US Involvement in Vietnam
France wanted to regain its colony Vietnam
They had been in conflict with Vietnam since 1946
The Vietminh, led by Ho Chi Minh, wanted indepence and to be a communist country
Fighting broke out
South Vietnam then was controlled by France, North Vietnam was declared the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
China became a communist country in 1949 and therefore sent supplies to the Vietminh
The USA sent supplies to France to avoid the country turning communist
US support was so heavy that it was covering 80 percent of costs towards France’s war with the Vietminh
A major battle broke out at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and France had to surrender due to the strength of the Vietminh
Eisenhower advised his soldiers not to fight as to avoid war
The Geneva Conference (1954) attempted to restore peace
The Geneva Accords declared that Vietnam was to be split along the 17th parallel with a demilitarised zone where no soldiers were permitted
South Vietnam was led by Bao Dai (US’s choice) until 1955, when Ngo Dinh Diem replaced him as president
DOMINO THEORY:
Eisenhower was worried that if Vietnam fell to communism, all the countries around it would too
Since the USSR and China were relatively near Vietnam, this increased worry.
USSR and China were also in support of Vietnam and therefore the USA was at a risk of starting a nuclear war with them
Eisenhower set up the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (or SEATO) which included countries like Britain and France
SEATO was set up to prevent the spread of communism at all costs
GOVERNMENT:
Ngo Dinh Diem had no public respect and was despised
He burned Buddhists and hated them
Most of Vietnam’s population is Buddhist and Diem was Catholic
Military was set up and was called the ARVN and fought against the Vietminh
Vietcong = Vietnamese Communists, Vietminh, or VC for short
French withdrew AUGUST 1954
Why did France lose at Dien Bien Phu?
Vietminh understood the country
Local support
Vietminh worked day and night building roads etc etc
Underestimation
China’s help
Traps were obvious
Guerrilla tactics used by Vietminh
Guerrilla tactics - the use of hit and run tactics and things that aren’t used conventionally in war
France wanted to regain its colony Vietnam
They had been in conflict with Vietnam since 1946
The Vietminh, led by Ho Chi Minh, wanted indepence and to be a communist country
Fighting broke out
South Vietnam then was controlled by France, North Vietnam was declared the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
China became a communist country in 1949 and therefore sent supplies to the Vietminh
The USA sent supplies to France to avoid the country turning communist
US support was so heavy that it was covering 80 percent of costs towards France’s war with the Vietminh
A major battle broke out at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and France had to surrender due to the strength of the Vietminh
Eisenhower advised his soldiers not to fight as to avoid war
The Geneva Conference (1954) attempted to restore peace
The Geneva Accords declared that Vietnam was to be split along the 17th parallel with a demilitarised zone where no soldiers were permitted
South Vietnam was led by Bao Dai (US’s choice) until 1955, when Ngo Dinh Diem replaced him as president
DOMINO THEORY:
Eisenhower was worried that if Vietnam fell to communism, all the countries around it would too
Since the USSR and China were relatively near Vietnam, this increased worry.
USSR and China were also in support of Vietnam and therefore the USA was at a risk of starting a nuclear war with them
Eisenhower set up the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (or SEATO) which included countries like Britain and France
SEATO was set up to prevent the spread of communism at all costs
GOVERNMENT:
Ngo Dinh Diem had no public respect and was despised
He burned Buddhists and hated them
Most of Vietnam’s population is Buddhist and Diem was Catholic
Military was set up and was called the ARVN and fought against the Vietminh
Vietcong = Vietnamese Communists, Vietminh, or VC for short
French withdrew AUGUST 1954
Why did France lose at Dien Bien Phu?
Vietminh understood the country
Local support
Vietminh worked day and night building roads etc etc
Underestimation
China’s help
Traps were obvious
Guerrilla tactics used by Vietminh
Guerrilla tactics - the use of hit and run tactics and things that aren’t used conventionally in war
