Download Origins Of WWI

Origins Of WWI
Key Events
Unification of Germany.
Causes
- Industrial Revolution had caused
urbanisation and the spread of new
ideas e.g. Socialism, Nationalism,
Militarism.
- Otto Von Bismarck masterminded
unification. “Realpolitik” policy involved
realism and opportunism. He showed
deft political manoeuvring, reformed
Prussian Army and was prepared to use
war to achieve his ends e.g. “Blood &
Iron” speech.
- Prussia fought three wars to bring the
weaker German states under her
control.
- 1870 – 1871 Prussia defeated France
and seized Alsace Lorraine.
Fall of Bismarck / Crowning of Wilhelm
II.
- Bismarck gave Germany 20 years of
peace and security.
- 1888 Wilhelm II was crowned. He
clashed with the ageing, conservative
Bismarck. Bismarck favoured Germany
as a land based power but Wilhelm
wanted a “Weltpolitik” world policy
with a large empire and navy. Wilhelm
had good cause to believe Germany
was a world power e.g. economic
expansion since 1871, population rose by
50% 1871 – 1914, coal production
increased 800%, she produced two
Consequences
- New forces began challenging the
“balance of power” in Europe and the
old conservative, aristocratic system.
- Germany changed from a loose
collection of states to a country under
Prussian leadership. Wilhelm I became
Kaiser and Bismarck became
Chancellor.
- Prussian tradition reigned, with the
Junker promoting militarism.
- Seizure of Alsace Lorraine caused
French desire for revenge.
- Bismarck’s foreign policy was to form
alliances to maintain the balance of
power e.g. 1879 Dual Alliance with AH,
which unfortunately tied Germany to
AH’s problems. Bismarck’s alliances
caused short term stability, but the
Alliance system would eventually drag
all of Europe into WWI.
- Bismarck’s fall from power was a
cause of Europe’s slide to war.
- Bismarck’s alliances caused short term
stability, but the Alliance system would
eventually drag all of Europe into WWI.
- Bismarck’s fall from power was a
cause of Europe’s slide to war.
Wilhelm did not renew the Reinsurance
Treaty with Russia after 1890. Russia
turned to France for an alliance instead.
Bismarck’s worst fears had come true.
Europe was in two armed camps.
- Bismarck had called the Berlin
Conference in 1884 to ease tensions over
dividing up Africa. Wilhelm was spurred
Historical Force
- Birth of modern Germany was a
triumph of nationalism.
- Nationalism was associated with
aggressive militarism.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- Nationalism inspired Bismarck’s war
with France and the German seizure of
Alsace Lorraine.
- French nationalists could not rest as
long as French men were under
German rule.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- Imperialism and nationalism reflected
in Wilhelm’s desperate desire for an
empire.
- Imperialism and nationalism reflected
in the “Scramble for Africa”. No
international body existed to mediate
colonial disputes.
- Imperialism and nationalism reflected
in Germany’s naval build-up under
Admiral von Tirpitz.
thirds of Europe’s steel. To continue to
expand economically, Germany need to
be a colonial power because colonies
gave raw resources and secure markets.
- 1890 Wilhelm forced Bismarck to
resign.
End of British “Splendid Isolation”.
First Moroccan Crisis.
- For 30 years Britain had focused on
her empire and had not got involved in
European affairs. However, isolation
was no longer safe.
- France and Russia, her two big rivals,
formed the Dual Entente in 1894, so
Britain needed an ally.
- 1905 Wilhelm visited Tangier in
Morocco. He declared Morocco should
be independent of France because he
calculated that Britain would not back
France and the Triple Entente would
collapse.
- Wilhelm wanted a “Weltpolitik”
world policy with a large empire and
navy. Wilhelm had good cause to
believe Germany was a world power
e.g. economic expansion since 1871,
population rose by 50% 1871 to 1914, coal
production increased 800%, she
produced two thirds of Europe’s steel.
To continue to expand economically,
Germany needed to be a colonial
on in his desire for Africa by e.g. Pan
German League, German Colonial
League. Germany needed “a place in
the sun”. However, Germany became
involved in the scramble for Africa too
late and her empire was nothing the
size of Britain’s.
