...Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem had different leadership styles with very few similarities. The northern Vietnamese people respected Minh because they viewed him as one of their own and the southern Vietnamese people respected Diem because they respected his patriotism. The Vietnamese people had been ruled by other countries for such a long time that when true leaders emerged the people embraced them. Ho Chi Minh is described as an emaciated goateed figure that was often seen wearing peasant clothing and frayed rubber sandals (Karnow, 1998). He was a seasoned revolutionary who was a passionate nationalist with a single goal of independence for Vietnam (Karnow, 1998). He was often referred to as ‘Uncle Ho’ and still today is referred to as the uncle of Vietnam by the Vietnamese people. Ho Chi Minh, which is roughly translated as ‘bringer of light’, portrayed himself as celibate but he is believed to have had two wives or possibly concubines. One was a Chinese woman and the other a cousin of his top general. Minh’s dream was to unify Vietnam under his flag and under communism. There was no flexibility in his beliefs or bending of his will (Karnow, 1998). Minh was viewed as a man of the people and a simple man who wanted only to see his country through to independence. His humble appearance helped inspire people to follow him. Ngo Dinh Diem was also a nationalist leader who believed that Vietnam needed a strong leader who could make tough decisions. Diem was often associated...
Words: 681 - Pages: 3
...The magnitude of the riots and loss of innocent lives that characterized the six month period make the occurrences part of the turning point in American history (Schmidt, 2015). The Buddhist riots were religiously and politically instigated events in South Vietnam between the months of May and November in 1963. However these events did not only have repercussions in America, they proved to be instrumental in Ngo Dinh Diem’s demise. Prior to the Buddhist crisis, after the Geneva Accords, Vietnamese civilians were granted the opportunity to stay where they living currently or the option to move to North or South Vietnam depending on their preference. A million Catholics emigrated from the North to South to form support for Diem’s government. It was known that Ngo Dinh Diem was Catholic and favored other Catholics along with providing them special privileges. He discriminated against and ignored the wishes of the Buddhists, which was 85% of the South Vietnamese population. He prohibited the Buddhists to practice as they chose. Tension had escalated when Ngo Dinh Diem had banned flying any religious flags to prohibit the display of the Buddhist flag on Buddha’s birthday. The main event that led to the start of the riots was the shooting of nine unarmed civilians who were protesting the ban of the flag. The shootings happened in the city of Hue, on May 8, 1963. By May 13th, Buddhist clergy in Hue had drafted a list of demands to give the government officials titled ‘Manifesto...
Words: 645 - Pages: 3
...sometimes difficult. Many Individuals and organizations involved on both sides of the 17th parallel fought for control of the country. In the context of the Vietnamese society, the wars in Vietnam are better understood by taking a look at the leaders of North and South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem. Learning more about the two different styles of leadership will help to understand how they gained support from the Vietnamese people and other nations for their cause. The Democratic Republic of North Vietnam consisted of the land in Southeast Asia located north of the 17th parallel, as defined by the 1954 Geneva Agreements. The Soviet Union and China supported the DRV in its fight against the Republic of Vietnam in the south, which was supported by the United States. Ho Chi Minh was the leader of the Vietnamese nationalist movement that opposed French colonial rule, and president of the DRV from 1945 until he died in 1969. Ngo Dinh Diem served as prime minister and then was the first president of the RVN from 1945-1963. The DRV was based on the communist model and the RVN was based on a democratically elected government modeled after the U.S. Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem both gained support for their initiative, but with a very different approach. The details of Ho Chi Minh’s life are vague causing much speculation about how his worldview was shaped. It is believed that Ho’s father was a strong Vietnamese nationalist who passed along to him the belief that...
Words: 1022 - Pages: 5
...been circumvented. Diem the president of South Vietnam provoked the Buddhist community. Diem operated his civilian and military organizations almost entirely with Catholics. Many had recently migrated south, and he saw to it that Catholic villages collected most of the U.S. aid funds (Moss, 2010). These strangers had exclusive pleasures; they did not speak the local languages, and did not understand their individual troubles. Southern Buddhist peasants begrudged having northern Catholics, who looked down on them and were not concerned to their well-being. The preferential treatment the Catholic’s received from Diem created impossibility for Diem’s administration to gain the confidence and devotion of many southern peasants (Moss, 2010). The government prohibiting the flying of the Buddhist flag prompted the Buddhist crisis (Moss, 2010). South Vietnam Buddhists started to gain attention around the world for their religious persecution through the circulation of writings in addition to demonstrations through hunger strikes, extreme acts that included of self-sacrifice, along with peaceful protests (Toong, 2008). As these protests and exhibitions elevated to extreme levels, the public that had once supported Ngo Dinh Diem and the US’ role in backing his leadership began to decline. According to Moss, “Diem’s extreme actions caused U.S. officials, including President Kennedy, to support the coup that destroyed the Diem family oligarchy” (pg. xv). Diem and Nhu, Diem’s younger...
