Key Background Context to Vietnam

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Background Context of Vietnam Not Directly Related to Truman

The roots of the Vietnam War can be traced back to Vietnam's history as a French colony, known as French Indochina. After World War II, the Vietnamese, led by the communist leader Ho Chi Minh, fought for independence, leading to the First Indochina War from 1946 to 1954. The conflict concluded with the Geneva Accords, which temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel into a communist North, led by Ho Chi Minh, and a non-communist South. The United States, driven by the Domino Theory, began supporting South Vietnam under President Eisenhower by providing economic and military aid to prevent the spread of communism. This support intensified under President Kennedy, who increased the number of US military advisors in South Vietnam. The situation escalated dramatically under President Lyndon B. Johnson, who you will learn about below.

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What was Domino Theory?

The Domino Theory was a Cold War-era belief that the spread of communism in one country would trigger a chain reaction, causing neighbouring countries to fall under communist influence like a row of dominoes. This theory significantly influenced U.S. foreign policy, driving the commitment to contain communism globally. It was particularly applied to Southeast Asia, where the U.S. feared that if Vietnam fell to communism, other countries in the region, such as Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand, would follow. In fact, you might even cite it as the reason that the US got so involved in Vietnam in the first place, and it all tied back to containment!

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Leaders in Vietnam to Note

Whilst it is perfectly fine to discuss Lyndon Johnson's role during Vietnam, it is just as important to recognise who his Vietnamese counterparts were and what effect they had in retaliating against his foreign policy advances. Here are some of the key leaders of both North and South Vietnam, some of whom were allied with Johnson, and some were not.

Ho Chi Minh, the leader of North Vietnam and the Viet Minh, was a communist revolutionary dedicated to unifying Vietnam under communist rule.

Vo Nguyen Giap, the North Vietnamese military commander, was known for his effective guerrilla warfare strategies and leadership in significant battles such as Dien Bien Phu and the Tet Offensive.

In South Vietnam, President Ngo Dinh Diem, an anti-communist leader, initially received strong US support. However, his oppressive regime, particularly against political opponents and religious groups, led to widespread dissent.

Nguyen Van Thieu succeeded Diem after his assassination in 1963.

Another significant figure was Le Duan, the General Secretary of the Communist Party in North Vietnam, who played a major role in directing the war efforts alongside Ho Chi Minh.

Viet Cong and Viet Minh

Now, once again, whilst many will learn off only Johnson's contributions and roles in Vietnam, the very best will recognise who the Americans were up against, and will recognise the difficulties that both the Viet Cong and Viet Minh posed for American Troops. We will have notes on the Guerilla Tactics used by both later on, but for now, here is a brief summary on who they are:

Viet Minh

The Viet Minh, formed in 1941, was a communist-led national liberation movement aiming to fight against Japanese occupation and French colonial rule. Led by Ho Chi Minh, their goal was to achieve Vietnamese independence and establish communist rule. They were successful in their efforts, culminating in the decisive Battle of Dien Bien Phu against French forces. After the Geneva Accords, the Viet Minh primarily operated in North Vietnam, with many members transitioning into roles within the government and military.

Viet Cong

The Vietcong, also known as the National Liberation Front, was formed in 1960 as a communist insurgency group in South Vietnam. Their goal was to overthrow the South Vietnamese government and reunify Vietnam under communist rule. Utilising guerrilla warfare, sabotage, and intelligence operations, the Vietcong had significant local support and often blended in with civilians, making them a formidable enemy. They received substantial support and supplies from North Vietnam through the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a network of supply routes through Laos and Cambodia.

Ngo Dinh Diem

The final piece of the "added context puzzle" that we want to provide you with before we jump into Lyndon Johnson himself, is the first president of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem, a man funded and fueled by American desire to contain Communism.

Ngo Dinh Diem, born in 1901, was a Vietnamese nationalist and staunch anti-communist who became the Prime Minister of South Vietnam in 1954 and its first President in 1955. Diem's leadership style was autocratic, employing repressive measures against political opponents and religious groups, particularly Buddhists. Despite his oppressive tactics, he initially received strong support from the United States due to his firm stance against communism.

The US provided significant economic and military aid to his regime. However, Diem's controversial policies, such as the Strategic Hamlet Program aimed at isolating rural populations from the Vietcong, often backfired, alienating peasants and increasing support for the Vietcong. This growing unpopularity and internal dissent led to his overthrow and assassination in a military coup in November 1963, which was tacitly supported by the US. Diem's fall marked a turning point, leading to further instability in South Vietnam and prompting increased US involvement to stabilise the region.

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What was the Strategic Hamlet Program?

The Strategic Hamlet Program was a plan the South Vietnamese government implemented and supported by the United States during the Vietnam War. The aim was to combat the influence of the Vietcong by relocating rural populations into fortified villages called "strategic hamlets."

These hamlets were designed to isolate villagers from Vietcong insurgents and provide security and resources. However, the program faced significant issues, including forced relocations, inadequate resources, and poor planning, leading to resentment among villagers. Instead of weakening the Vietcong, it often strengthened their support as displaced villagers grew increasingly hostile towards the South Vietnamese government and the U.S.

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