- Germany expansion caused Britain to
defend her economic, imperial and
naval dominance.
- 1890s commercial rivalry between
Germany and Britain created tension.
Tariffs blocked British trade and she was
no longer the leading industrial power.
- Germany seemed a good choice for
an ally but she was suspicious of
Britain’s motives. This caused the 1902
Anglo-Japanese Alliance.
- Atmosphere of “Rapprochement”
created by Edward VII on a visit to
Paris. Caused 1904 Triple Entente.
- 1906 Algeciras Conference, the
German plan backfired because Britain
and France were pushed closer
together.
- Germany suffered a diplomatic
defeat. Public opinion turned against
Germany.
- A weakness was exposed in the Triple
Alliance because Italy deserted
Germany and backed France. Germany
felt AH was her only true friend. This
loyalty would cause WWI.
- Europe was divided into two armed
camps. The Alliance system pulled
everyone into WWI.
- Imperialism created tension. The
extent to which this was a cause of WWI
is a historiographical debate. Colonial
rivalry may not have been a
fundamental cause of WWI. Britain’s
fiercest colonial rivals were France and
Russia, but they managed to settle their
differences. Britain and Germany were
trade rivals, but also customers for each
other.
- Nationalism reflected in Britain’s
“Two Power Standard”.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- Imperialism and nationalism reflected
in Wilhelm’s desperate desire for an
empire.
- Imperialism and nationalism reflected
in the “Scramble for Africa”.
Bosnian Crisis.
Naval Race.
power because colonies gave raw
resources and secure markets.
- Balkans was the “powder keg of
Europe”. Ottoman, AH and Russian
empires all clashed there.
- Ottoman empire, the “sick man of
Europe”, was crumbling and was
struggling to hold onto Balkan
territories.
- Russian empire had designs on the
Balkans because she needed warm
water ports. Direct control over the
Balkans would give them control over
the Straits of Constantinople.
- 1908 radical group Young Turks
seized power in Turkey. They wanted to
reclaim Bosnia and Herzegovina, part
of AH.
- 1900 Second Naval Law called for the
doubling of the German fleet. Caused
tension with Britain.
Tirpitz set up a Navy League to
encourage public interest.
- Germany used the “risk theory”,
which aimed to keep the British fleet in
port rather than risk damage.
- British “Two Power Standard”.
1903 Britain approved the formation of
a North Sea fleet.
1906 under First Sea Lord Fisher, Britain
- To foil Young Turks, Austria needed
Russian support to annex Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Austrian Aehrenthal and
Russian Isvolsky made a secret deal that
Russia would support Austria and in
return Austria would support Russia get
free access to the Straits of
Constantinople.
- However the plan backfired because
Austria annexed immediately and the
Russian government disowned Isvolsky’s
deal. Russia did this to maintain her
image as the champion of the Slavs.
Russia was indignant at AH’s actions.
Narodna Odbrana.
- Germany backed AH, so Russia was
forced to back down. Germany had
revealed how desperate she was to
retain the loyalty of her only ally.
- Russia was embittered and began to
rearm.
- Serbia was incensed and war with AH
seemed likely.
- Full scale naval race began when
Germany and Britain increased their
ship building programmes.
- 1906 Germany widened the Kiel
Canal for large battleships.
- By 1914 the intensity of the race had
calmed. Britain had clearly won e.g. she
had 29 Dreadnoughts while Germany
had 17.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- Nationalism lay at the root of the
quarrel between AH and Serbia.
- National groups within AH, Ottoman
and Russian empires wanted separate,
independent nations instead of polyglot,
multi-cultural empires.
- AH multi-national empire was under
nationalistic pressures from radical
groups. Less than half the empire
belonged to the two controlling groups:
Austrians and Magyars. 8 million Czechs
and Slovaks, 5 million Poles, 4 million
Ruthenians, 5 million Serbs and Croats.
Slavs were the most restless.
- Russian empire sympathised with
Serbs because they shared the same
orthodox religion. She saw herself as a
champion of the Slavic people.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- Nationalism reflected in Britain’s
“Two Power Standard”.
