalists were willing to sustain
extraordinarily high casualties in order
to overthrow the South Vietnamese
government. Perhaps the lack of
nationalism also contributed to
America's lack of success in Vietnam.
Support for the soldiers on the
home-front was certainly not universal,
and many who fought did so unwillingly
or without enthusiasm.
- DEMOCRACY is a system of government by the
whole population or all the eligible members of a
state, typically through elected representatives.
After WW2, the pro-democratic countries were
very much divided and in conflict with those
countries that adopted communism and
socialism. This resulted in The Cold War, The
Indochina war, The Korean War, and the Berlin
Wall among other conflicts. America is and has
been a strong supporter of democracy since the
1600s.
- COMMUNISM, by definition, is a theory or
system of social organization in which all
property is owned by the community and each
person contributes and receives according to
their ability and needs. However, in reality it
often results in a dictating class who live in
much more comfort than the rest of the people.
This is in part due to human greed and thirst for
power, but also poor organisation and
distribution. North Vietnam is generally
characterised as being a "communist" state,
supported by other "communist" forces, but in
reality it is far more complicated.
- MARXISM-LENINISM is the ideology that the government of
North Vietnam technically was, and what the government of
Vietnam is today. Generally they support idea of, one-party
rule, state-dominance over the economy, internationalism,
opposition to democracy and capitalism.
- MARXISM-LENINISM is the ideology that the government of
North Vietnam technically was, and what the government of
Vietnam is today. Generally they support idea of, one-party
rule, state-dominance over the economy, internationalism,
opposition to democracy and capitalism.
- NATIONALISM while not an official
"ideology" of America or Vietnam,
extreme pride in one's own country
definitely played a part in the war. The
United States intervened in Vietnam
without appreciating the fact that the
Vietnamese people had a strong
nationalistic spirit rooted in centuries of
resisting colonial powers.The
Vietnamese Communists and
Nationalists were willing to sustain
extraordinarily high casualties in order
to overthrow the South Vietnamese
government. Perhaps the lack of
nationalism also contributed to
America's lack of success in Vietnam.
Support for the soldiers on the
home-front was certainly not universal,
and many who fought did so unwillingly
or without enthusiasm.
- POLITICAL
- COLD WAR The US felt that it was
losing the Cold War, it needed to
contain Communism, and not allow it
to "infect" South-east Asia. On the
home-front, the "red scare"
prompted witch-like hunts for
domestic communists. Following
WW2, eastern Europe, China, Latin
America and many other areas went
"red". Communism was feared by
many in the US, and it was important
to them that democracy was
implemented.
- DEMOCRATIC PARTY SPLIT The war in Vietnam
deeply split the Democratic Party. The prosecution
of the war alienated many blue-collar Democrats,
many of whom became political independents or
Republicans. Many former party supporters viewed
the party as dominated by its anti-war faction, weak
in the area of foreign policy, and uncertain about
America's proper role in the world.
- COLD WAR The US felt that it was
losing the Cold War, it needed to
contain Communism, and not allow it
to "infect" South-east Asia. On the
home-front, the "red scare"
prompted witch-like hunts for
domestic communists. Following
WW2, eastern Europe, China, Latin
America and many other areas went
"red". Communism was feared by
many in the US, and it was important
to them that democracy was
implemented.
- SOCIAL/CULTURAL
- SAIGON (South Vietnam) during the war became a hotbed
for drug dens, brothels and bars. With all of the American
soldiers posted there, it became a representation of all
things debaucherous and hedonistic. This displeased the
Northern Vietnamese considerably, because Saigon
became everything that the Communists resented about
the West.
- MORALE IN THE US The war weakened U.S. military and
public morale and undermined, for a time, the U.S. commitment
to internationalism. It also caused a deep distrust in the
government, as transparency was not its strong point during the
Cold War. It was the first war on TV, and the lack of censorship
led to increased fear on the homefront. While many agreed that
Communism should be stopped, the rising casualty figures, tax
and inflation, among other things mad people question what
they were fighting for.
- VETERANS The Vietnam War left many long
lasting effects on the veterans who had
fought hard in the war. Around 700,000
Vietnam (US) veterans suffered
psychological after-effects. The war also left
millions on both sides of the conflict
without husbands and/or fathers.
- RE-EDUCATION OF SOUTHERN
VIETNAMESE after the fall of Saigon,
the Communists promptly began to
operate “re-education” programs
which captured millions of people in
South Vietnam to camps and forced
them to do extremely harsh works.
Their actions caused a lot of hatred
between the North and South
Vietnamese people, whose effects,
to some extent, still last to date.
- SAIGON (South Vietnam) during the war became a hotbed
for drug dens, brothels and bars. With all of the American
soldiers posted there, it became a representation of all
things debaucherous and hedonistic. This displeased the
Northern Vietnamese considerably, because Saigon
became everything that the Communists resented about
the West.
- ECONOMIC
- AMERICA The Vietnam War severely damaged the U.S.
economy. Unwilling to raise taxes to pay for the war,
President Johnson unleashed a cycle of inflation. It was
the most expensive war in America's history -The
Defense Department reported that the overall cost of
the Vietnam war was $173 billion, veteran's benefits
and interest would add another $250 billion. The
requirements of the war effort strained the nation's
production capacities, leading to imbalances in the
industrial sector. Funds were going to Vietnam, which
contributed to an imbalance in the balance of
payments and a weak dollar, since no corresponding
funds were returning to the US.