Words: 708 - Pages: 3
...source – 1950’s/1960 * 5 books – Secondary sources * Watch films, documentaries and videos. * Historians point of views(opinions) Geneva Agreement – election to be held in 1956 to reunify Vietnam but did not happen because Ngo Dinh Diem cancelled it because he knew he would not win it. If Ho chi Minh wins 1956 elections: * Vietnam will re-unify as a communist country * Other surrounding countries will follow – communism will spread ‘Domino Theory’ (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh, and India. Geneva Agreement – election to be held in 1956 to reunify Vietnam but did not happen because Ngo Dinh Diem cancelled it because he knew he would not win it. If Ho chi Minh wins 1956 elections: * Vietnam will re-unify as a communist country * Other surrounding countries will follow – communism will spread ‘Domino Theory’ (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh, and India. Communist Communist Vietnam was split into North and South in 1954 – Geneva agreement officially split into North led by Ho Chi Minh and South ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem. Vietnam was split into North and South in 1954 – Geneva agreement officially split into North led by Ho Chi Minh and South ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem. Capitalist Capitalist Primary Sources Finally, you have broader considerations that might follow what you would call the "falling domino" principle. You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will...
Words: 771 - Pages: 4
...D'état against Diem Jatha Mathew DeVry University May 22, 2014 Running Head: COUP D'ETAT 2 The meaning of Coup D'état according to Merriam-Webster dictionary is a sudden attempt by a small group of people to take over the government usually through violence. Ngo Dihm Diem was the first president of South Vietnam in October 1955. The coup d'état of Diem was a turning point in the Vietnam war and world history. South Vietnam was supported by United States but during his presidency the civil war still continued between anti-communist and communist guerrillas backed by North Vietnam. Diem valued power more than people of Vietnam. He was a core Catholic and was against all Buddhist. President Kennedy's administration urged government reform upon Diem- he was asked clean up the corruption within his government. He ignored the plea from the States and that was an insult to Kennedy Administration. Thus coup d'état against Diem on November 1, 1963 was plotted so it was a turning point in history. An event is what happened in history. A turning point is considered when something changes the direction. It was not a event because it was not supposed to happen this way but had to do the plotting against diem to avoid more conflict and spread of communism. The event preceding the turning point was necessary and essential in preparing for the turning point because Diem misuses his...
Words: 728 - Pages: 3
...based on willfully manipulated information, creating political embarrassment, or worse, betrayal. America in early 1960s, believed the situation in South Vietnam was under control, since the President believed it was. President Kennedy had made public declarations in December of 1962, on the successes of the Diem regime in South Vietnam, in creating a stable government aligned with the American ideals of democracy, and progressing in the fight against the communists (Moss, 2010, p. 102). This optimism, despite numerous reports from diplomats as well as military personnel, advising Kennedy of the disintegration of the armed forces, as well as Diem’s dictatorial approach to his job (Winters, 1988). Definite Dictator Diem, although not a communist, based his stewardship of South Vietnam on an equally autocratic approach, described in his terms, as the management of “…an enlightened sovereign” (Moss, 2010, p.69). To Diem, those words meant centralizing all political powers under direct control of his government, much akin to the imperialists he displaced, abolishing traditional local authorities, consolidating power onto himself, and, by extension, the rest of the Ngo Dinh clan, ruling alongside him (Moss, 2010, p. 69). Funding from the American government was unfairly channeled y to fellow Catholics, who were generally treated with favoritism over the rest of the population; jobs both in the military as well as civilian positions were...