- Imperialism and nationalism reflected
in Germany’s naval build-up under
Admiral von Tirpitz.
- Militarism is reflected in the belief that
preparing for war was the only way to
ensure peace.
Second Moroccan Crisis.
Balkan Wars.
launched the Dreadnought, which
made all other battleships obsolete e.g.
12 inch guns, 32km range, 21 knots.
- 1907 Anglo Russian Entente also
fuelled German fears that Britain would
attack. The “encirclement” theory was a
significant cause of Germany’s
aggressive tendencies.
- Since the 1906 Algeciras Conference
the situation had been unstable.
- 1911 the Sultan of Morocco called for
French assistance to crush a rebellion.
France saw this as an opportunity to
increase her influence.
- Germany sent the gunboat “Panther”
to Agadir. This is an example of
“gunboat diplomacy”. Germany
demanded the French Congo if the
French were to have Morocco.
- 1912 Balkan League formed, with
Russia’s encouragement.
- 1912 First Balkan War, Balkan League
attacked Turkey. Five centuries of
Turkish rule in Europe ended. Serbia
emerged as the strongest Balkan state.
- 1913 Second Balkan War, Bulgaria
quarrelled with Serbia and Greece over
land gains. Bulgaria was defeated.
- Germany’s move greatly alarmed
Britain because it was close to Gibraltar
and British trade routes. Lloyd George,
Chancellor of the Exchequer, warned
Britain would rather fight than be
pushed around.
- Germany climbed down and
accepted a much smaller plot of land.
- Britain was convinced Germany
wanted to dominate Europe.
- Germany had suffered another
humiliating defeat. She felt “encircled”
by enemies, not helped by Lloyd
George’s fighting speech.
Tirpitz used the opportunity to put
through another naval law to expand
the navy.
- After the First Balkan War, AH
wanted to crush Serbia. However, the
Great Powers did not want to be pulled
into war by the Alliance system, so they
forced a peace settlement at the
London Conference. Serbia was made
even more bitter when she was denied
a coastline by the creation of Albania.
- After Second Balkan War, at the
Treaty of Bucharest, Bulgaria
surrendered all the lands she had won in
the First Balkan War.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- Imperialism and nationalism reflected
in Wilhelm’s desperate desire for an
empire.
- Imperialism and nationalism reflected
in the “Scramble for Africa”.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- Nationalism lay at the root of the
quarrel between AH and Serbia.
- National groups within AH, Ottoman
and Russian empires wanted separate,
independent nations instead of polyglot,
multi-cultural empires.
- AH multi-national empire was under
nationalistic pressures from radical
groups. Less than half the empire
- Wars had a disastrous effect on Austro
Serbian relations. Serb terrorist attacks
against Austrian targets were openly
applauded.
- Serbia had doubled in size and was a
military threat.
Schlieffen Plan.
- Every European power made plans
for the event of war. These had to be
detailed because the resources of the
whole country would have to be utilised
e.g. factories, conscripts.
- Schlieffen Plan avoided war on two
fronts.
- Germany saw war with France as
inevitable because of her desire for
revenge over Alsace Lorraine.
- 1900 – 1914 Germany dramatically
increased the number of railway lines
on her French and Belgian borders, to
ensure rapid mobilisation.
- A flaw with the plan was that there
was no provision for war with Russia
alone, only France and Russia.
- Another flaw of the plan was that the
invasion through Belgium risked
drawing Britain into the war.
Assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand / AH “Ultimatum” to Serbia
/ Germany’s “Blank Cheque” to AH.
- 28 June 1914 Franz Ferdinand was
assassinated in Sarajevo in Bosnia by
the “Black Hand” Bosnian terrorists.
- 28 June was the anniversary of the
Battle of Kossovo, when Serbia lost her
independence in the C14th.
- 1911 creation of the “Black Hand’.
Their aim was to unite all Slavs into one
state.
- There was no clear proof, but no one
doubted that Serbia was behind the
assassination.
- AH wanted to crush Serbia but there
were two obstacles. AH forces needed a
month, and they questioned whether
Germany would back them if Russia
came to Serbia’s aid.
