Vietnam War

VIETNAM WAR OR VIETNAM CONFLICT (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975)
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fallof Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by theUnited States and other anti-communist countries.
BACKGROUND
Before the World War 2 Vietnam had been a French colony. Vietnam was occupied by the Japanese during the war. A strong anti-Japanese movement(the Vietminh) was led by Ho Chi Minh who sympathised with Communist ideas. When the war ended, the Vietminh controlled the north of the country and wanted an independent Vietnam. The French cameback in 1945 wanting to rule Vietnam again. War broke out with the Vietminh. As China sent more aid to the Vietminh the US began to worry about the communists dominating all south east Asia. It sent aidto France and helped the French set up a noncommunist government in the south. The French were forced out of the country and Vietnam was divided . The Communists controlled the northern part and thosewho still supported the French controlled South Vietnam. American influence stopped national elections being held in the south because they were afraid that the Communists would win, US were afraiddue to “the domino effect”.
The government in the south was weak and more and more people turned against it. Communist rebels started coming in from the north. They were trained and armed by NorthVietnam and called themselves Vietcong.


IMPORTANT PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR
NORTH VIETNAM
Ho Chi Minh: Founder of the Vietnamese Communist Party, 1930.
Vo Nguyen Giap: General andCommander PAVN, Politburo Communist Party 1951-1976, Minister of Defence 1946-1980
US - SOUTH VIETNAM
John F. Kennedy: He was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his...