ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the Vietnamese Revolution, its causes, and its impacts. The chapter describes how the French conquest of Vietnam changed it politically, economically, and culturally and provoked repeated efforts to achieve independence. The lives of key revolutionary leaders are depicted, in particular, Ho chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap, and the creation of the Vietnamese Communist Party and its revolutionary strategy are explained. The chapter describes the effects of World War II, the formation of the communist led Viet Minh, US aid to the Viet Minh during the war, and the Vietnamese declaration of independence in 1945. The French Indochina War is depicted as well as the Geneva peace agreement. Growing US involvement in Vietnam is described along with the creation of South Vietnam and the National Liberation Front (Viet Cong). The outbreak of the American war in Vietnam and its major characteristics and events are also explained. The peace settlement is outlined along with the later fighting that resulted in the reunification of Vietnam. The aftermath of the war is presented as well as the restoration of Vietnamese economic and diplomatic relations with the US, the development of the Vietnamese economy, persisting social problems, and continuing pro-democracy activism.