- 5 July 1914 Germany gave a “blank
cheque” to AH. Germany knew this
risked a full European war, however,
they could not afford to lose their only
true ally. Wilhelm believed Russia would
not get involved because they were
recovering from 1905 war with Japan.
- 23 July 1914 AH issued Serbia with the
“ultimatum”, knowing that it was
extremely harsh and no nation could
really accept it.
- Serbia accepted almost all the terms
of the “ultimatum” but this was not
enough for AH.
- 30 July 1914 Russia mobilised to
support Serbia.
- As a result of the Schlieffen Plan,
belonged to the two controlling groups:
Austrians and Magyars. 8 million Czechs
and Slovaks, 5 million Poles, 4 million
Ruthenians, 5 million Serbs and Croats.
Slavs were the most restless.
- Russian empire sympathised with
Serbs because they shared the same
orthodox religion. She saw herself as a
champion of the Slavic people.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- Imperialism and nationalism reflected
in Wilhelm’s desperate desire for war.
- French nationalists could not rest as
long as French men were under
German rule.
- Militarism is reflected in the belief that
preparing for war was the only way to
ensure peace.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- Nationalism lay at the root of the
quarrel between AH and Serbia.
- National groups within AH, Ottoman
and Russian empires wanted separate,
independent nations instead of polyglot,
multi-cultural empires.
- AH multi-national empire was under
nationalistic pressures from radical
groups. Less than half the empire
belonged to the two controlling groups:
Austrians and Magyars. 8 million Czechs
and Slovaks, 5 million Poles, 4 million
Ruthenians, 5 million Serbs and Croats.
Slavs were the most restless.
Germany had to mobilise.
Germany declared war on Russia and
France. Russia and France declared war
on Germany. Germany invaded
Belgium. Britain declared war on
Germany. The Alliance system pulled all
the powers into war.
- Russian empire sympathised with
Serbs because they shared the same
orthodox religion. She saw herself as a
champion of the Slavic people.
Key Events
Treaty of Versailles / Creation of the
Weimar Republic
Fall of the Weimar Republic / Hitler’s
rise to power.
Weimar Republic & Nazi Germany
Causes
Consequences
- Schlieffen Plan.
- Wilhelm fled to exile in Holland.
- Germany lost WWI.
- Ebert took over as Chancellor and a
- “War Guilt Clause”, reparations and
German Republic was set up.
de-militarisation.
- Germany was extremely unstable
- It was a condition that Wilhelm II had because the Social Democrats did not
to abdicate, but he refused.
have total control e.g. Spartacist Rising,
- Naval commanders at Kiel sent out
Kapp Putsch.
ships in a suicide bid for glory but the
- The next problem for the Social
sailors mutinied. Strikes followed and
Democrats was to keep control and
there was fear of a revolution like that
prevent the more extreme left wing
in Russia in 1917. The Social Democrats,
revolutionaries from gaining power.
under Freidrich Ebert, the strongest
- Dolschtoss myth.
party in the Reichstag, sent an
- Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic.
ultimatum to Wilhelm that they would
- Crises of 1923. The occupation of the
join the protests if he did not abdicate.
Ruhr. Inflation. Beer Hall Munich
Putsch.
- Germany lost WWI.
- It was a condition that Wilhelm II had
to abdicate, but he refused.
The Social Democrats, under Freidrich
Ebert, the strongest party in the
Reichstag, sent an ultimatum to
Wilhelm that they would join the
protests if he did not abdicate.
- Germany was extremely unstable
because the Social Democrats did not
have total control e.g. Spartacist Rising,
Kapp Putsch. Social Democrats needed
to mantain control and prevent the
more extreme left wing revolutionaries
from gaining power.
- Dolschtoss myth.
- Crises of 1923. The occupation of the
- Inflation and other problems had a
serious impact on the middle class. They
lost their savings and despised the
French and associated these problems
with the newfangled idea of
democracy. They wanted a party which
promised strength and stability.
- 1932 Nazis become the biggest single
party in the Reichstag with 230 seats.
- 1933 Hitler became Chancellor. This
was the only alternative to Nazi revolt
and civil war.
