Preview

Vietnam History, Understanding History, Week 1 Assignment

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
745 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Vietnam History, Understanding History, Week 1 Assignment
Understanding History to Know Value of Culture

DeVry University

HIST415: Vietnam and the 20th Century Experience

Instructor T. Sumner

Summer A 2012

Introduction Vietnam is a remote land with a vast array of forests and wetlands, which are rich in wildlife and natural resources. For this reason, many more advanced nations attempted to overtake Vietnam in conquest. Vietnamese history is scattered with war, slavery, and triumph. Outside influences attempted to help the struggling country re-build and repair a torn culture (Hai Venu, 2009). To better understand a culture there needs to be an understanding of the people that made up the history. In this paper, a better understanding will be gained to why the Vietnamese people are so passionate and have fought so hard for their freedom (Vietnam & 20th Century Experience, Lesson 1).
Understanding History To understand why the people of Vietnam fight so hard for freedom one must understand their history. The country is underdeveloped with rich natural resources. Sitting on a beautiful coastal region, Vietnam was ripe for conquest and there were several countries ready and willing to take that step. When the French came to Vietnam they were under the pretence of peace while slowly digging in roots. The Vietnamese people soon realized that there was an ulterior agenda as the French attacked, took over, and colonized on their land. The people of Vietnam has had centuries of fighting for their freedom and their land from the Chinese in centuries past, however they re-visited the communist influence when the French invaded. Realizing that communism was an improvement to slavery, forces were united and the resistance was born (Hai Venu, 2009). The desperation of the Vietnamese people to have no other option but to turn to communist China for help shouted throughout the world and got the attention of America. The French had control over the nation for



References: DeVry University (2012). HIST415: Vietnam and the 20th Century Experience. Week 1: Lesson. ST. Louis, MO: online publication. Hai Venu, H. (2009). Vietnam. Retrieved from http://www.haivenu- vietnam.com/vietnam-history.htm

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    During the Second World War Southeast Asia had been under Japanese control, but in 1945 the French re-occupied Indo-China. A nationalist group, the Vietminh, eventually surrounded and wiped out the French occupying army and America was dragged into fighting a costly and disastrous war in Vietnam.…

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    1) The Vietnamese complaints against the French both in the letters to President Truman and the 1945 Declaration of Independence, were based on the levying of unjust taxes, increasing the poverty of the rural populace, exploitation of mineral and forest resources, massive starvation, and imprisonment of those who would rebel or question their colonial power. In the long list of grievances against the French stated in the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence, “They have invented numerous unjustifiable taxes and reduced our people, especially our peasantry, to a state of extreme poverty”. Ho Chi Minh stated in his letter to Truman, that it was strictly for humanitarian reasons he need to revolt, and that “two million Vietnamese died of starvation during winter of 1944 and spring 1945”, and that it was “because of starvation policy of French who seized and stored until it controlled all available rice”. These seem like these conditions were a common occurrence at the time in Southeast Asia, where native people under the domination of French colonialism were not treated with dignity and not even given sufficient bare human necessities to live their lives. (Zinn Ch. 18 Pg. XXX)…

    • 1126 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Humbleness In Vietnam

    • 167 Words
    • 1 Page

    From these passages we can infer the people of Vietnam were very proud and fair warriors. Some examples of this is that they were exceedingly patriotic, would fiercely fight for their independence, and that they were very humble. For example, we know they are very patriotic because when in battle, if they knew that they would lose, they would commit suicide because they would rather die than fail their country. Furthermore we know they would fight to the end for their independence because when fighting the French they were overpowered by hundreds, but still fought fearlessly and defeated the French in the end. Finally we can infer their humbleness because of their reaction when defeating the Chinese when they invaded Vietnam. Instead of forcing…

    • 167 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    During the Vietnam War, the Hmong people’s independence were affected by communism and as a result they sided…

    • 1320 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    A leading factor was Vietnam’s strong sense of nationalism the popular support from the Vietnamese people was a major contributor to why Vietnam was able to defeat the French in Indochina. Nationalism united the majority of Vietnam in the quest for independence. It also gave the Vietnamese population the determination and inspiration to defeat the French. This is shown through the view of Ho Chi Minh that “We have a secret weapon... Our secret weapon is nationalism” giving a sense that nationalism was an advantage that helped defeat France in the war. Vietnamese nationalism arose ever since French colonised in Indochina. In addition Nationalism further grew through propaganda, political parties such as the Vietnamese Nationalist Party and the Indochinese Communist Party and through Ho Chi Minh. The resistance groups heavily relied on the support of the people as they could provide them with the necessities such as food, shelter and information about the French. Besides that, the Vietnamese people assisted the army by transporting artillery and ammunition manually. As mentioned by Giap “in war there are two factors, human being and weapons. Ultimately though, human beings are the decisive factor” justifying that popular support was indeed of great importance and was a major reason for Vietnamese victory against the French.…

    • 1046 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Why are we in Vietnam” and “This is not our War” were on the minds of many Americans during the post-World War 2 era. After World War 2 the war had left Europe and other surrounding countries devastated, and to many countries adopting Communism ideals were their only option. Tensions were running high between the two “big nations” The Soviet Union and the United States, each of which wanted to spread their influence as much as possible. The European’s were in no shape to repel Communism and it was vital for France to play an active role in Europe’s recovery for which Vietnam was crucial not only to stabilize France but to place a halt on Communism. Thus leading into one of the…

    • 981 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Vietnamese Culture Essay

