The vietnam war tells the story of one of the most divisive episodes in modern american history through primary sources, ranging from government documents, news reports, speeches, popular songs to memoirs, writings by vietnam veterans including coauthor john fitzgerald, and poetry by vietnamese and americans on matching themes. Background and overview although the history of vietnam has been dominated by war for 30 years of the 20th century, the conflict escalated during the sixties. Vietnam war research collections the war in vietnam. Mar 27, 2015 the causes of the vietnam war revolve around the simple belief held by america that communism was threatening to expand all over southeast asia. The vietnam war pitted america against communism and was a classic example of cold war conflict. The section the vietnam war looks at the us intervention 19651973 in the vietnam war. The last of the american combat troops pulled out in march 1973. A french colony, indochina made up of vietnam, laos, and cambodia had been occupied by the japanese during the war.
In january 1968, the communist tet new year offensive caused the conflict to escalate, plunging. The vietnam war was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of north vietnam against south vietnam and its principal ally, the united states. United states forces entered the conflict in support of the french in order to fight communism. How i will compress four lectures into one because ive run. As american aid decreased, chinese and soviet aid increased. Causes of the vietnam war study guide by 14memerick includes 23 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. You might need to define what is meant by all over. Us and vietnam restore diplomatic relations in 1995 7.
The combination of rising casualty rates, the effects of chemical warfare creating public concern and the severe unpopularity of conscription had an obvious effect on the australian society and their view of the vietnam war, which ultimately caused the popular culture of. Neither the soviet union nor the united states could risk an allout war against each other, such was the nuclear military might of both. If any of you out there in cyberspace know of such research, please let me know. After the war, the allies, who had control, returned south vietnam to the french while the north was. Vietnam, it is imperative to investigate some of the causes of the war. When the french left, the americans fought the war alone. This essay exam ines how china supported hanois drive to unify all of vietnam and. Russett war is a major agent of change and a neglected one. Noahs vietnam war timeline the vietnam timeline 18581884 the french invade vietnam and colonize 1930 ho chi minh joins the indochinese communist party 1940 japan invades vietnam 1941 ho chi minh creates the viet minh 1945 ho chi. Key aspects of the vietnam war pritzker military museum.
To b rin g a broad spectrum of pe r spectives to bear on the causes, origins and lessons of the war, the com mittee has invited. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. The struggle between french colonial forces and native vietnamese citizens supported by chinese communists was one of the root causes of the vietnam war. An overview of the vietnam war overview in this lesson, students will be introduced to the vietnam war through a simulation regarding the anxiety of combat and will then receive an overview of the war via a teacher power point presentation or lecture provided, or a text book reading followed by class discussion. An overview of the vietnam war overview in this lesson, students will be introduced to the vietnam war through a simulation regarding the anxiety of combat and will then receive an overview of the war via a teacher power point presentation or lecture provided, or a. With their defeat at dien bien phu, a vacuum was created in the region. The french had supported the government of south vietnam. Causes of the vietnam war in 1941, a comintern agent named ho chi mihn formed the league for the independence of vietnam, better known as the viet mihn. After completing all of the above, students will complete the dbq on the vietnam war.
An overview of the vietnam war overview the university of. A french colony, indochina made up of vietnam, laos, and cambodia had. University of illinois at urbanachampaign most american wars have obvious starting points or precipitating causes. The vietnam war was the longest war australia was ever involved in. In addition, the vietnam war caused divisions in the democratic party and caused americans to be suspicious of their government. After all, theres so much stuff about the war in vietnam. A peoples history of the vietnam war internet archive. I would say the cold war could be classified as a different reason. The established narrative of the war, and the gloss on it provided by burnsnovicks inner theme, is that the vietnam war represented not only hanois victory over the united states, but, more consequentially, the victory of all of the layers of socialpoliticalculturalpersonal revolution of the sixties. The americans justified their military intervention in vietnam by the domino theory, which stated that if. Vietnam war cause and effect by carl reiber on prezi. Indeed the vietnam war was by far the most convulsive and traumatic of americas three wars in asia in the 50 years since pearl harbor. In assessing the effect of rands research, i found it difficult to trace a cause.
