Were they independent actors or were they responding to the actions of the Vietnamese? I would argue that the French were more independent and had more free reign in their dealings with Vietnam. They had a clear goal of hanging onto their interests in Cochinchina, and for a good portion of the war dictated the terms. Militarily. the Americans also dictated most of the war just due to the stark contrast in destructive power between the United States and the People’s Army of Vietnam. However, as the war came to a close the Americans became more and more responsive to the actions of the DRVN in political
Were they independent actors or were they responding to the actions of the Vietnamese? I would argue that the French were more independent and had more free reign in their dealings with Vietnam. They had a clear goal of hanging onto their interests in Cochinchina, and for a good portion of the war dictated the terms. Militarily. the Americans also dictated most of the war just due to the stark contrast in destructive power between the United States and the People’s Army of Vietnam. However, as the war came to a close the Americans became more and more responsive to the actions of the DRVN in political