- After 1933 Reichstag Fire Hitler
consolidated his power by getting rid of
his opposition.
- 1933 Enabling Act gave Hitler the
power to make laws without the
Historical Force
- Nationalism was reflected in the
German people’s dislike for the Treaty
of Versailles and the “War Guilt Clause”
and the Dolschtoss myth.
- Socialism. For the Social Democrats
the abdication of the Kaiser was the
end of the Revolution because Marxist
ideas were too strong for them. They
were actually moderate and did not
want to alienate the rich elite
landowners and industrialists.
- Nationalism was reflected in the
German people’s dislike for the Treaty
of Versailles and the “War Guilt Clause”
and the Dolschtoss myth.
- Nationalism reflected in the failure of
the experiment in democracy and the
desire for a strong party.
- Nationalism is reflected in the belief in
the Aryan race.
- Nationalism was associated with
aggressive militarism.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to further their
nation’s interests.
Death of Stresemann.
Great Depression.
Ruhr. Inflation. Beer Hall Munich
Putsch.
- Political problems due to the need for
coalitions. Weak support from German
people, who did not feel democracy
could save them. “Proportional
Representation” meant no one leader
was strong enough to rule.
- Weaknesses of economy. Depended
on American loans under the Dawes
Plan which could be withdrawn.
- Chancellor and Foreign Minister.
Weimar’s only statesman. He believed
Germany needed to regain her
international esteem.
- Created stability by suppressing both
the left and right e.g. mobilised army
against left in Saxony and Thuringia,
right in Bavaria.
- His acceptance of reparations led
America to ease Germany’s burden with
the Dawes Plan.
- Stresemann died just days before the
Great Depression.
- Dawes Plan enabled Germany to
focus on the future and restored
international confidence in her. Enabled
Stresemann to bring inflation under
control. Industry expanded and heavy
industrialists made fortunes. However,
approval of the Reichstag.
- 1934 Night Of The Long Knives. Hitler
eradicated the SA.
- 1934 Hindenburg died and Hitler
declared himself President.
- Main tenets of Fascism.
- Use of terror as a political tool.
Propaganda. Night Of The Broken
Glass.
- Holocaust.
- The embodiment of European hopes
for a peaceful future. If he had not died
in 1929 Germany might have fared very
differently in the Great Depression.
- Suppression of the left and right in the
short term gave these groups time to
refine their long term plans e.g. Hitler in
prison wrote his manifesto Mein Kampf.
- Dawes Plan enabled Germany to
focus on the future and restored
international confidence in her. Enabled
Stresemann to bring inflation under
control. Industry expanded and heavy
industrialists made fortunes. However,
the plan was dependent on the health
of the US economy. Wall St Crash 1929.
- Great Depression. Trade contracted.
45% of the German workforce
unemployed. Hunger and strife.
- “Economic Orthodoxy”.
- Great Depression. Trade contracted.
45% of the German workforce
unemployed. Hunger and strife.
- The Depression was hard enough in
established democracies. In Germany,
which was already mistrustful of
- Great Depression. In an attempt to
defend their own industries nations
adopted a policy of economic
nationalism and raised tariff barriers on
imports.
- Great Depression. In an attempt to
defend their own industries nations
adopted a policy of economic
nationalism and raised tariff barriers on
imports.
- Nationalism reflected in the failure of
the plan was dependent on the health
of the US economy.
- Wall St Crash 1929.
- “Economic Orthodoxy”.
Night of the Long Knives.
- The power Hitler had attained by
1933 was not his alone. The muscle
behind the Nazi Party was the SA.
- SA symbolised the potential of the
volkish soil when married to discipline
and order. In practice they were thugs
who beat up enemies of the state e.g.
Communists.
- As head of state Hitler had acquired
a respectability which association with
thugs could only tarnish.
- Needed to keep the military onside
and show that real power still lay with
the Junker.
- Leaders of the regular army made it
clear Hitler could have them or the SA,
but not both.
- Roehm, leader of the SA, wanted to
take the Nazi revolution to Socialism.
