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Ho Chi Minh and the creation of the Viet Minh (1930)
Ho Chi Minh was a revolutionary who wanted Vietnam to be free from France and have independence. He was a communist leader who took the side of the Soviet Union, which led to tension between the Soviet Union and the United States of America. The citizens of Vietnam were greatly affected by this event because the war made them poor, and they had to fight instead of working and being safe. -
The First Indochina war
This battle was between France and the Viet Minh. France was defeated by the Viet Minh, who wanted freedom from France. This was a very big step forward for the Viet Minh and impacted all of Vietnam. This loss for France made it more clear to America that they needed to join the war and help France, which caused bigger tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States because the Viet Minh wanted to be communist. -
America Aids France
France was losing the First War of Indonesia, so America helped them with funds and supplies. America helped France because its goal was to uphold capitalism, and North Vietnam was trying to become a Communist country. France was greatly affected because it received aid and was able to fight hard again. This increased tensions because the Soviet Union was on Vietnam's side. -
The Domino Theory
Eisenhower created the Domino Theory, which says that if one country falls, other countries around it will also fall. This made tensions between the USSR and the USA increase because Vietnam was near failure, and the USSR wanted the Viet Minh to win against South Vietnam. -
The Geneva Accords
These were a group of documents signed that were trying to resolve the conflicts in Indonesia. They tried to end the first Indonesian war. These did not increase tensions but instead wanted to end them. -
Use of Agent Orange
This was a chemical that caused cancer, but its use in war was to get rid of trees so they could see through them. These impacted soldiers because they gave them cancer later in life. This did not directly affect tension between the US and the USSR. -
Diem's assasination
This was the death of South Vietnam's leader, he was oppressing anyone other than Christians on their religion. This is why he was assassinated, which led to less tension because it was the US that assassinated Diem. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
These were attacks by Vietnam on US destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin, this impacted everyone because it started the War. This led to more tension because it was one of the first physical fights of the Vietnam War. -
The Tet Offensive
These were surprise attacks by the Viet Cong on South Vietnam. This affected everyone who got hurt, and added to the conflict between the US and the USSR because there was more fighting. -
My Lai Massacre
This was an uncivil attack by US troops on a small village of innocent civilians in the Viet Cong. They brutally murdered many civilians. This impacted the troops and the civilians who died. This led to major tension because it was an awful war crime. -
U.S. troop withdrawals and Vietnamization
This was an attempt to end the US fighting and transfer it to all the South Vietnamese military forces fighting. We were trying to get out of the war because we were not winning. This decreased tensions between the US and the USSR. -
War Powers Act
This war was gaining back the power that the president gained from the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave the president all the power to protect the USA. This impacted the government because they gained back power. This did not lead to any tension. -
The Fall of Saigon
This was the end of the Vietnam War, this was when the Viet Cong captured the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon. This unified the country under communist control. This increased tensions because the US was not happy that they became communist.