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Ho Chi Minh and the creation of the Viet Minh
This impacted Vietnam by leading to the creation of North Vietnam. The Viet Minh was a Vietnamese independence movement. This led to growing tensions because Ho Chi Minh wanted to unify Vietnam under communist rule, while South Vietnam and the U.S. wanted to avoid communism. This impacted the whole war because they were the group and the main leader of the North Vietnam, which was fighting against the French and the U.S. -
The first Indochina War
This impacted Vietnam by leading to the division of Vietnam, with the North being under communist rule, and the South being under non-communist rule. This led to growing tensions because of the domino theory and the fear of communism spreading. Lastly, this had an impact on the war because it led to more U.S. involvement due to escalating conflicts with communism. -
America Aids France
This impacted Vietnam by helping France have colonial troops in Vietnam. This also impacted Vietnam by creating destruction in Vietnam by French troops because of the U.S. aiding France. This led to growing tensions by having France and the United States get more involved in the war, leading to more conflict between communists and capitalists. This impacted the whole war by supporting France to regain control of Vietnam, leading to the split of North and South Vietnam. -
The Domino Theory
This impacted Vietnam because the domino theory scared the U.S., which caused them to have more involvement in Vietnam. If Vietnam were to fall into communism, the domino theory would suggest that countries surrounding them would also fall into communism. This led to growing tensions because the U.S. was so worried about spreading communism, that they had to intervene. This impacted the war because it led to full intervention of U.S. forces in South Vietnam. -
The Geneva Accords
This impacted Vietnam heavily by dividing the country into North and South Vietnam by splitting it at the 17th parallel. This led to growing tensions because now one country was split in half, with one side more towards capitalism and one towards communism. This impacted the war because now the country had to find a way to be unified under one government, so both sides were fighting over their view on the government. -
Diệm’s assassination
This impacted Vietnam because he was the president of South Vietnam. This led to major government chaos in South Vietnam. This led to further tensions because now North Vietnam has a chance to gain more support from South Vietnam to hopefully have a full communist country. This impacted the war because It led to even more U.S. involvement as they tried to stabilize the government again. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
This impacted Vietnam by having the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, which made it so that the U.S. could do whatever they wanted or needed to prevent the Vietnamese from attacking any U.S. destroyers. This led to growing tensions because it meant that President Johnson could escalate actions without war declarations. This impacted the war because it overall made U.S. citizens turn against U.S. involvement in the war, causing a significant turning point. -
Use of Agent Orange
This impacted Vietnam by having long lasting impacts on both the environment and citizens living in Vietnam. This led to growing tensions because it meant that the non-communist side was growing more brutal towards North Vietnam. This impacted the war by the U.S. actually hurting innocent Vietnamese citizens just to try and stop communism. -
The Tet Offensive
This event was when both sides in the war did surprise attacks on the other side. It impacted Vietnam because it led to the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Vietnam slowly. This led to growing tensions because after this, U.S. citizens shifted their viewpoints towards not wanting war. This impacted the war because now the U.S. troops had little support for continuing in the war, and citizens began to protest against the war. -
My Lai Massacre
This event was when U.S. troops killed innocent Vietnamese citizens by attacking a Vietnamese village. This impacted Vietnam because this war was not supposed to hurt innocent people, and now this was getting too far. This led to growing tensions because now even more people in Vietnam have hatred for the U.S., and things were getting more serious now that innocent people are getting involved. -
U.S. troop withdrawals and Vietnamization
This impacted Vietnam because it meant that U.S. involvement in the war was no longer as strong as it was before, and South Vietnam would have to be responsible for its part in the war. This led to growing tensions and impacted the war because, although the United States was trying to transfer the war responsibility to only Vietnam, it also showed the U.S. defeat. This ultimately led to the reunification of Vietnam under communism. -
War Powers Act
This is a federal law that requires the president to notify Congress before deploying military forces. This limited presidential power in war efforts impacted the war because now the wars shouldn't escalate as much as the Vietnam War, since the president sorta needed consent from Congress before escalating war efforts. -
The Fall of Saigon
This event marked the end of the Vietnam War. The capital of South Vietnam joined to North Vietnamese forces. With the U.S. troops gone, North Vietnam had the power to build up its forces and ultimately force the South Vietnamese president to surrender. This brought North and South Vietnam together under communist rule and ended the war.