How Did France Lose The Vietnam War
Vietnam independence was achieved through conflict, since western powers responded to anticolonial movements by declaring war two times: 1946 and 1965. During World War II, France lost control of Vietnam because the country was defeated by Germany (722). Due to the France defeat, Vietnam had a weak internal government, which resulted in the invasion of Japanese’s forces into French Indochina (725). In 1946, France declared war against the Communist Party of Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, who was fighting for liberation of colonial power (“The Cold War in Asia”). The war lasted 9 years and it resulted in the creation of two nation-states: North Vietnam controlled by Ho Chi Minh and South Vietnam controlled by Ngo Dinh Diem and supported by
western powers (“The Cold War in Asia”). Ironically, the United States supported the authoritarian regime of Diem, which generated more support for the communist forces (“The Cold War in Asia”). Fear of the spread of communism, the United States invaded North Vietnam 1965, but their actions were unsuccessful because the Viet Cong communist forces prevailed. Like in Vietnam, the South African’s ruling class oppressed the native people and resisted the Africans’ demands. In 1948, the National Party, dominated by whites, won the election which resulted in the of the apartheid system (739). Due to the government policies that racially segregated African and Europeans settlers, the apartheid system benefited only the white population (739). The opposing party, African National Congress, sought to eradicate racial segregation, but their efforts of peaceful demonstrations were crashed by the government (740). Similar to Vietnam, the United States supported the established government because of the fear of communism (740). The ruling class responded to the national movement by persecuting anticolonial groups. Nelson Mandela, a leader in the African National Congress, led the peaceful manifestation (740). Once he saw the government’s brutality in the Sharpeville massacre, Mandela’s tactics changed from peaceful to violent (740).
western powers (“The Cold War in Asia”). Ironically, the United States supported the authoritarian regime of Diem, which generated more support for the communist forces (“The Cold War in Asia”). Fear of the spread of communism, the United States invaded North Vietnam 1965, but their actions were unsuccessful because the Viet Cong communist forces prevailed. Like in Vietnam, the South African’s ruling class oppressed the native people and resisted the Africans’ demands. In 1948, the National Party, dominated by whites, won the election which resulted in the of the apartheid system (739). Due to the government policies that racially segregated African and Europeans settlers, the apartheid system benefited only the white population (739). The opposing party, African National Congress, sought to eradicate racial segregation, but their efforts of peaceful demonstrations were crashed by the government (740). Similar to Vietnam, the United States supported the established government because of the fear of communism (740). The ruling class responded to the national movement by persecuting anticolonial groups. Nelson Mandela, a leader in the African National Congress, led the peaceful manifestation (740). Once he saw the government’s brutality in the Sharpeville massacre, Mandela’s tactics changed from peaceful to violent (740).