The causes of war ▪
Conflict
Conflict - or state of discord or war - occurs when people's ideas, interests, values or personalities clash and when they cannot agree with each other. Conflict often refers to fighting that has been going on for some time. When countries disagree and cannot settle their differences by peaceful means, they sometimes resort to armed conflict or war.
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Introduce the causes of wa and some examples of conflicts.
Why do people go to war? To defend their country against attack. To defend their beliefs, religion, freedom and way of life, or sometimes to extend these to other people, for example, by imposing their values on another country. To defend an ally or protect a weaker country that was unfairly attacked. To remove their own leader or government (civil war). To gain more land or regain territory lost in a previous war. To gain wealth, power or important resources, such as oil. To stop atrocities such as genocide (mass murder) in another country or to depose a dictator (force a dictator to give up power).
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Objectives
The Vietnam War
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Why do people go to war?
00links For more on refugees, see pages 108-109.
From 1959 to 1975 a war took place in Vietnam, in Southeast Asia. The Communist government of North Vietnam, supported by other Communist countries, fought against the government of South Vietnam, supported by the USA and others. Despite the superior equipment and power of the USA, the North won the war. The communists then reunified Vietnam and took over Laos and Cambodia. Besides the many millions killed in the conflict, the war created a massive problem of refugees. The refugees, often known as 'boat people', fled to South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia when the conflict ended. They risked death in boats that were not seaworthy to get away.
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The Falklands conflict
The Falkland Islands and South Georgia are British territories off the coast of South America. For a long time, Argentina has claimed that the islands belong to them. In April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falklands and South Georgia to take them over. Britain sent a taskforce to protect the islanders and regain control of the islands, and Argentina surrendered in June 1982. The 'war' had not been officially declared and was over in 74 days. However, 907 people lost their lives.
la Millions of soldiers and civilians died in the Vietnam War