Rand had concluded its work in connection with the vietnam war. In short, the vietnam war started as a result of the u. Students will pair up with a new partner and will analyze the photos and the cartoon on the dbq with the activity sheets. The geneva conference was convened to discuss both the lingering issues of the korean war and the indochina issue, but the legacy of the conference was the agreement produced regarding vietnam. By engaging the ussr in a surrogate war we put pressure on their economic system and this was one reason their economic system failed. The vietnam war was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of north vietnam against south vietnam and its principal ally, the. The western allies had been victorious in berlin, but communism had taken root in china. Vietnam war to produce an illustrated timeline of new zealands experience of the vietnam war. Halfway around the world, another cold war conflict was escalating. When we talk about the vietnam war which the vietnamese refer to as the american war, we talk about the military intervention by. Though war has been studied in a variety of contexts, its role as an independent variable has. The causes of the vietnam war history learning site. When the vietnam war ended, north vietnam won the war.
Vietnam adopts economic reforms doi moi in 1986 loses aid with collapse of soviet union and eastern bloc 1989. History of vietnam before 1949 history of vietnam from late 1850s to 1949 witnessed two invasions of french and japan, along with many uprisings and campaigns of vietnamese patriots. North and south vietnam were divided at the 17th parallel. At its peak in 1968 the new zealand force only numbered 543. Before class is over, we will discuss these as a whole class. During the war, the japanese took control but later retreated leaving vietnam with an opportunity to establish their own government under the rule of ho chi minh. Vietnam had been divided into two, with a communist regime in the north under ho chi minh and a democratic government in the south under ngo dinh diem. This communist affiliated force fought against the japanese, who were actually in control of french indochina during wwii. However, vietnam war is the most common name as this war occurred in vietnam and it might express a neutral meaning. Between june 1964 and december 1972 around 3500 new zealand service personnel served in south vietnam. What were the main factors that caused the vietnam war. Organizing complete a graphic orga nizer similar to the one below by pro viding reasons why the united states aided france in vietnam. Vietnam war, 19611975 engineering and construction base development in south vietnam, 19651970 1991, by carroll h.
A different war, explores the causes and the impact of this longest war in american history. Vietnam was united as one country under communist rule. They id en tify i t as nthe attem pt to influence behavior by. The war between them went on till 1954 and later some peace talks were held at a g summit and the country was divided into north and south vietnam. After the war, the allies, who had control, returned south vietnam to the french while the north was left in the hands of the noncommunist chinese. Ho chi minh was the leader, and hanoi was the capital. The vietnam war was a proxy war, which occurs when one or more opposing powers instigates a war and then uses third parties to fight on their behalf in this case, the soviet union and china. The vietnam war started soon after that in 1945 when the communists and the democrats started fighting. Supplyside university020621 economic causes of the vietnam. The vietnam war was arguably the most divisive war in american history. Returning soldiers fared little better, with an estimated 700,000 vietnam veterans suffering from the psychological after effects of war. The geneva accords of 1954 created the independent states of the democratic republic of vietnam north vietnam and the republic of vietnam south vietnam. The viet cong were vietnamese rebels in the south who fought against the southern vietnam government and the united states. The cold war can be looked at as having similar underlying causes that lead to the napoleonic wars or both world wars.
Vietnam war summaryoverview of the conflict history. Eastern europe remained under russian control and in vietnam the american feared threat of the spread communism seemed to be real. Economic causes of the vietnam war as far as i know, nobody else has examined this topic, as i did in 1977 in the course of research for twtww. Mar 27, 2015 the vietnam war pitted america against communism and was a classic example of cold war conflict. War suggest that china had been extensively involved in the vietnam war throughout this period. Unlike the first and second world wars new zealands contribution in terms of personnel was not huge. The causes of the vietnam war trace their roots back to the end of world war ii. Many remained supportive of the militaries attempt to save south vietnam from the communist north vietnam, led by ho chi minh. History, statements, and clippings files project editor and guide compiled by robert e. May 08, 2009 i would say the cold war could be classified as a different reason. Vietnam war causes the vietnam war first began in 1959, five years after the division of the country by the geneva accords. The vietnam courier was one of hanoi1s weapons in the war of words.
Since the other educator has already outlined the main causes for the vietnam war, i will provide further details to support his arguments. Lester a microfilm project of university publications of america an imprint of cis 4520 eastwest highway bethesda, md 208143389. On the 50th anniversary of the tonkin gulf resolution, veterans and critics of the vietnam war debate the necessity, legality, and legacy of the conflict. Field manual 2710 is the basis for instructing all u. In relation to the american side, it is true that the.
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