French Indochina Vietnam Vocabulary and Notes How Zinn
“French Indochina” Vietnam Vocabulary and Notes
How Zinn remembers Vietnam “From 1964 to 1972, the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the history of the world made a maximum military effort, with everything short of atomic bombs, to defeat a nationalist revolutionary movement in a tiny, peasant country-and failed. When the United States fought in Vietnam, it was organized modern technology versus organized human beings, and the human beings won. ” - Howard Zinn
Places to Know. . . Cambodia. Country bordering Vietnam. During the War fighting often spilled into this country.
Places to Know… Laos. Country bordering Vietnam. Fighting often spilled into this country
Places to Know. . . Vietnam. Country in Southeast Asia that was a battleground between communism and democracy.
Places to Know. . . Indochina. Region. The area Western peoples call this part of Asia. Makes up 3 countries
Vietnam Before Colonization ● The country has a history of constant Chinese invasions. ● There have been several emperors with weak power over the people, but life remained peaceful otherwise. ● Almost entirely an agricultural society. o Rice and fish main part of diet and economy.
Vietnamese Rice Fields
Indochina Under the French ● In 1668 the French East India Trading Co. gains trading rights from the Vietnamese to trade and establish themselves in the Vietnam. o Over the next 300 plus years the French slowly exploit the people living in the entire area… o Catholic Missionaries also established themselves with the traders to try and convert the locals from Buddhism.
Battle of Dien Bien Phu March-May 1954 The Vietnamese under Ho Chi Minh, destroyed the French military in Vietnam.
French are Kicked Out! ● Dec 19 1946 - Aug 1 1954 the Vietnamese fight the French for independance and win. ● The Vietnamese then ask for help gaining independence from the international community.
1954 Geneva Accords ● Ended the war between the French and the Vietnamese. ● More importantly split the country into the Communist North and “democratic”South Vietnam.
U. S. Becomes Involved. . . ● The U. S. sends initially over 600 military advisors and millions of dollars in military aid to South Vietnam to defend from the communist threat. ● Slowly the number of military advisors rise from the hundreds, to the hundreds of thousands. . .
Vocabulary to Know. . . Escalation A rapid increase; a rise. Fast progression.
Vocabulary to Know. . . Domino Theory It was theorized if one country fell to communism others surrounding it would as well, like dominos falling. The solution was to try and contain, or keep, communism where is already existed.
People to Know. . . John F. Kennedy (JFK) American president from Jan. 1961 -Nov. 22 1963 Increased US involvement in Vietnam Approved of the Diem Coup
People to Know. . Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) American President Nov. 1963 -Jan. 20 1969 Escalated Vietnam even further, troops at their high levels under LBJ. Put Gulf of Tonkin Resolution before congress.
Vocabulary to Know… Buddhism The largest religion in Southeast Asia. Under the Diem Regime in South Vietnam they were oppressed and their temples destroyed.
Vocabulary to Know. . . Roman-Catholicism Largest French religion spread to Vietnam by missionaries. It was the religion of the Diem brothers ruling south Vietnam.
Military coup d'état When the military of a country overthrows the government and takes control of their own country putting it under military rule.
People to Know Ho Chi Minh North Vietnam Communist Prime Minister Fought for Vietnam’s independence from France Fought the Americans to unite Vietnam
Vietminh Nationalist group who wanted a united Vietnam. Fought the French and kicked them out. Disappeared upon American involvement in Vietnam because they either become communist or joined southern forces.
People to Know. . . Ngo Dinh Diem (Diem) President of South Vietnam (1955 -1963) Roman Catholic leader in a Buddhist Country “Democratic President, ” Anti. Communist U. S. backed, to a point… Assassinated Nov. 2 1963 by military coup.
People to Know. . . Ngo Dinh Nhu (Nhu) Prime Minister of South Vietnam (1955 -1963) Encouraged Anti-Buddhist policies Assassinated Nov. 2, 1963 in military coup.
Important Events to Know. . . Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Aug, 2 & 4 1964) An event where North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked US ships cruisers in the Gulf of Tonkin in international waters. It is speculated if it actually happened.
Important Events to Know. . . Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Aug. 7, 1964) President Johnson passes Resolution which gave him the ability to militarily intervene in Vietnam without permission from congress.
Operation Rolling Thunder An American bombing campaign on North Vietnam. Lasted from 2 March, 1965 - 2 Nov. , 1968.
Ho Chi Minh Trail A supply line running through Laos and Cambodia giving support to the Vietcong and NVA troops in South Vietnam.
Strategic Hamlets South Vietnamese were moved from their original homes to isolate them from the communists. This new community would also have a defensive perimeter.
Vietcong South Vietnamese rebels and North Vietnamese guerrilla soldiers fighting the South vietnamese government and the U. S.
Guerrilla Warfare Tactics used by non-regular military against a larger enemy. Often times those fighting a guerilla war use their enemies weapons against them. Ex. Hit-and-Run, sabotage, ambushes, raids. . .
Napalm Jellied gas bombs designed to burn at temperatures hot enough to melt metal.
Agent Orange A chemical designed to kill all plant life so the Vietnamese had no jungles to hide in. Also had dangerous side effects on humans.
Vocabulary to Know. . . Proxy War A war instigated by a major power, but is not involved.
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