(OSEA) Conflict and Change: Korea and Vietnam Lesson
Korea and Vietnam Conflict and Change
Korea and Vietnam faced similar conflicts post World War II. As the world became divided between the superpowers of the USSR and the U.S., communism, and democracy continued to cause conflicts within Asia. Both Vietnam and Korea were divided into Northern and Southern sections. The North supported the communist movement, while the South wanted to increase democratic values. Ultimately, in Korea, the divide would stand and still stands today. In South Vietnam, they lost the resistance and fell to a united Communist country.
Vietnamese Independence
Vietnam was ruled by China for over 1000 years. They gained independence from China in 939 c.e. after years of fighting. But by the late 1800s, France claimed Vietnam as a colony. The Vietnamese people did not like being ruled by a foreign country.
By the early 1900s, the Communist Party of Vietnam was formed. It was led by Ho Chi Minh. He declared Vietnam’s independence from France on September 2, 1945.
Minh created the Viet Minh to fight against the French. They fought for eight years without success then finally defeated the French in 1954 when they took the military camp at Dien Bien Phu. In 1955 France removes troops from Vietnam and left the country split into north and south regions.
Democracy vs. Communism: Korea and Vietnam
Wars fought in Korea and Vietnam were fought because of other countries wanting to expand their political influence. These wars were battles between Democracy (United States) and Communism (Russia/Soviet Union).
The Soviets (Communism) and the Americans (Democracy) fought on the same side in WWII and after winning the war, both sought out to help rebuild war-torn Europe and Asia. Both wanted to spread their own form of government to other countries.
After WWII, both Vietnam and Korea were split into northern and southern parts. The northern parts of both countries were controlled by communists and the southern parts of both countries were controlled by democracies. Supported by the United States and the Soviet Union, wars broke out in both nations as each side tried to gain control of the other side.
- Vietnam War (1959-1975) led to a united Communist country
- Korean War (1950-1953) led to two countries on the peninsula
- Communist north
- Democratic south
Although not successful in Vietnam, the U.S. became a “superpower” while the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991. The U.S. successfully contained the spread of Communism. Korea is still divided today at the 38th Parallel - the north remains communist, while South Korea is a democratic nation. A demilitarized zone (DMZ) - where there are no soldiers and no one lives, lies between the two nations.
Challenge
Take Away
The spread of communism was in full effect in Asia after World War II. The United States and the USSR fought to spread their ideological government beliefs. Vietnam and Korea were in the middle of these growing tensions. The Korean War saw no progress after the fighting as the country is still divided today at the 38th parallel. The Vietnam War caused numerous deaths and the devastation of a United States withdrawal from the country.
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