Conflict in Asia 1955-1963 (11) Flashcards
Consolidation of socialism in North Vietnam
Decision not to hold election in 1956 meant Ho Chi Minh had to consolidate power in North Vietnam
Did this through land reform, private land seized and distributed to rural farmers, landlords and landowners denunciations took place - thousands killed and imprisoned in labour camps
In 1956 them military put down a revolt and 6000 people were killed - Ho Chi Minh issued a public apology in August 1956
One million refugees fled to the South
Full-scale collectivisation was underway
How did the North plan to create a united Vietnam?
1958 Vietnam Workers Party Central Committee commit to a strategy
Use military force to overthrow Diem’s regime and remove the ‘imperialist and feudist forces’ - USA who were foreign
December 1960 National Liberation Front formed
Situation in South Vietnam?
Diem was a corrupt nepotistic leader
USA supported him as there was no one better
Diem’s Brother Nhu was prime minister
USA aid went to his family
In 1957 Diem visited the USA
Diem rooted out and destroyed the communists in the South
Replaced local councils with government-officials, many were catholics which reminded the people of the French
The NLF
Formed in December 1960
Purpose to free South Vietnam from US imperialism
Motivated to reject Diem’s quasi-imperialist policies
Used the remnants of the Viet Minh infrastructure
Driven by nationalism rather than ideology
By it being a resistance group it did not breach the Geneva Conference agreements
Used a 10-point programme which appealed to all classes in the South
Supplied through the Ho Chi Minh Trail
JFK policies in Indochina
Committed to Containment and domino theory
Focused on strategy of flexible response
Expand USA’s conventional arsenal to be able to respond to insurgency and subversion
Eisenhower’s massive retaliation could not be used in insurgency such as in South Vietnam
Kennedy backed counterinsurgency through ground forces
General Maxwell Taylor’s report on Vietnam
November 1961 Kennedy sent General Taylor and Walt Roscow to South Vietnam and they recommended the following:
- An increase in helicopter force to facilitate counterinsurgency actions
- Greater support of the South Vietnamese Army
- Increase in US combat forces
- Some strategic bombing of North Vietnam
- recommended sending 10,000 US troops - Kennedy did not want to commit these troops
Strategic Hamlet Program
Introduced in March 1962, through operation Sunrise
Created armed stockades which would house South Vietnamese rural peasants
Isolate people from the Vietcong
Diem used it to spread their own influence
Peasants were under pressure to move into the Hamlets but their were little incentives
By 1962 4 million were claimed to be living in Hamlets
By the end of 1962 there were 3000 hamlets
Was a failure, actually increased recruitment into Vietcong, as they only target government officials who fraudulently took money from the peasants
It also failed as it was impossible to isolate the Vietcong from the hamlets
Buddhist Crisis
Caused by Diem being a Roman Catholic and employing Catholic exiles from the North in government or military work
He started to persecute Buddhists who made up a majority of the population
May 1963 Buddhists were banned from flying flags to celebrate Buddha’s while Catholics were encouraged the week before to display Papal Flags for Thuc
Military used from stopping a speech by Tri Quang, nine people died
Buddhist protests became organised and they interacted with the US press, Tri Quang met with US officials in secret and warned them to remove Diem or force reforms
Climaxed in June 1963 when a Buddhist Monk, Quang Doc burned himself alive
Assassination of President Diem
August 1963, Nhu renewed an assult on the Buddhists
Henry Cabot Lodge, The US South Vietnam ambassador was sent a telegram to start finding an alternative leader for the state
Kennedy sent Robert McNamara and General Taylor to assess the situation in South Vietnam and they concluded Diem was not going to reform
On 1st November 1963, South Vietnamese rebel generals activated a military coup against Diem and his regime, Diem and Nhu were assassinated.
On 6th November Lodge sent a telegram to Kennedy informing him that the coup was purely a Vietnamese affair
