From 1941 to 1975 Vietnam struggled against foreign installed regimes. Assess the reasons why the Communists were ultimately able to prevail.
Vietnam was a volatile country throughout the mid to late 1900’s and became the first televised war which broadcast to millions of people every night. The country had imperial rule of the French until Japan took hold of the Vietnam during World War 2. At the end of the War French regained the colony although a stronger resistance cam from the north with Ho Chi Minh and his right hand man General Giap. After the loss of Dien Bien Phu where northern Viet army attacked a French base and won and dividing on the 17th parallel. This divided North and South, Communist and Democratic. This is the time when the US became involved, its ideology of containment and theory’s such as the Domino Theory were put into place. This caused so much pain in the oncoming years. The USA’s plans and strategy’s of containing communism were accompanied by China, emerging in front of the world into a economic powerhouse and such a threat, provoked a war. This essay will assess the reasons behind the communists prevailing against the US and the French. The essay will explore the French involvement and why they we forced to leave, USA participation in Vietnam including the Vietnam War, explain the North Vietnamese tactics and leaders and how the communists won.
The French had colonial control of Indo China and a peaceful coexistence with the people in the area given most of they need. This all changed post 1941 when the French won back the area after Japan seized it during World War 2. In 1945 the communist party lead by the great Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnamese independence, the French were outraged and were unable to comprehend what has happening. The First Indo-China war had commenced. The most notable incident which was a result of the Indo-China war was the Dien Bien Phu Battle. Due to General Giap’s brilliance the desperately outnumbered...