Vietnam: Causes and Combat Mr. Williams 10th Grade U.S. History
Immediate Effects 37,000 Americans killed, 103,000 Americans wounded, 60,000 UN troops from other countries killed 2,000,000 casualties for Communists along with as many as 3,000,000 civilians injured or killed
Long-Term Effects Military spending increases Military commitments increase worldwide Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) formed as a defensive alliance aimed at stopping the spread of communism. Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, France, Britain and the United States were the member countries.
Causes of the Vietnam War Vietnam’s desire for freedom from colonial rule of the French U.S. fears of the spread of communism (Domino Theory) and support of South Vietnam South Vietnam’s failure to comply with the Geneva Accords Efforts of North Vietnam to reunite nation under Communist control
Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh Organizer of a group who resisted Japanese and French Occupation This group was led by Communists and committed to independence Truman and later Eisenhower gave aid to the French as part of containment but this failed
“if the tiger ever stands still, the elephant will crush him with his mighty tusks. But the tiger does not stand still…he will leap upon the back of the elephant, tearing huge chunks from his hide, and then the tiger will leap back into the dark jungle. And slowly the elephant will bleed to death. That will be the war of Indochina.”
Geneva Conference 1954 After defeat at Dien Bien Phu (May 1954), French surrendered Cease-Fire Signed: Vietnam was divided at 17th parallel with Vietminh controlling North 1956: Free Elections would take place to re-unify Vietnam
“You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly….the possible consequences of the loss are just incalculable to the free world.” -Eisenhower April 7, 1954
Vietcong and Civil War VietnminhNLFVietcong Communists who wanted independence Peasants who opposed Diem’s rule Peasants who were threatened and forced to join “Advisers” sent to help the South 16,000 in country when Kennedy dies
"In the final analysis, it is their war "In the final analysis, it is their war. They are the ones who have to win it or lose it. We can help them, we can give them equipment, we can send our men out there as advisers, but they have to win it, the people of Vietnam, against the Communists... But I don't agree with those who say we should withdraw. That would be a great mistake... [The United States] made this effort to defend Europe. Now Europe is quite secure. We also have to participate—we may not like it—in the defense of Asia.“ -JFK, September 1963