-
Ho Chi Minh and the creation of the Viet Minh
Ho Chi Minh, the Communist leader of Vietnam, founded the Viet Minh in opposition to the occupation of Vietnam by France and Japan. The fear of communism spreading caused the United States to send troops to fight North Vietnam and the Viet Cong. This eventually led to the U.S. withdrawing its troops after many soldiers’ deaths and declining public opinion, resulting in a victory for North Vietnam and the successful spread of communism throughout Vietnam. -
The First Indochina War
This war was between France and the Viet Minh. The Viet Minh fought for independence from French rule of Indochina. It ended with Dien Bien Phu, where the Viet Minh defeated France, leading to the French withdrawal from Indochina. It not only affected the people of Indochina but also France and, indirectly, the United States. It resulted in human suffering, economic devastation, and political instability. This proxy conflict led to tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. -
The Domino Theory
The United States believed that if one country fell to communism, its neighboring countries would soon follow. This theory led to the military involvement in Vietnam and led to an extreme number of deaths, and ultimately ended with the United States’ loss. The US was extremely nervous about the spread of communism and used any means necessary to stop it. -
America Aids France
The United States aided France with financial support and military supplies due to the fear of the spread of communism throughout Southeast Asia and wanting to support its allies. It affected France, the United States, and Vietnam citizens. This aid helped prolong the First Indochina War, but failed to prevent France’s defeat. It resulted in widespread violence, displacement, and suffering. This support was interpreted by the Soviet Union as a challenge to its influence in the region. -
The Geneva Accords
These were a set of agreements reached to end the First Indochina War and establish peace in Indochina, including Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Vietnam was split into North Vietnam and South Vietnam, and it established the DMZ along the 17th parallel. North Vietnam started to represent communist ideas, which made the Soviet Union support them, and the United States supported South Vietnam to go against communism. This led to the Vietnam War. -
Use of Agent Orange
Agent Orange was an incredibly potent chemical dropped on farms and fresh water, intended to limit North Vietnamese access to food and water. Nearly 1/2 million children have been born with agent orange deformities, and thousands of vets exposed to the chemical have been diagnosed with cancer. The Soviet Union created propaganda based on the United States’ use of Agent Orange. They used it to discredit the United States and its allies. -
Diệm's Assassination
The President of South Vietnam was assassinated in a military coup led by South Vietnamese generals with the United States’ support. The US was dissatisfied with the way Diệm was handling the Viet Cong. South Vietnam completely fell apart and could no longer defend itself against North Vietnam and the Viet Cong. This event further spread communism because North Vietnam took over South Vietnam and spread its communist ideas. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
The Gulf of Tonkin incident refers to a series of events involving the USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy off the coast of North Vietnam. They were allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese ships. After this, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was established, authorizing the President to use “any means necessary” to repel threats. This led to LBJ sending troops to Vietnam and starting the Vietnam War. This increased the overall risk of a nuclear confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union. -
The Tet Offensive
This was a series of coordinated surprise attacks by the NVA and the VC against South Vietnamese and U.S. forces during the Lunar New Year. The U.S. was shaken by the graphic news coverage, which made the citizens question the claimed progress in the war. It led to the US military not being supported with resources and morale from its citizens, and eventually led to the withdrawal of US troops, leading to the spread of communism in Vietnam. -
My Lai Massacre
The U.S. military believed that Viet Cong fighters were in the village of My Lai. This meant that everyone in the village was to be considered either Viet Cong or sympathizers. They were ordered to kill anyone they saw and to destroy everything. The civilians of My Lai were massacred, and the U.S. military faced major outrage from U.S. civilians at home. The US wanted to do everything possible to stop the spread of Communism and the Domino effect. -
War Powers Act
The War Powers Act requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days without congressional authorization. It was created in response to President LBJ sending troops to Vietnam without congressional approval. The president is affected by this because it limits their power. This could have led to the Soviet Union taking more aggressive actions. -
U.S. troop withdrawals and Vietnamization
After the complete disapproval of the Vietnam War by American citizens, President Nixon came up with the idea of Vietnamization. This meant to gradually withdraw American troops from the Vietnam War while simultaneously forcing the South Vietnamese military to take on a larger combat role. The U.S. soldiers were finally able to go home, but it led to the complete takeover of South Vietnam. It increased tensions because communism spread to the entirety of Vietnam. -
The Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon marked the capture of the South Vietnamese capital by North Vietnamese forces, effectively ending the Vietnam War. This led to the evacuation of Americans and South Vietnamese. Many South Vietnamese fled the country, fearing persecution by the new communist regime. North Vietnam took over South Vietnam, which meant that North Vietnam’s communist ideologies were spread to the entire country.