Causes of the Vietnam War
By: Samuel Hernandez
After World War II
Leadership
North Vietnam leader, Ho Chi Minh, was communist while South Vietnam leader, Ngo Dinh Diem, was a democratic leader. Ho had formed the League for Independence of Vietnam also known as the Viet Minh in 1941. According to History.com, "Forced to seek China’s aid for the new organization, Ho was imprisoned for 18 months by Chiang Kai-Shek’s anti-Communist government" (History.com).
Photo from http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/ho-chi-minh
Environment
China is close to Northern Vietnam which made their alliance very strong. Meanwhile, the U.S. and France had quite a distance from Southern Vietnam which did not make their alliance as strong as their opponents'. In this case, North Vietnam had the advantage. They were able to receive quick aid from China. Unfortunately, the U.S. and France were not able to send their help as quickly. Also, North Vietnam used the landscape to their advantage. Their troops traveled through mountains and jungles to sneak their way into South Vietnam. Southern Vietnamese troops traveled as well. However, they took different routes like hip-high deep waters.
Photo from http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/01/world/vietnam-war-fast-facts/Human Rights
Many people from South Vietnam and the U.S. were against the war. The U.S. citizens protested on their lands to retreat the soldiers from Vietnam. Those in Vietnam, specifically the south, protested persecutions. According to CNN.com the image is, "Thich Quang Duc, a Buddhist monk, burns himself to death on a street in Saigon -- the capital of South Vietnam -- on June 11, 1963. He lit himself on fire to protest alleged persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government"(CNN.com).
Photo from
Vietnam War
Who is to blame for the Vietnam War?
I believe Ho Chi Minh for wanting to convert Vietnam into a communist country in the first place. The whole chain of events would have not occurred if Vietnam's government had simply stay the same.
Annotated Bibliography
The source is a general text and did not list any origin to the information provided. This can create the assumption that the information may not be accurate. However, since the source is well known, the information can be accurate. However, the source gives a good understanding of the Vietnam War.
2.Trueman, Chris. "The Causes of the Vietnam War - History Learning Site." History Learning Site. Web. 15 Sept. 2015.
This source is also a general text and also did not cite any sources. This source is not well known and could make the information inaccurate.
3."Ho Chi Minh." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 21 Sept. 2015.
This is also a general text and also did not cite their sources. However, there are many authors so there can be information from many different sources. Also there are some primary sources like a speech by U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
4."Ho Chi Minh." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 21 Sept. 2015.
This source is also a general text and also does not cite their sources. However, there is a lot of information on Ho Chi Minh, and there is the assumption that not all of the information is inaccurate.