Words: 642 - Pages: 3
...(Toong, 2008). The demonstrations, protests and self-immolations that followed as a result of this religious persecution and the media coverage it generated encouraged the Kennedy administration to back a coup d’état against Ngo Dinh Diem, the leader of South Vietnam, which was a major turning point in the war. This paper will examine why the Buddhist crisis was a turning point in the Vietnam War, as well as why the events leading up to the Buddhist riots in 1963 were essential in preparing for the turning point and what subsequent events were dependent on the action of the turning point. Buddhists in South Vietnam began gaining the world’s attention for their plight of religious persecution through the distribution of literature, as well as through hunger strikes and peaceful demonstrations (Toong, 2008). As these demonstrations became more dramatic, including acts of self-immolation, public opinion around the world began to turn against Ngo Dinh Diem, the leader of South Vietnam as well as the United States’ role in backing such leadership. The subsequent handling of the Buddhist crisis by the Diem administration and the international media coverage that followed played a major role in the Kennedy administration’s decision to overthrow the Diem government, thus changing the course of the Vietnam War. For this reason, the Buddhist Riots, or...
Words: 780 - Pages: 4
...The Vietnam War Elizabeth Guerra Chamberlain College of Nursing The Vietnam War had first started as a “police action” for the United States. In 1954, France had lost control of Korea and they signed an agreement with Vietnam called the Geneva Accord. The country was separated into North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The terms of the agreement stated that each side would not have a leader until 1956 when an election would be held to determine if they wanted the country to be unified. The United States was afraid that because North Vietnam was a pre dominantly communist country, that the spread of communism would flow to South Vietnam. In 1955, Unites States helped Ngo Dinh Diem win the presidential election. Early into his term, Ngo Dinh Diem claimed that North Vietnam, which was called the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, was attacking South Vietnam. In 1957, America began to give military aid to help South Vietnam stop the spread of communism. President Eisenhower started the ‘police action” and it continued through until after President Kennedy was assassinated. In August of 1964, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam attacked two American ships that were anchored in the gulf of Tonkin. The gulf of Tonkin was supposed to neutral waters. This gave President Johnson the ammunition he needed to use his Congressional resolution that gave him broad war powers. In 1964, the police actin ended and Johnson started to send troops to South Vietnam. Johnson wanted to fight this war...
Words: 1322 - Pages: 6
...United States pulls out of Vietnam Nkiruka Bridget Ofunne Chamberlain College of Nursing Identification of Vietnam War Between 1858-1884, France invades Vietnam and makes Vietnam a colony. The United States pledges $15 million worth of military aid to France to help them fight in Vietnam. South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam, with newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as president. South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed during a coup. Cause of Vietnam war In 1964, North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in international waters (the Gulf of Tonkin Incident). In response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, the U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. A sustained U.S. aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam begins (Operation Rolling Thunder). In March 1965, the first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam. Historical Interpretation of the war Why did the United States government finally decide to leave Vietnam? What was our exit strategy? What happened to the troops that came home? What happened to those we left behind? No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. "Rarely have so many people been so wrong about so much. Never have the consequences of their misunderstanding been so tragic." (Nixon) Nixon and Kissinger quickly agreed upon two premises about American policy in Vietnam. First, the war in Vietnam was not "winnable" in any conventional...
Words: 445 - Pages: 2
...THE KOREAN WAR * The Korean War lasted from 1950-1953. * The peninsula was divided after World War Two into a Russian-backed north (The People’s Democratic Republic) and the American-backed south (the Republic of Korea). Each claimed the right to the other half in an effort to unify both. The division was the result of the occupation of Korea by the communists after the end of the war with the country eventually being divided at the 38th parallel. * In June 1950, the North Koreans launched a surprise attack against the south and the capital Seoul fell in just three days. * The United Nations Security Council (which was being boycotted by Russia at this time) asked for UN states to send troops to the region under a UN flag. The huge bulk of the troops sent were American (15 nations sent troops) and command of them was given to Gen. Douglas MacArthur. * By the end of August 1950 only Pusan in the south-east corner of South Korea had not fallen to the North. * In September, MacArthur took the huge risk of launching an amphibious landing at Inchon 200 miles behind enemy lines and from here he launched an attack against the North Koreans at Pusan. * The North Koreans had no choice but to retreat as they faced being cut in two. * MacArthur chose to ignore his orders and advanced north towards the Chinese border at the Yalu River. This provoked the Chinese to launch a massive attack against the UN forces and South Korea. A Chinese army of 180,000 men supported...