    • 1161 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Viet Nam War or Pho are the two popular things that people usually think about when the words “Viet Name” are mentioned. However, there are many interesting things about Viet Nam and its culture that people need to learn and explore more. Throughout the history, Vietnamese’s culture has been shaped and influenced by the Chinese, the French, the Russians, and the Americans. Even though the culture has impacts from all of the outside influences, Vietnamese people still maintain and embrace their own culture.…

    • 1161 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese Communist revolutionary leader, who played the most important role in leading and inspiring Vietnamese civilians to fight for an united Vietnam, once said: “Our resistance will be long and painful, but whatever the sacrifices, however long the struggle, we shall fight to the end, until Vietnam is fully independent and reunified.” One might wonder about the strength and endurance from such a small and insignificant nation as Vietnam. Undergoing 1000 years of Chinese dominance, 80 years of French colonization and 20 years of division with a second Vietnam created in the South and supported by the US, since the US wanted to control the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia . The answer lies in the ideas about the rise of nationalism and national consciousness, in addition to the question arises “Why people were ready to die for their nation?” Benedict Anderson’s theory about nationalism in Imagined…

    • 1422 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Since 1887 Vietnam was occupied by the French, the Japanese and finally the Americans. The Vietnamese people were tired of being ruled by people that did not share the same qualities as they did. For example their religion was…

    • 1219 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    After I read about the Vietnam Wars I can infer that the Vietnamese people and culture over the centuries have been very proud and have stayed almost the same over the time periods of war and struggles. It all started in 208 B.C. from what I have read. The Vietnamese people were first invaded by China time and time again and continuously being pushed around. Every single time the Chinese invaded Vietnam, Vietnam became a territory of the Chinese. Every single time a rebellion would end up sparking though, and every time a rebellion happened the Vietnamese would gain back their independence from the Chinese. Finally in 1428 A.D. a rebellion started while Vietnam was under Chinese rule and they used political persuasion this time instead of war.…

    • 332 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Vietnam War Position Paper

    • 2027 Words
    • 9 Pages

    “You never knew who was the enemy and who was the friends,” said a marine officer who took part in a conflict deemed the longest war in Unites States history (My). The Vietnam War was not only the longest war in US history, as it took place from 1959 to 1975, but it is also considered one of the most controversial conflicts to date. This war, also known as the second Indochina War, occurred in the countries of Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. It was fought between communist North Vietnam, supported by its allies, and South Vietnam, backed by the United States and the other members of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, who wanted to contain the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. Although the struggle originally was between France and Vietnam, the United Stated entered the war because it wanted to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam in order to enforce containment; and more so, to ensure support from France in the Cold war. By the end of the war, about 58,000 Vietnamese people were killed, many of which were citizens. Undoubtedly, the US received heavy criticism for its cruel mistreatment of the Vietnamese citizens in the war, but there is much information that has been overlooked. For example, the U.S forces in Vietnam only resorted to killing innocent citizens because of the guerilla warfare that the Vietcong used, in which they dressed and acted as normal citizens. Second, the US was condemned for enacting programs that forced Vietnamese citizens out of their villages, often destroying their homes in the process. However, this was merely to isolate rural peasants from contact with the National Liberation Front, so that the peasants would not be influenced by their communist ideals. Finally, American commanders clearly sectioned off areas as “free-fire zones,” in which soldiers were directed to shoot at anything that entered this territory (Free). Vietnamese citizens were made aware of these zones, therefore, any civilian deaths…

    • 2027 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Ho Chi Minh

    • 1114 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Through the many years of Ho Chi Minh’s leadership, Vietnam had been led into independence and unity. From an early age, he had fought long and hard to gain the independent status of Vietnam. He believed in what Vietnam deserved to have. There were many hurdles during his leadership, but he did not let any of them get in his way. Would Vietnam be the Vietnam they are today without Ho Chi Minh? This idealistic and motivated leader founded the Vietnamese Communist Party, and was also the President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam from 1945 until his death. Within his years of living, he had shaped and changed Vietnam to the country he dreamed it to be by truly being a great leader of Vietnam.…

    • 1114 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Vietnam has a history as rich as anywhere on the planet. Legend has it that Vietnam's origin lay in the harmonious union of Lac Long Quan, King of the Sea, and Au Co, Princess of the Mountains. However, real life was not so paradisiacal; as Vietnam's early history-like its recent history-is characterized by a nearly continuous struggle for autonomy. Vietnamese civilization is as sophisticated as that of its mighty northern neighbor China, from where it drew many of its influences under a thousand-year occupation. Later came the French and the humbling period of colonialism from which Vietnam was not to emerge until the second half of the 20th century. The Americans were the last in a long line of invaders who had come and gone through the centuries and, no matter what was required or how long it took, they too would be vanquished.…

    • 988 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Vietnamese Culture

    • 1538 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Vietnam is a country which is not only famous for its hospitality but also its deep culture heritage. Having been developed over 4000 years, the culture is characteristic with many dimensions and values. In both the material and spiritual life, Vietnamese have shown their specialty culture through many aspects. Based on Hostede’s point of view ( 1980), the Vietnamese can be described as moderate uncertainty avoidance, high context, especially high power distance and high collectivism. They are typical aspects in Vietnamese culture that are grasped through diverse illustration in folk literature and noble values.…

    • 1538 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Not too long ago, The Vietnam war had affected millions of lives for over a decade, A massive human cost of death and countless injuries, physically and mentally. Vietnam was scorched by napalm, dead bodies were scattered everywhere. And now, if we would look at how Vietnam has made it, it spontaneously survived the war times. People understood the concept of sacrifice for the greater good.…

    • 792 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics