1. Vietnam Prior to U.S. Involvement
http://www.vietnamspirittravel.com/guide/emperor_tomb_hue.htm
2. Kansas Standards 1.2 Students will analyze the context under
which choices are made and draw conclusions about the motivations
and goals of the decision-makers. 3.1 Students will recognize and
evaluate significant beliefs, contributions, and ideas of the many
diverse peoples and groups and their impact on individuals,
communities, states, and nations.
3. Nine Centuries of Independence 939 Ngo Quyen frees the
country by vanquishing Chinese armies after 10 centuries of Chinese
rule. 968 Dinh Bo Linh reorganizes the country following the
Chinese model. 1010 The Ly dynasty. 1226 Tran dynasty. 1428 The
second Ly dynasty. 1524 Beginning of a long period of political
instability. While the Ly governs only nominally, a feudal war
rages between the Trinh from the North and the Nguyen from the
South. 1802 With the help of French mercenaries, the Nguyen dynasty
begins. Temple in memory of the first Emperor of the Ly dynasty
http://www.vietnamspirittravel.com/guide/emperor_tomb_hue.htm
4. 1863 Cambodia becomes a French colony. 1867 The southern
part of Vietnam (Cochinchina) becomes a French colony. 1883 The
northern part (Tonkin) and the central part (Annam)become French
colonies. 1887 Creation of the Indochina Union (Cochinchina, Annam,
Tonkin, & Cambodia). 1893 Laos becomes a French colony and part
of Indochina. French Colonialism Expansion of French colonialism
(in blue)
http://historywarsweapons.com/wp-content/uploads/image/French_Indochina_Map.JPG
5. During 6 decades of colonial rule: the French made little
effort to develop Indochina. (few roads built, no high schools
established) The French generated revenue in four ways: 1. Tax on
all males age 18-60 2. Tax sale of opium, alcohol, and salt. 3.
Establish a government monopoly on opium. 4. Require each adult
male to perform unpaid labor (15-20 days a year-clearing jungles,
removing rocks from rivers, etc.). 60 Years of French Rule
http://www.studygroup-bd.org/imperialism-in-asia.html
6. 1940 Japan began stationing troops in Indochina, mainly as a
staging ground for attacking the Nationalist Chinese regime. 1944
French try to regain Indochina colony. 1945 Japan encouraged each
of the SE Asian nations to declare their independence. World War
II
7. 1) Why might Ho Chi Minh have borrowed phrases from the
United States Declaration of Independence and the French Rights of
Man and the Citizen? 2) According to the Vietnamese Declaration of
Independence, how were the Vietnamese treated under French Imperial
rule? 3) What are some of the Vietnamese grievances against the
French? Provide specific examples. 4) Who ruled Vietnam after 1940?
Why? 5) How and why did the Vietnamese justify their independence
from France? 6) Was Vietnam an independent nation following World
War II? Why or why not? Declaration of Independence
8. Fought between the French military and the Viet Minh China
and the Soviet Union supplied the Viet Minh: Food Money Arms and
ammunitions Anti-aircraft guns 2,000 military advisors to train the
Viet Minh guerrilla and turn it into a fully organized army The
U.S. supplied the French: 300,000 small arms $1 billion toward the
military effort 80% of the French costs First Indochina War
1946-1954 A French Foreign Legion unit patrols in a communist
controlled area.
http://www.us-foreign-policy-perspective.org/index.php?id=301
9. Envoys Probe Indochina Rebellion (1947) Questions to
consider: 1)Who is coming to Vietnam? Why is he there? Why is his
country concerned with Vietnam? 2)How is the Minister received in
the city of Laos? 3)To what do the French compare the Hanoi attack?
Why? 4)How does the reporter refer to Vietnam in relation to
France? 1947 Universal Newsreel story
10. Report by the National Security Council on the Position of
the U.S. with Respect to Indochina (27 February 1950) This report
by the National Security Council illustrates the U.S. concern about
the spread of communism in South East Asia following World War II.
The policy of containment was adopted by the U.S. fairly early on.
The Problem: To undertake a determination of all practical United
States measures to protect its security in Indochina and to prevent
the expansion of communist aggression in that area. Why were the
Vietnamese fighting the French? Why did the U.S. get involved?
11. 1950 Democratic Republic of Vietnam and China recognized
each other diplomatically The Soviet Union quickly followed
President Harry S Truman countered by recognizing the French puppet
government in Vietnam and Taiwan U.S. feared the Vietnams
government was a pawn of Communist China and, by extension, Moscow
The outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 marked a decisive turning
point U.S. thought that the colonial war in Indochina had
transformed into another war for communist expansionism directed by
the Soviet Union First Indochina War 1946-1954
12. War in Indochina Goes On (1953) Questions to consider:
1)Who are the two factions in conflict in this story? 2)What types
of weaponry is each side using? 3)The reporter refers to Indochinas
Hot War. How is this different from a Cold War? 1953 Universal
Newsreel story
13. 7 May 1954 French Union garrison surrendered At the Geneva
Conference, the French negotiated a ceasefire agreement with the
Viet Minh Independence was granted to Cambodia, Lao, and Vietnam
Vietnam was temporarily partitioned at the 17th parallel pending
elections in 1956 More than 400,000 civilians and soldiers died
during the nine years conflict First Indochina War 1946-1954
http://historywarsweapons.com/wp-content/uploads/image/French_Indochina_Map.JPG