However, this was too close to
Communism for Hitler. Roehm
constituted a threat to industrialists and
capitalists on whom Hitler’s plans for
expansion depended.
- Hitler needed to get rid of the SA but
they were unlikely to go quietly.
democracy, the collapse of compromise
government was obvious as parties of
the Republic bickered about how to
combat the Depression.
- 1932 Nazis become the biggest single
party in the Reichstag with 230 seats.
- 1933 Hitler became Chancellor. This
was the only alternative to Nazi revolt
and civil war. Demise of the Weimar
Republic.
- 30th June 1934 SS struck at the SA.
Brownshirts were deprived of their
leaders. By morning Hitler was supreme.
- After the Night of the Long Knives
Hitler identified himself as guardian of
all interests and classes.
- The action was timely because in
August 1934 Hindenburg died and
Hitler declared himself President and
Fuhrer.
- Government through
“Fuehrerprinzip” Leader Principle, in
which the will of the leader equated to
the law of the land, had arrived.
- Consequences of Nazi Germany.
the experiment in democracy and the
desire for a strong party.
- Nationalism was reflected in the
German people’s dislike for the Treaty
of Versailles and the “War Guilt Clause”
and the Dolschtoss myth.
- Nationalism is reflected in the belief in
the Aryan race.
- Nationalism was associated with
aggressive militarism.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to further their
nation’s interests.
Key Events
August Revolution
First Indo-China War
Vietnam & The Conflict In Indo-China
Causes
Consequences
- 1850s French aim for “God, gold and
- 10 August Ho Chi Minh called for a
glory” in Indo-China.
general uprising. Bao Dai abdicated.
- France seized Indo-China because
Viet Minh controlled Vietnam. DRV
mandarins were no match for modern
proclaimed.
western ideas, Vietnamese control was
- However Britain, USA, USSR, China
weak and Tu Duc faced rebellion in the decided after the Japanese defeat that
north as well as French in the south. It
north of the 16th parallel would be
took 25 years to complete the conquest. controlled by non-Communist
Resistance for guerrilla fighters.
nationalist Chinese and south by Britain.
- French rule meant using Indo-Chinese - First Indo-China War.
resources to supply the mother country.
Indo-Chinese remained poor. Village
communal life disrupted.
- During WWII Japan moved into IndoChina but allowed French officials to
continue to run the country.
- 1941 Ho Chi Minh formed Viet Minh.
- 1945 defeat of Japan left a power
vacuum.
- 1850s French aim for “God, gold and
glory” in Indo-China.
- 10 August Ho Chi Minh called for a
general uprising. Bao Dai abdicated.
Viet Minh controlled Vietnam. DRV
proclaimed.
- However Britain, USA, USSR, China
decided after the Japanese defeat that
north of the 16th parallel would be
controlled by non-Communist
nationalist Chinese and south by Britain.
- By 1946 it was clear there would be a
- Guerrilla warfare. Viet Minh were
prepared to play the long game.
- France looked for ways to involve
anti-Communist Vietnam against the
Viet Minh. French use of Bao Dai.
- 1949 Communist victory in China
under Mao Zedong gave Ho Chi Minh
an ally.
- Dien Bien Phu battle that ended the
First Indo-China war.
Historical Force
- French conquest wiped out all trace
of Vietnam as a single unified country.
- Imperialism is reflected in the
European conception of “White Man’s
Burden.
- Imperialism is reflected in the
European Social Darwinian belief in
survival of the fittest applied to
countries.
- Anti-French rebellions e.g. 1885
Scholar’s Revolt. Traditionalists disliked
the restructuring of traditional
Confucian systems. Nationalists wanted
an independent Vietnam.
- By the 1940s there was a clearly
established nationalist tradition, which
drew on failed rebellions e.g. VNQDD
and Ho Chi Minh as a leader who
symbolised Vietnam’s struggle.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- French conquest wiped out all trace
of Vietnam as a single unified country.
- Imperialism is reflected in the
European conception of “White Man’s
Burden.
- Imperialism is reflected in the
European Social Darwinian belief in
survival of the fittest applied to
countries.
- American involvement during First
Indo-China war as a result of
imperialistic communism.