Words: 1132 - Pages: 5
...Vietnam War: U.S. Involvement increased to the brink of war with the Tonkin Gulf Incident Questions to ponder… 1. Was the growing conflict in South Vietnam an “armed attack” from the North, as the Administration (Johnson) contended? ANSWER: 2. Was it primarily a civil war, provoked by the brutal policies of the regime of Ngo Dinh Diem, which drove desperate peasants, minority tribesmen, and urban intellectuals into the ranks of the NLF? ANSWER: Yes, it was a civil war between the north and south for control of the country. Both sides were equally as brutal, however, the communists were more brutal when push came to shove. 3. Was the NLF itself a creature of Hanoi? ANSWER: I believe that it was. I think it was a direct creature from the north Vietmin. 4. Was the NLF an independent organization truly representative of the aspirations of the people in South Vietnam? ANSWER: No, it was an organization that represented Ho Chi Minh’s asperations to untie the north and the south under communist rule. 5. Had the United States, or the DRV, broken the Geneva Accords? No, in 1954, The United States responded by hastily putting together a humanitarian mission to assist those wishing to move south. A joint US-French naval task force was assembled near Haiphong harbour, while US personnel and aid workers organised refugee camps, food and medical supplies in South Vietnam. The operation – pointedly titled Passage to Freedom – was a successful, if...
Words: 474 - Pages: 2
...reassert control over its colonial holdings. America tried to negotiate with Ho to form a provisional gov. The French refused and Ho returned fighting for Vietnamese independence. - America assists with funds- America helped the French with Marshall plan funds. The French used funds to rebuild their nation to fight Ho. -Dien Bien Phu- French Defeated- Ho’s forces surrounded them (Indochina- fall of military) causing them to surrender. France realized they couldn’t keep the area in their empire 3.Geneva Conference - Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam formed- (from Indochina) -Vietnam divided into North and South Ho and communists in the north -Ngo Diem in the South -Americas think communists would win election b/c of their choice to lead South Vietnam -Ngo Dinh Diem- Catholic: ruling a nation which is mostly Buddhist; wants to convert all people in Vietnam to Catholocism; pushes religion -western educated-Vietnamese people mostly educated - in exhile- SEE PAGE FOR MORE 4. 1963 Turning Point - turning point...
Words: 916 - Pages: 4
...The Vietnam Experience The Vietnam War is one oft the most gruesome wars after 2nd world war. The war was between the years 1959-75. It was twenty years of war to no avail. Millions of people lost their lives – young soldiers from America and Vietnam, and many civil. After several years of war in Vietnam with France, a peace treaty was signed and the republic of Vietnam was created in South Vietnam with Ngo Dinh Diem as leader, and the north was ruled by communists. South Vietnam was receiving financial and military support from the United States, but the Diem regime was corrupt and the repression was a help to strengthen the communists opposition in South Vietnam. The military wing, called the Vietcong began in 1956 a guerilla war, where the smaller forces is fighting against a bigger strength. In 1964 the United States participate in the war, because they claim that some of their ships has been attacked. Systematically the U.S. started bombing the North Vietnamese cities, but while America were more advanced in the military, they where not able to defeat their opponents. The Vietnam War is especially known for its cruelty towards the civilian population, for example the My Lai massacre. The Americans were not familiar of this kind of guerilla war as the Vietcong's performed, and that is why it lead to a significant loss of civilian populations. Many stories and movies has been written and made to show just how extremely horrible and terrible this war has been, both from...
Words: 1107 - Pages: 5
...Empire was also a key objective. At the battle of Dien Bien Phu, the Viet Minh seemed to achieve independence and national sovereignty in addition to their victory, regardless of great assistance from the US. At the 1954 Geneva international conference, the United States (for whom a Nationalist-Communist Vietnamese government was unacceptable) divided the country in two. The southern half was the birthplace of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). Americans spent the next twenty years defending the RVN which was an artificial country (Buzzanco, 2010). By 1960 the National Liberation Front (NLF), a group whose mission was to unify the country and overthrow Diem was formed. The NLF consisted of the Viet Cong (VC), which was the residuals of the Viet Minh, and antigovernment groups came as a result of the US supported regime of Ngo Dinh Diem and continuing Communist pressure causing internal repression in the RVN. Sixteen thousand “advisers”, billions of dollars, a...
Words: 1491 - Pages: 6