- VIETNAM When the North and South were
divided politically in 1954, they also adopted
different economic ideologies, one communist
and one capitalist. For Vietnam as a whole, the
war resulted in some 3 million military and
civilian deaths, 362,000 invalids, 1 million widows,
and 800,000 orphans. The country sustained a
further loss in human capital through the exodus
of political refugees from Vietnam after the
communist victory in the South. Among them
were tens of thousands of professionals,
intellectuals, technicians, and skilled workers.
- NORTH VIETNAM By the end of 1966, serious strains developed in the North's economy as a result
of war conditions. Interruptions in electric power, the destruction of petroleum storage facilities,
industrial and manufacturing facilities, and labor shortages led to a slowdown in industrial and
agricultural activity. The disruption of transportation routes by U.S. bombing further slowed
distribution of raw materials and consumer goods. Hanoi reported that in the North, all 6
industrial cities, 28 out of 30 provincial towns, 96 out of 116 district towns, and 4,000 out of 5,788
communes were either severely damaged or destroyed. The Northern economy conducted trade
almost exclusively with the USSR and its Eastern Bloc states and communist China, receiving
substantial financial, material, and technical aid from the USSR and China to support the Northern
economy, infrastructure and their war effort.
- SOUTH VIETNAM the free market economy
conducted extensive trade with other
anti-communist or non-communist countries,
such as the US, Canada, France, West Germany,
Japan and Thailand. The Southern economy
between 1954 and 1975 became increasingly
dependent on foreign aid, particularly in the
late 60s until the Fall of Saigon. The United
States, the foremost donor, helped finance the
development of the military and the
construction of roads, bridges, airfields and
ports; supported the currency; and met the
large deficit in the balance of payments.
Destruction attributed to the Vietnam War was
considerable, especially due to very frequent
Viet Cong rocket attacks, widespread US aerial
bombing raids on suspected communist
hideouts, and intra-city fighting such as during
the 1968 Tet Offensive.
- NORTH VIETNAM By the end of 1966, serious strains developed in the North's economy as a result
of war conditions. Interruptions in electric power, the destruction of petroleum storage facilities,
industrial and manufacturing facilities, and labor shortages led to a slowdown in industrial and
agricultural activity. The disruption of transportation routes by U.S. bombing further slowed
distribution of raw materials and consumer goods. Hanoi reported that in the North, all 6
industrial cities, 28 out of 30 provincial towns, 96 out of 116 district towns, and 4,000 out of 5,788
communes were either severely damaged or destroyed. The Northern economy conducted trade
almost exclusively with the USSR and its Eastern Bloc states and communist China, receiving
substantial financial, material, and technical aid from the USSR and China to support the Northern
economy, infrastructure and their war effort.
- AMERICA The Vietnam War severely damaged the U.S.
economy. Unwilling to raise taxes to pay for the war,
President Johnson unleashed a cycle of inflation. It was
the most expensive war in America's history -The
Defense Department reported that the overall cost of
the Vietnam war was $173 billion, veteran's benefits
and interest would add another $250 billion. The
requirements of the war effort strained the nation's
production capacities, leading to imbalances in the
industrial sector. Funds were going to Vietnam, which
contributed to an imbalance in the balance of
payments and a weak dollar, since no corresponding
funds were returning to the US.
- MOVEMENTS
- ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT The movement against the involvement of the
United States in the Vietnam War began in the U.S. with demonstrations
in 1964 and grew in strength in later years. Many in the peace movement
were students, mothers, or anti-establishment hippies. Opposition
consisted mainly of peaceful, nonviolent events; few events were
deliberately provocative and violent. In some cases, police used violent
tactics against demonstrators. By 1967, according to Gallup Polls, an
increasing majority of Americans considered US military involvement in
Vietnam to be a mistake.
- HIPPIE MOVEMENT many of the anti-war
protesters, rightly or wrongly, came to be
associated with aspects of the "hippie"
movement in the popular view. The first draft
card burnings took place May 12, 1964, in New
York City. Others followed, including more
draft-card burnings in May 1965 at the
University of California, Berkeley.
- HIPPIE MOVEMENT many of the anti-war
protesters, rightly or wrongly, came to be
associated with aspects of the "hippie"
movement in the popular view. The first draft
card burnings took place May 12, 1964, in New
York City. Others followed, including more
draft-card burnings in May 1965 at the
University of California, Berkeley.
- "RED SCARE" is the promotion of fear of a potential rise of
communism or radical leftism, used by anti-leftist proponents.
Though the second "official" red scare ended in the 1950's. It
resulted in the deep distrust and fear of communists by the
American people. This in turn resulted in the support of the war
in Vietnam in order to rid the world of communists.
- ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT The movement against the involvement of the
United States in the Vietnam War began in the U.S. with demonstrations
in 1964 and grew in strength in later years. Many in the peace movement
were students, mothers, or anti-establishment hippies. Opposition
consisted mainly of peaceful, nonviolent events; few events were
deliberately provocative and violent. In some cases, police used violent
tactics against demonstrators. By 1967, according to Gallup Polls, an
increasing majority of Americans considered US military involvement in
Vietnam to be a mistake.
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