Early Cold War 1945 to 1963 by__ Holtrop 2010 May for Jinan课件.ppt

The French Tragedy in Vietnam U.S. does not want France back in Vietnam, but Cold War calculus means we allow it U.S. not very happy with De Gaulle’s France Differences b/w French and Anglo-Saxon colonialism (paradox: amalgamation, or profit) French pride wounded in WW2 French kill off most non-Communist opposition leaders – leaving Ho as main figure Question: Do Christian local leaders alienate? Communist Success against France in Vietnam Stalin directs Mao to help Ho Chi Minh. After the Viet Minh clear the border with China, supplies flow into Vietnam. Dien Bien Phu, 1954: U.S. bankrolled France in Vietnam 9 years but refuses nuclear weapons Geneva Accords, 1954 Vietnam divided b/w North and South General Elections to be held in Vietnam, 1956 Emperor Bao Dai dies, replaced by Diem Problem: Western view—Communist governments do not hold free elections. - Not willing to be cheated. Eisenhower sends 1,000 advisors, JFK 16,000. But neither willing to do much more. U.S. Helps South Vietnam Country Teams: Military, economic, diplomatic. MAAG: Military Assistance Advisory Group. Prepares for a Korea-style conventional invasion. Never thinks of a guerilla war. Diem asks for help against guerillas. Attacks of North vs. South, and organizing rebels in South, begin again in 1959. U.S. Goals in Vietnam, 1950s? U.S. never states goals, objectives, or how to accomplish them Presumably they are: - Defend South Vietnam against North Vietnamese and guerilla aggression - Pressure the North into a peace U.S. takes casualties in VN 1950-1975, although escalation is in 1965-1973 You can see why we debate goals today III. Intro: Kennedy’s Policies Idealistic, Young: Motivate, pass torch to younger generation Can summarize as: Growth at home; decrease trade barriers Some civil rights Strong, idealistic abroad New Frontier; Peace Corps; Space Flexible Response doctrine Retains bipartisan foreign policy “Bear any burden, oppose any foe” III.A. Election of 1960 Kenned