10. Colonialism and Vietnam

10

changing importance of global south

They did not previously matter to containment but now could be used to win the cold war if the superpowers made alliances

outcomes of cuba

hotline established between POSTUS and Krushchev, agreed to tolerate mutual surveillance (challenges realism)

decolonisation

UK and France did not have the resources and moral will to cont their empires. Newly freed colonies moved fast to establish national identities.

national liberty as a motivator

Nkrumeh and Nehru were educated on self-determination in the west so focused on rebuilding and not the cold war. they accepted money from US/USSR which conflicted with ideals of nationalism

dates Vietnam War

1945-1963

colonial context of Vietnam

Colonised by France 19th Century for its raw materials and cheap labour. After WW2, Japan expelled France from Vietnam and assumed power until 1945

Appeals to US

Ho Chi Minh needed to establish a national liberation to avoid further colonialism. Speech asking for US sympathy over USSR by using the Declaration of Independence to inspire his

North Vietnam

Communist led by Ho Chi Minh called the Viet Minh

Supported by USSR and China

1960 form the Viet Cong who operate in the South

South Vietnam

Led by Ngo Dinh Diem and used the Army of the Republic of Vietnam

Backed by the US

Lead by Roman Catholic family

Planned election

1956 planned election which would have legitimised the Viet Minh as the Vietnamese gov. US backed Diem to pull out of the elections just beforeVie

Viet Cong tactics

Terror and guerrilla tactics against NV controlling the inland countryside. JFK decides to send soldiers on the ground in 1965

Diem’s assassination

1963, US-backed coup led by Doung Van Minh to assassinate Diem and his Brother. NV claimed this would not be the last coup and it helped bolter their message the NV was a supporter of colonialism of the US