The Beginning- French Withdrawal and Ho Chi Minh
In the 1940s and 50s, nationalist groups such as Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh, inspired by Chinese and Soviet communism, fought the colonial rule first of Japan and then of France. This was the French Indochina War which started in 1946 and lasted for 8 years. France's war efforts were funded mostly by the United States and the French lasted the Viet Minh until the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in May 1956 where the French suffered a devastating lost to the Viet Minh. The lost triggered the leaders of the Geneva Conference to make the Geneva Accords which separated Vietnam at the 17th parallel with a cease-fire agreement. This newspaper article has a neutral view on Ho Chi Minh and his beliefs. There were no bias regarding communism. The Associated Press and the general public was mostly supportive of the the war efforts in the beginning of the war.
Here we have an article from the Associated Press on Ho Chi Minh's response to the Geneva Conference and his promise to free Vietnam and to unite it. ------>
"The demarcation line does not mean the political and territorial border line, North, central and South Vietnam are inseparable parts of our nation's territory." - Ho Chi Minh [3]
In the 1940s and 50s, nationalist groups such as Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh, inspired by Chinese and Soviet communism, fought the colonial rule first of Japan and then of France. This was the French Indochina War which started in 1946 and lasted for 8 years. France's war efforts were funded mostly by the United States and the French lasted the Viet Minh until the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in May 1956 where the French suffered a devastating lost to the Viet Minh. The lost triggered the leaders of the Geneva Conference to make the Geneva Accords which separated Vietnam at the 17th parallel with a cease-fire agreement. This newspaper article has a neutral view on Ho Chi Minh and his beliefs. There were no bias regarding communism. The Associated Press and the general public was mostly supportive of the the war efforts in the beginning of the war.
Here we have an article from the Associated Press on Ho Chi Minh's response to the Geneva Conference and his promise to free Vietnam and to unite it. ------>
"The demarcation line does not mean the political and territorial border line, North, central and South Vietnam are inseparable parts of our nation's territory." - Ho Chi Minh [3]
Ho Chi Minh talks about how the 17th parallel means nothing to his efforts in uniting Vietnam. He also talks about how he will do everything in his power to re-unite the nation. He calls upon the people and the soldiers of both the North and South to unite and "achieve a final victory." [4]
After World War II, conflict arose in French Indo China. A communist leader in northern Vietnam wrote to President Truman looking for aid in their self-determination struggle (Left). Under Kennedy Americans served as military and economic aids to South Vietnam. There was increasing dissatisfaction with the leadership of President Diem. The U.S. government had to decide whether to support a coup against Diem's government. The U.S. eventually decided not to interfere with any coup against Diem (Right).
Ngo Dinh Diem's Rule of South Vietnam
On October 26, 1955 South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam with the newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as the president. Diem was supported by the United States. Diem visited the United States and the media portrayed Diem as an alley of the United States. The South was provided money and training from the United States. Although the people of South Vietnam hated Diem they could do nothing about it.The United States allowed Diem to violate the Geneva Accords by allowing him to cancel the National elections to avoid losing. Diem promised reforms that never came and arrested any groups that challenged his decisions. The United States created Diem and has therefore become accountable for the unpopularity of the regime and the rising resistance in South Vietnam. Diem's oppression of religion in the South created the Buddhist crisis. In a country where 90 percent of the population are Buddhists, Diem who was Catholic, antagonized the Buddhists. The colored images of the crisis shocked the world and shaped public opinion of the conflict in Vietnam. This also made many Americans question the U.S. government for supporting Diem when everyone else seemed to be against him. Although many Americans question the morality of Diem's rule most still supported U.S. war efforts. The Time magazine shows Ho Chi Minh in one of its issues and it showed Hi Chi Minh with snakes all around him hinting that the communists were sneaky and evil like the snakes around Hi Chi Minh. The magazine also labeled the North as the intransigent North which is a negative term for being stubborn and unyielding. In another issue, Time magazine showed Diem with flowers and it depicted Diem as a hero trying to save Vietnam from Communism in the background. These sources showed bias and it favored the anti-communist view on the war. [5]
On October 26, 1955 South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam with the newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as the president. Diem was supported by the United States. Diem visited the United States and the media portrayed Diem as an alley of the United States. The South was provided money and training from the United States. Although the people of South Vietnam hated Diem they could do nothing about it.The United States allowed Diem to violate the Geneva Accords by allowing him to cancel the National elections to avoid losing. Diem promised reforms that never came and arrested any groups that challenged his decisions. The United States created Diem and has therefore become accountable for the unpopularity of the regime and the rising resistance in South Vietnam. Diem's oppression of religion in the South created the Buddhist crisis. In a country where 90 percent of the population are Buddhists, Diem who was Catholic, antagonized the Buddhists. The colored images of the crisis shocked the world and shaped public opinion of the conflict in Vietnam. This also made many Americans question the U.S. government for supporting Diem when everyone else seemed to be against him. Although many Americans question the morality of Diem's rule most still supported U.S. war efforts. The Time magazine shows Ho Chi Minh in one of its issues and it showed Hi Chi Minh with snakes all around him hinting that the communists were sneaky and evil like the snakes around Hi Chi Minh. The magazine also labeled the North as the intransigent North which is a negative term for being stubborn and unyielding. In another issue, Time magazine showed Diem with flowers and it depicted Diem as a hero trying to save Vietnam from Communism in the background. These sources showed bias and it favored the anti-communist view on the war. [5]
Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution
On August 2, 1964 North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked U.S.destroyer USS. Maddox sitting in international waters. This incident sparked public support for expanding war efforts. On August 7, 1964 a second attack on American destroyer "Turner Joy" prompted the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which was passed by congress which gave President Johnson the power to conduct military operations without a declaration of war in Southwest Asia. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed the House of Representatives 416-0 and passed in the senate 88-2. It was passed only after 9 hours of debate. In the beginning of the Vietnam conflict, most Americans supported the war and after the Gulf of Tonkin, more support was given by the public. [8]
On August 2, 1964 North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked U.S.destroyer USS. Maddox sitting in international waters. This incident sparked public support for expanding war efforts. On August 7, 1964 a second attack on American destroyer "Turner Joy" prompted the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which was passed by congress which gave President Johnson the power to conduct military operations without a declaration of war in Southwest Asia. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed the House of Representatives 416-0 and passed in the senate 88-2. It was passed only after 9 hours of debate. In the beginning of the Vietnam conflict, most Americans supported the war and after the Gulf of Tonkin, more support was given by the public. [8]
On the left the Tonkin Gulf Resolution is show. [9] On the right there is a graph showing the amount of public support for the war [10].
Lyndon B. Johnson talks about the Gulf of Tonkin incident, then images of protest are shown. [11]