Historical Background of the Vietnam War
Since the 19th century, Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia on the eastern tip of the Indochinese peninsula, has been ruled by France. Japanese forces attacked Vietnam during World War II. Political leader Ho Chi Minh created the Viet Minh, or the League for the Independence of Vietnam, to resist both the French colonial government and the Japanese occupiers. Ho Chi Minh was influenced by Chinese and Soviet communism.
After losing the Second World War in 1945, Japan withdrew its troops from Vietnam, handing power to the French-educated Emperor Bao Dai. Ho’s Viet Minh forces seized the chance to take power, capturing Hanoi in the north and establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) with Ho as its president. To take back control of the area, France supported Emperor Bao and established the state of Vietnam in July 1949, naming Saigon as its capital. Vietnam should be united, and it was what both sides desired. However, Bao and many others planned a Vietnam with strong economic and cultural ties to the West, while Ho and his followers wanted a country modeled after other communist nations.
Vietnam War – Dates, Causes & Facts
Vietnam War: The Vietnam War was a disastrous battle fought between South Vietnam, supported by the United States of America, and North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union and China. It was a protracted and contentious conflict, that unfolded as a complex struggle between the communist-led North Vietnam and the anti-communist South Vietnam, with the United States serving as a prominent ally to the latter.
It was one of the most important periods of the Cold War. While the war was officially fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam it was an indirect battle between the US and the Soviet Union. The Vietnam War is one of the major topics addressed in the world history section of the UPSC Mains examination. In this article, we will explore the Vietnam War, how it started, the dates of the Vietnam War, who won the Vietnam War, and other important details about the war.
Table of Content
- Historical Background of the Vietnam War
- Vietnam War Pictures
- When did the Vietnam War Start?
- Vietnam War Dates
- Causes of Vietnam War
- Who Won the Vietnam War?
- Viet Cong
- The US Enters the Vietnam War
- How did the Vietnam War End?
- How many People Died in the Vietnam War?
- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Global Implications of the Vietnam War
- Movies Based on Vietnam War