The Vietnam War, 1954-1975

H2 History - syllabus 9174, 2027

From the First Indochina War and Geneva to American escalation, the roles of Hanoi, Saigon, the superpowers and China, American withdrawal, and the war's impact on the Cold War.

• From the First Indochina War to Geneva

  The French defeat in 1954 left Vietnam divided at the 17th parallel, and the USA replaced France as the main Western power.

• Two Vietnams and the road to war, 1954-1963

  Diem's unpopular South Vietnam and Hanoi's decision to support armed struggle turned division into war.

• American escalation, 1961-1968

  Credibility, the domino theory and fear of a communist victory led the USA from advisers to a large ground war.

• China, the USSR and Hanoi's balancing act

  China and the USSR both supported North Vietnam while competing with each other, and Hanoi used their rivalry to its advantage.

• Tet, Vietnamisation and American withdrawal

  Tet turned American opinion against the war; Nixon withdrew troops while using diplomacy with Moscow and Beijing.

• The impact of the Vietnam War on the Cold War

  Vietnam weakened American power and confidence, encouraged detente and triangular diplomacy, and left a communist Vietnam aligned with Moscow.

• Put it together: Why did the USA lose in Vietnam?

  Choose a factor and weigh it against the others.