The Vietnam War

Basic Timeline of Full Conflict Dec. 1946 First Indo-China War begins March 1954—Battle of Dien Bien Phu begins May 1954—French surrender to Viet Minh 1955—Geneva Accords divide Vietnam at 17th parallel 1959—Second Indo-China War begins Civil War really starts when elections are blocked (July 1956) 1964—Americanization 1969—Vietnamization 1968—Tet Offensive 1973—Withdrawal of US military forces 1975—Creation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Types of War What are the different types of war? How would we classify the Vietnam War? The trick with Vietnam and writing a paper two will be to specifically set up your scope with clear dates/references.

Revolutionary War Generally a struggle led by a grass roots movement to overthrow what it perceives to be an oppressive authority. That authority can be foreign or domestic Characterized by its goals, it can encompass other types of war such as total or civil. When directed at a foreign occupier, revolutionary wars often involve nationalism and/or competing ideologies. Often spawn from larger conflicts Distinguished from revolts/rebellions by scope and duration.

Civil War Armed disputes that erupt over often radically different ideas about the direction, governmental system or composition of a country. Key: Along with the differences there must be a lack of a political system with enough of a monopoly of force or perceived legitimacy to address the competing interests inherent in the division. If a country has a political mechanism either to address the concerns of its factions or to force compliance, divisions will not become civil war.

Guerilla War Guerilla war can be seen more as a tactic rather than a distinct type of war and shows up as a component of civil, revolutionary, and total wars. An important theorist of guerilla warfare, Mao was it as a tactic to be used when one is too weak to fight the enemy in a conventional war. But for Mao, the ultimate goal of the guerilla struggle is to gain strength and support in order to evolve in to a conventional army.

Background 1859—Formal French colonization beings in Indo-China and establishes a protectorate. French interest sparked by strategic location, proximity to China, and rubber production. Prior to WWII, opposition was unorganized and easily suppressed.

Long Term Causes (pre-WWII) Once in control of Vietnam French authorities tried to westernize the region with emphasis on western education and Catholicism. An affront to traditional Vietnamese culture this aggravated nationalists. To administrate this assimilation an overly complex bureaucracy led to inefficient rule while resources enriched France at the expense of the colony. Uprisings failed but Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh can be seen as a continuation of nationalist tradition.

WWII During WWII, Vietnam taken by Japan but left administratively under Vichy Regime. In North Vietnam a military force called the Viet Minh (League for Independence of Vietnam) led by Ho Chi Minh fought against the Vichy Regime and directly against Japan after Vichy fell. Viet Minh: nationalist party with communist leadership Received US support when fighting Japan. After Japan surrendered and before France could send troops, Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the Democratic People’s Republic of Vietnam (independence) on Sept 2 1945.

Short Term Causes (post WWII) Post WWII Chinese Nationalists occupied northern Vietnam and France occupied the south. Japanese forces still in the field after surrender Ho Chi Minh, stuck in the middle, agreed to re-occupation of the north by French troops in exchange for recognition of an independent Vietnam within the French Union. The French never ratified the agreement and further negotiations led no where. Violence between French troops and Viet Minh increased

The war officially begins when the Viet Minh attack French installations in Hanoi in December 1946. The war is usually dated by this attack but it was in response to a French assault on Vietnamese civilians in the port city of Haiphong in November. Resulted in the Viet Minh retreating to strongholds in the Viet Bac (region north of Hanoi) where they would base their operations for the rest of the war.

Among the first decolonization wars that would follow WWII. Among the first, along with Chinese Civil War, that would add ideology as motive for involvement. However, in the First Indo China War, ideology played a secondary role: Ho Chi Minh and Viet Minh wanted freedom from foreign control France wanted to reassert imperial control and reclaim pre-war status.