Syllabus: GS1/World History
Context
- The Vietnamese celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
Background
- Vietnam had been a French colony since the mid-19th century, part of French Indochina (along with Laos and Cambodia).
- During World War II, the Japanese occupied Vietnam but allowed the French to maintain some control.
- After Japan’s defeat in 1945, Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Viet Minh (League for the Independence of Vietnam), declared Vietnam’s independence in 1945.
- The French, however, tried to reassert colonial control, leading to the First Indochina War.
The Vietnam War
- The Vietnam War — also known as the Second Indochina War — was a prolonged conflict from 1955 to 1975 between North Vietnam (Communist) and South Vietnam (anti-Communist), with heavy U.S. involvement on the side of the South.
- North Vietnam: Led by Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party, supported by the Soviet Union, China, and other communist allies.
- South Vietnam: Initially led by Ngo Dinh Diem, later by various leaders after multiple coups.
- Supported by the United States, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, and others.
Reasons for the War
- Division of Vietnam: After the First Indochina War, the 1954 Geneva Accords temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel into North and South Vietnam.
- Cold War tensions: The U.S. saw the spread of communism in Asia as a threat (the Domino Theory).
- Internal conflict: The Communist-aligned Viet Cong insurgency in the South sought to reunify Vietnam under communist rule.
Key Phases
- Advisory Phase (1955–1963): The U.S. provided military advisers and aid to support the South Vietnamese government.
- Ngo Dinh Diem’s regime became increasingly unpopular and was overthrown in a U.S.-backed coup in 1963.
- Escalation (1964–1969):
- Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964): Alleged attacks on U.S. ships led to congressional approval for expanded U.S. involvement.
- U.S. troop levels peaked at over 500,000 by 1969.
- Major battles: Tet Offensive (1968), Battle of Hue, Khe Sanh.
- Heavy use of napalm, Agent Orange, and carpet bombing sparked international outrage.
- Withdrawal (1969–1973): Under President Richard Nixon, the U.S. began “Vietnamization” — training South Vietnamese forces to take over the war.
- U.S. forces gradually withdrew; the Paris Peace Accords were signed in 1973.
- Final Collapse (1973–1975): Fighting continued after U.S. withdrawal.
- Fall of Saigon (April 30, 1975): North Vietnamese forces captured the capital of South Vietnam, ending the war.
- Vietnam was reunified under communist control as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
| Agent Orange – Agent Orange was a powerful herbicide used by the United States military during the Vietnam War as part of Operation Ranch Hand (1961–1971). – It became one of the most controversial aspects of the war due to its devastating health and environmental effects. 1. The manufacturing process of 2,4,5-T created a dangerous dioxin contaminant called TCDD, one of the most toxic chemicals. – The U.S. military used Agent Orange to: 1. Defoliate forests and jungles to reduce enemy cover (especially for the Viet Cong). 2. Destroy crops used to feed North Vietnamese forces. – Over 20 million gallons of herbicides were sprayed across South Vietnam, particularly in dense jungles and rural farmlands. – Aftermath: 1. Agent Orange remains a symbol of the war’s human and moral cost. 2. Programs by the Vietnamese Red Cross, USAID, and international NGOs are working to support victims and clean up the environment. 3. Many advocate for continued support, justice, and recognition of all those affected. |
Source: TH
Previous article
Disproportionate Burden on Women in Risk Society