3.1 - Reasons For US Involvement In The Conflict In Vietnam, 1954-63 Flashcards
JUST READ : Summary of Vietnam War
- Hysteria vs Communism
- Haphazardly walk into war
- Vietnamese were very motivated
- Ho Chi Minh had great support from the people
- Vietnamese supplied by chinese
- Use of the jungle
- French forced out initially
- Vietnamese split → North Communist | South Capitalist
- Ngo Dinn Diem an unpopular leader in the South
- Many fight for the communists
- JFK first sends “advisers” LBJ then sends troops
- Anti - War protest grow
- Ends LBJs presidency
- Nixon tries to end the war
- Communists eventually win
What was the Flag of Vietminh?
Flag of Vietminh - a national independence movement formed in 1941 by Ho chi Minh
At the End of WW2, what happened to Vietnam and what were the divisions?
At the end of WW2, after Japanese surrender, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam an independent country. USA were suspicious as they feared he would make Vietnam communist.
Ho Chi Minh was leader of Vietminh, Bao Dai was leader of the State of Vietnam in the South (controlled by french)
French wanted to retain control
What happened at Dien Bien Phu in 1954?
The French built an airstrip at Dien Bien Phu to lure the Vietminh into battle with 15,000 troops waiting for an attack. Though, they were surrounded by 50,000 vietminh with anti-aircraft guns and other artillery.
Vietminh also had 50,000 troops in reserve and about 200000 civilian workers, Lasted 55 days.
On May 7 1954,French surendered
What were the reasons for the Vietnam victory in Dien Bien Phu in 1954?
Local conditions - Vietminh knew the countryside
Local supporters - support from villagers helped Vietminh
Help from China - weapons and ammo, bikes, troops
French mistakes / problems - underestimated Vietminh, supply issues, lack of commitment
Commitment of the Vietminh - fighting for their independence
What was agreed in the Geneva Accords 1954?
- Vietnam temporarily divided along 17th parallel
- Vietminh in north with Hanoi capital, Bao Dai (later Ngo Dinh Diem ) in south with Saigon as capital
- People free to move for 300 days after the agreement
- No foreign troops
- Elections for a united Vietnam to be held later
Was never successful as no country was happy about the finalised agreements, nor the South and North Vietnamese governments
Why was the USA so concerned with Vietnam?
They thought of the “domino effect “ where Asia lost millions of people to communist dictatorship losing 450 million people when China became communist. Meant that the US were concerned about it spreading all over Asia and coming to Europe.
What was SEATO and when was it formed?
SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation) in September 1954 with US, UK, France, New Zealand, Austrailia, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand. Set up by Eisenhower, to stop communism spreading in South East Asia by force if necessary
Why was Diem a weak and unpopular leader?
- Diem was Catholic; most Vietmamese were Buddhist. Religious clashes were common and Buddhists assumed Diem Favoured the Catholics, which he did
- Diem mainly gave government jobs to his Family members and Catholics, excluding other groups
- There were Still many communists in South Vietnam. They controlled some Northern Areas
- Other religious, political and criminal groups had many supporters and their own armies
- Government based in Saigon, Diem had little respect for peasants and didn’t make reforms to gain support
Why did Eisenhower want Diem to stay in leadership?
“Domino Effect”
What had made Diem’s leadership worse?
October 1955 - Diem won a fixed referendum
16th July 1956 - Diem refused to hold elections and forcefully stayed in government. Was sent more US aid
1957 - Sent ARVN to countryside to arrest communists, arrested 65,000 communists and killed about 2,000
March 1958 - 400 officials were killed, various revolutionary groups fought back called ‘Vietcong’
May 1959 - North Vietnam send troops and weapons into south Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh trail
Why did US involvement increase under JFK?
November 1960 - Army leaders try to overthrow Diem (unsuccessfully),which lead him to blame the US. The US tried to convince him to be more ‘democratic” but he ignored the advice
Why was the National Liberation Front formed by the end of 1960?
National Liberation Front formed to organise political opposition to Diem. By the end of 1960 less than half of South Vietnam was under government control
What were ways in which Kennedy tried to improve control over the situation in Vietnam?
- January 1961 - $40 million to train ARVN
- October 1961 - Kennedy orders a report on sending in US troops
- December 1961 - Kennedy authorises use of defoliant chemical sprays to Kill crops and Jungle plants
- December 1961 - US helicopters and pilots sent to transport ARVN
- US Special Forces (‘Green Berers) went to train villagers to protect their villages from the VC
- Pacification to win support of villagers
- Wanted to isolate and hunt out the VC
- Agreed with Domino Theory
What was the Strategic Hamlet Program and why were they unsuccessful?
Strategic hamlets were large new villages surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by the ARVN with facilities such as schools and clinics.
The Strategic Hamlets were unsuccessful as families did not want to leave their homes and memories of their ancestors (graves) and as Diem was unable to provide the villagers with enough food and they starved.
This was unlikely to produce support for the government
