3.1 Reasons For Us Involvement In The Vietnam Conflict 1954-1963 Flashcards
Who were the vietcong?
Vietnamese communists
What did NVA stand for ?
Northern Vietnamese army
What did ARVN stand for?
Army of the republic of vietnam (south vietnam)
What happened to vietnam after ww2?
Returned to the french , the former colonial power
Who occupied vietnam before ww2?
Vietnam was a french colony
Who occupied vietnam during ww2?
Japan
When did vietnam gain its independence?
August 1945
When did china become a communist state?
1949
What was the domino theory ?
The fear that if one state fell to communism (china ) the rest would
What was the relationship between us and ho chi minh?
Reluctant to help him as they did not trust him not to fall to communism
What started us involvement in 1950?
French appealed for us supoort . They paid 80% of french costs
What was the dien bien phu air strip?
Used to lire vietnam into battle. Used to bring 15000 troops to the french.
What was the battle of dien bien phu?
55 day battle between french forces(15000 troops ) and Vietnamh (50000 troops)who had anti air craft guns. The french eventually surrendered
When did the battle of dien bien phu start?
13 march 1954
Why did the vietnamh win the battle at dien bien phu?
- chinas help -supplied weapons , 20000 bikes , helped plan and also supplied troops
- local support-villagers helped, moved supplies , digger roads, spied on french
- vietnamh commitment-fighting for independence
- french problems-underestimated vietnamh, vietnamh well armed , supply planes shot down , troops lacked commitment
- local conditions- french built trap for themselves
What was the us reaction after the french left vietnam in 1954?
Eisenhower continued to support the south even though the new leader Ngo Dihn Diem was corrupt and unpopular. Eisenhower sent military advisors
When were the Geneva accords ?
1954
Who agreed to the Geneva accords and who didn’t ?
Agreed by uk , cambodia , ussr , china , france , laos , north vietnam
Refused by us and south vietnam
Features of the Geneva accord ?
-vietnam divided along 17th parallel
-ho chi minh ran north
-bao dai ran south
-Vietnamese troops had 300 days to move south or north
-no foreign bases
Election would be held in 1956
Good things about geneva accords?
- choose which system to live under
- vietnam united under 1 government
- every country but 2 agreed
Bad things about Geneva accords ?
- still north and south divided
- no system of gov. Been suggested
- potential for communist gov. Chinas infkuence
- south did not agree
What did Eisenhower set up in 1954 to prevent the domino theory ?
South east asia treaty organisation (SEATO)
What did Eisenhower do in 1955 ?
Sent advisors to train ARVN
What did Eisenhower do in 1956 ?
Sent aid to south vietnam
What did Eisenhower do between 1956 and 1961?
Supported diem . Diem took his money but not his advice
What happened when Kennedy become president ?
Guirella tactics not working so moved to counter insurgency . Needed to gain support . Hamlet programme failed . Diem was unpopular and oppressing buddhists. Kennedy withdrew support and diem was overthrown and assassinated in 1963
When did Kennedy become president?
1961
When was Eisenhowers presidency?
1953-1961
Why was diem unpopular
- selfish , ignored us advice
- oppressed buddhists
- only gave jobs to family or catholics
- discriminatory
- most of the population was buddhist and he was a catholic
- corrupt and hated the poor
What did buddhists do in protest to diem?
Set themselves on fire
What did diem being assassinated allow the us to do?
Intervene and stabilise the south
What was the increase in military advisors in the south under kennedys presidency ?
700 -15000
What did kennedy immediately order the building off?
Strategic hamlets
What were strategic hamlets
Heavily defended villages , were southerners were moved too. Protect them from VC
What was the state of diems rule in 1963?
So corrupt he faced continuous opposition. Kennedy threatened to withdraw aid and backed a coup by south vietnamh generals to arrest diem . Kennedy withdrew aid and diem was assassinated and his government fell.
