The end of French rule in Vietnam

why did the battle of Dien Bien Phu take place

Vietnam was a French colony that France lost control of when it was occupied by Japan in WW2, when the war ended France wanted to regain control of its colony but he Vietnamese Vietminh wanted independence

why did the Vietminh win at Dien Bien Phu

local conditions, aid from China, French problems, Local support & Vietminh commitment

explain local conditions as a reason why the French lost the battle of Dien Bien Phu

the Vietminh understood the country and used the mountains & terrain they were familiar with to surround the French

explain local support as a reason why the French lost the battle of Dien Bien Phu

the vietming had support from the locals, the villagers helped did new roads to help move supplies & spy on the French

explain China’s help as a reason why the French lost the battle of Dien Bien Phu

Chian supplied Vietminh with weapons and ammunitions, sent 200,000 biked to move supplies and helped with planning and even sent some troops

explain French problems as a reason why the French lost the battle of Dien Bien Phu

underestimated support for the Vietminh and didn’t expect them to be so well supplied. Their planes were shot down by anti-aircraft guns. Their troops lacked commitment as many were German

explain Vietminh commitment as a reason why the French lost the battle of Dien Bien Phu

the Vietminh army worked around the clock to build roads and move supplies & were fighting for their own independence

Why did the USA not want to help Ho Chi Minh to make Vietnam an independant country

they feared Ho Chi Minh would make Vietnam communist - they wanted Vietnamese independence but not as a communist country

why did the USA see China as a threat in Vietnam?

fear over the spread of communism - especially when communist China sent the Vietminh supplies, advisers & troops

How many soldiers did the French have at Dien Bien Phu?

15,000

How many troops did the Vietminh have at the battle of Dien Bien Phu?

50,000

what happened following Dien Bien Phu

the Geneva Conference July 1954

what was the Geneva Conference called in response to

the developments in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh was pressured by China to negotiate an end for the war & Eisenhower wanted a diplomatic solution)

what happened at the Geneva conference

paved the way for Ceasefire rather than a long term solution to the question of Vietnam’s independence as a unified state - led to the creation of 2 zones divided along the 17th parallel

who led the divided states of Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh led the north and pro-western President Diem the south

what happened after the Geneva conference

The french withdrew their troops from the North & the Nationalist forces withdrew from the south

what happened concerning the division of Vietnam

division was not intended to be permanent & there was a promise of elections in 2 years to vote on the state of separation