alliances and shifts 1945-1954

Question 1

what made the US fear that communism would expand in the Far East realised?

Answer 1

• In 1954 the french decied to pull out of indochina

Question 2

what was American concerned about? and what did this concearn do?

Answer 2

unless action was taken, the whole of Indochina would fall to communism, this concearn increasingly drew America into the developing war in vietnam

Question 3

who were the vietminh?

Answer 3

An organisation of Vietnamese anationalist led by HO chi minh

Question 4

what did the French cleverly mention?

Answer 4

That Ho was part of a worldwide communist conspiracy orchestrated by Moscow and likely to lead to soviet domination everywhere.

Question 5

By 1947 what did Truman’s Administration think? This was the reason for what?

Answer 5

Ho was probably a puppet of the Kremlin, this was the reason America gave increasing support to the french

Question 7

What did Acheson state?

Answer 7

it was ‘‘irrelevant’’ to ask wether ‘Ho was as much nationalist as commie’ because ‘‘for all stalinists colonial areas are nationalist’

Question 8

Why did Acheson persuade Truman to give more money to the French?

Answer 8

The loss of china in 1949 and the republican attacks exclaiming the imminent communist expansion in Asia.

Question 9

What justified the USA’s fears of a worldwide communist offensive?

Answer 9

when Ho having failed get recognistion by the USA for his Demogratic Republic Of Vietnam, persuaded the Soviets and the chinease to do it instead in 1950.

Question 10

When was USA’s fear of chinease expansionism confirmed?

Answer 10

when chinease troops poured into North Korea, in this situation and atmosphere it is not suprising that the Truman administration decided that incdochina must not be allowed to all into communist hands

Question 11

in February 1950 what did the USA do?

Answer 11

recognised the franch backed government of the Emperor Bao Dai as the legitimate government of vietnam

Question 12

what did the USA decide about helping the French in Vietnam?

Answer 12

fighting against the Ho’s nationalists was all part of the same struggle against Moscow and international communism

Question 13

by december 1953 what was the USA providing the French?

Answer 13

with 10,000 tons of equipment per month and the annal aid totalled $500 million.

Question 14

why was the french government unwilling to carry on with the war? and when?

Answer 14

French voters were tierd of a war thousands of miles away from home which swallowed vast sums of money and soliders by 1953.

Question 15

why did Eisenhower refuse to send direct US assistance in vietnam?

Answer 15

because he knew any american invovlement must enjoy British support as well and he knew this would not be forth coming.

Question 16

why was there conflict over indochina?

Answer 16

after the japanese attack, Ho the leader of the nationalist group of the vietnam, declared independance

Question 17

what happened at Dien Bien Phu and what significance did it have?

Answer 17

it was a frech stronghold, were the french lost this by suffering a crashing defeat, it was significant as it meant the French could no longer maintain control.

Question 18

what was the domino theory?

Answer 18

The view that if one country falls to communism the neighbouring states would follow.

Question 19

when was the Geneva confernce?and what was agreed?

Answer 19

May 1954, the aim was to come to an agreement about the future of indochina, it was agreed that there would be a cease-fire and the coutry would be divided up until elctions at a later date were held.

Question 20

when was Diem appointed Prime Minsiter?and why?

Answer 20

in June 1954, because the French and the British could not provide an alternative.

Question 21

was the Geneva confernce a success?

Answer 21

for America it was not but for the other countries who wanted to keep America out of Vietnam it was.

Question 22

what did 1954 mark?

Answer 22

a significant stage in American invovment in South East Asia

Question 23

what was established in September 1954 and by who?

Answer 23

The South East Treaty Organisation(SEATO) by John Foster Dulles. This guranteed the security of South Vietnam

Question 24

what was the aim of the SEATO pact?

Answer 24

Mutual defence and it was menat to assist in the containment of communism in the region.

Question 25

What does Diem do that breaks the accord of the Geneva confernce? and when

Answer 25

Joined SEATO as a associate member in 1956

Question 26

How long was the policy of containment in South East Asia succesful for?

Answer 26

up until 1959 when Kennedy became President.