Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between the communist North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, including the Soviet Union and China, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other anti-communist allies.
Background
After the end of World War II, Vietnam was temporarily divided into North and South along the 17th parallel under the terms of the Geneva Conference of 1954, with the intention of holding elections to reunify the country. However, these elections were never held due to the opposition from the South Vietnamese government and its allies, who feared a communist victory.
Major Events
- 1955: Ngo Dinh Diem refused to hold elections, leading to the formal establishment of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).
- 1964: The Gulf of Tonkin Incident led to increased U.S. military involvement, with Congress passing the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution giving President Lyndon B. Johnson broad powers to escalate the war.
- 1965: The U.S. began sustained bombing of North Vietnam with Operation Rolling Thunder, and the first American combat troops arrived in Vietnam.
- 1968: The Tet Offensive marked a turning point in public opinion, showing that the war was not nearing an end as previously claimed by U.S. officials.
- 1969: Richard Nixon took office and began implementing the policy of Vietnamization, aiming to reduce American troop numbers and turn over combat duties to the South Vietnamese.
- 1973: The Paris Peace Accords were signed, officially ending direct U.S. military involvement.
- 1975: Fall of Saigon, marking the end of the Vietnam War with the capture of Saigon by North Vietnamese forces.
Impact and Aftermath
The Vietnam War had profound effects both in Southeast Asia and globally:
- It led to the deaths of approximately 3 million Vietnamese, including 2 million civilians, 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters, 200,000-250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers, and 58,220 U.S. service members.
- The war caused widespread use of Agent Orange, which had long-term ecological and health impacts.
- It influenced a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards more caution in military engagements.
- It led to the unification of Vietnam under communist rule and the establishment of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976.
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