Dien Bien Phu
Geneva Conference
war of independence between the
nationalist, Communist Viet Minh and
the Colonial French.
- 19 December open war erupted with
Viet Minh attack on Hanoi.
- 1850s French aim for “God, gold and
glory” in Indo-China.
- 10 August Ho Chi Minh called for a
general uprising. Bao Dai abdicated.
Viet Minh controlled Vietnam. DRV
proclaimed.
- However Britain, USA, USSR, China
decided after the Japanese defeat that
north of the 16th parallel would be
controlled by non-Communist
nationalist Chinese and south by Britain.
- By 1946 it was clear there would be a
war of independence between the
nationalist, Communist Viet Minh and
the Colonial French.
- 19 December open war erupted with
Viet Minh attack on Hanoi.
- Guerrilla warfare. Viet Minh were
prepared to play the long game.
- France looked for ways to involve
anti-Communist Vietnam against the
Viet Minh. French use of Bao Dai.
- 1949 Communist victory in China
under Mao Zedong gave Ho Chi Minh
an ally.
- By 1954 517,000 French forces were in
Indo-China. The French government
suffered from opposition at home and
needed a speedy end to the conflict.
- Dien Bien Phu. French expected the
Viet Minh to send waves of human
attack, but actually the Viet Minh had
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- At the battle the French expected the
Viet Minh to send waves of human
attack, but actually the Viet Minh had
more artillery than they expected.
- One of the worst disasters in French
military history. French humiliation.
Brought an end to French military rule.
- Triumph for Ho Chi Minh and Giap. It
was an inspiration in the following
years.
- Geneva Conference.
- French conquest wiped out all trace
of Vietnam as a single unified country.
- Imperialism is reflected in the
European conception of “White Man’s
Burden.
- Imperialism is reflected in the
European Social Darwinian belief in
survival of the fittest applied to
countries.
- American involvement during First
Indo-China war as a result of
imperialistic communism.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- Shaped the Indo-China problem for
the next two decades. Ingredients for
future conflict were sown.
- US fear of spread of communism.
“Domino Theory”. Influence US
insistence on the dating for national
more artillery than they expected. One
of the worst disasters in French military
history. French humiliation. Brought an
end to French military rule. Triumph for
Ho Chi Minh and Giap. It was an
inspiration in the following years.
- 1954 conference. Britain, France, USSR
and US.
- DRV suggested Communist and nonCommunist zones in Vietnam, Laos and
Cambodia. Laos, Cambodia and the
Great Powers rejected this.
Fall of Diem
American military involvement
- Opposition began in 1950s.
- 1960 army attempted a coup and
military junta. Diem crushed it after 24
hours but discovered the US had known
about the coup. From then on he no
longer trusted the US.
- Diem saw democracy as a western
disease. Despite this love-hate
relationship, Diem and US both still
needed each other at this point.
- Kennedy wanted to avoid
Americanising the war, but nonetheless
opened the way for greater US
involvement.
- Diem’s strategic hamlet programme
turned the peasants towards
Communism.
- Ho Chi Minh trail.
- Buddhist Revolt. Policies of Nhu and
Madame Nhu. “Let them burn and we
shall clap our hands”.
- DRV was able to wage total war. Ho
- Dividing line placed at the 17th
Parallel, rather than the 13th which was
further south. Division was supposed to
be temporary.
- Nationwide elections to be held in
1956 instead of 1954 so that nonCommunists would be favoured.
- 21 July 1954 ceasefire. Viet Minh
controlled north.
- No foreign military bases or forces
allowed.
- Dien Bien Phu and Geneva
Convention were the end of an era. The
French were gone and European
domination of Asia was at its twilight.
- A group of discontented South
Vietnamese generals plotted a coup.
Diem and Nhu were shot coming out of
a church and their bodies
photographed.
- Series of military coups.
- By 1964 the Saigon government was
facing defeat. The VC openly held one
third of the country and dominated the
other two thirds by night.
- US government was convinced the VC
could be overwhelmed.
- Assassination of JFK. Lyndon Johnson
had to make decisions which had serious
consequences.
elections to favour non-Communists.
- Imperialism reflected in White Man’s
Burden and Europe’s involvement in
Indo-China before First Indo-China war.
- Johnson’s strategy continues to be
- Nationalism made people willing to
- Communism. Diem saw democracy as
a western disease.
- US fear of spread of communism.
“Domino Theory”. Influence US
insistence on the dating for national
elections to favour non-Communists.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
Tet Offensive
Fall of Saigon
Chi Minh led a well-fed population,
politically educated with an industrial
base suitable for a war economy. All
aspects of life were geared to the
struggle. Vietnamese had been fighting
for independence for a very long time.
- US commitment to the war against
the VC gathered momentum after 1964.
- Johnson “if you let a bully come into
your front yard one day, the next day
he’ll be on your porch and after that
he’ll rape your wife in your own bed”.
- General Curtis Le May Joint Chief of
Staff felt Vietnam should be “bombed
back to the stone age”.
- Tonkin Gulf Incident.
- US commitment of combat troops.
Tonkin Gulf Incident. Johnson “if you let
a bully come into your front yard one
day, the next day he’ll be on your porch
and after that he’ll rape your wife in
your own bed”. General Curtis Le May
Joint Chief of Staff felt Vietnam should
be “bombed back to the stone age”.
- Khe Sanh.
controversial today.
- 1965 First US troops landed at Da
Nang.
- US transformed South Vietnam with
roads, bridges, refrigerated warehouses
etc.
- Use of Agent Orange.
- Khe Sanh.
- Tet Offensive. Significant shift in US
war strategy. 1968 election year and TV
reports made the war unpopular.
- Nixon and “mad-man theory”.
Vietnamisation.
- My Lai Massacre.
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- US fear of spread of communism.
“Domino Theory”. Influence US
insistence on the dating for national
elections to favour non-Communists.
Johnson saw Vietnam as a struggle
against aggressive Communism which
was an alien force and a global
conspiracy. Joint Chiefs saw Vietnam as
pivotal to America’s worldwide antiCommunist crusade.
- Significant shift in US war strategy.
1968 election year and TV reports made
the war unpopular.
- Nixon and “mad-man theory”.
Vietnamisation.
- My Lai Massacre.
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- US fear of spread of communism.
“Domino Theory”. Influence US
insistence on the dating for national
elections to favour non-Communists.
Johnson saw Vietnam as a struggle
against aggressive Communism which
was an alien force and a global
conspiracy. Joint Chiefs saw Vietnam as
pivotal to America’s worldwide antiCommunist crusade.
- Nixon. Vietnamisation.
- My Lai Massacre.
- Peace talks. Role of Henry Kissinger.
- Invasions of Laos and Cambodia
caused protests in the US. Four students
were shot at Kent State Uni.
- To convince the US that an
- 1973 US Congress stopped funding US
activity in South East Asia. 1964 Gulf Of
Tonkin Resolution was no longer in
force. War Powers Act gave Congress
control over the President’s use of
troops.
- Watergate spelled the end of Nixon’s
- Nationalism made people willing to
start wars in order to promote their
nation’s interests.
- US fear of spread of communism.
“Domino Theory”. Influence US
insistence on the dating for national
elections to favour non-Communists.
agreement on their terms was the only
way out, North Vietnam launched a
massive invasion.
- Linebacker II, Christmas bombing of
Hanoi and Haiphong dragged North
Vietnam back to ceasefire discussions.
- 1973 ceasefire.
- Reasons why US failed to beat
Communism. Communists had a
superior objective of independence. US
never understood Vietnamese history,
the nature of revolutionary war or the
fact that they were in a civil war. US
objective kept changing. Communists
fought a total war which used all
available resources. US was not
prepared for an endless war. US
overlooked the importance of the
village.
- ARVN continued to fight.
time in office.
- 1975 whole of Indo-China fell to
Communism. Communist rule meant
socialist transformation.
- Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.
Johnson saw Vietnam as a struggle
against aggressive Communism which
was an alien force and a global
conspiracy. Joint Chiefs saw Vietnam as
pivotal to America’s worldwide antiCommunist crusade.