Eisenhower & American Involvement in Vietnam

Question 1

Why did Eisenhowere commit more US aid to S. Vietnam even after French left?

Answer 1

Eisenhower feared if Vietnam became communist, other countries in Southeast Asia would follow (domino theory)

Question 2

What did Eisenhower set up in September 1954?

Answer 2

South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO)

Question 3

What did SEATO agree?

Answer 3

To act together, by force if necessary, to stop communism spreading to Southeast Asia

Question 4

Which government in Vietnam had very little support?

Answer 4

Diem’s government

Question 5

Where were there many communists even when Diem was in power?

Answer 5

South Vietnam

Question 6

Why was there doubts that the South Vietnamese army would back Diem if war broke out?

Answer 6

. Many communists in S. Vietnam. Other religious, political and criminal groups had own armies and supporters. Diem was Catholic and there were religious clashes between Catholics and Buddhists. Diem exluded other groups from government jobs. Government was Saigon-based - little respect for peasants in villages and didn’t make reforms to support them. Many villages run by corrupt officials or greedy landlords

Question 7

How did Eisenhower support Diem?

Answer 7

Sent more advisors to train ARVN (S. Vietnam army)

Question 8

Why didn’t US want to put in own troops to S. Vietnam?

Answer 8

They only wanted limited war and didn’t want a nuclear war with USSR and China

Question 9

What did Bao Dai do in October 1955?

Answer 9

Spoke against Diem’s policies

Question 10

How did Diem respond to Dai speaking out against Diem?

Answer 10

Held a referendum on what leader was wanted but it was fixed as US officials helped run the election

Question 11

What was the result of the referendum?

Answer 11

Diem won and renamed Vietnam the Republic of Vietnam which he was the president for

Question 12

How did Diem run the Republic of Vietnam?

Answer 12

. Changed government . Stopped villages electing own officials

Question 13

Why did Diem and USA become very unpopular in S. Vietnam?

Answer 13

Diem, with the backing of the U.S., removed local control and installed corrupt government officials instead

Question 14

What did Diem do in July 1956?

Answer 14

Refused to hold elections agreed at Geneva accords as government didn’t exist when the accords happened

Question 15

Why did USA support Diem as he rejected elections?

Answer 15

Because of Diem’s anti-communist platform, which the US valued as part of its containment strategy against the spread of communism

Question 16

Eisenhower continued to send aid to S. Vietnam. Why was it getting risky?

Answer 16

S. Vietnam could become dependent on U.S. aid and if the conflict dragged on, the U.S. ran the risk of greater involvement

Question 17

What was Diem doing wrong but what did he tell Eisenhower?

Answer 17

He was not making reforms for S. Vietnamese and continued to oppress them. Took US money but not their advice as he ensured Eisenhower the Vietnamese people supported him (they didn’t)

Question 18

What campaign did Diem begin?

Answer 18

One against opponents (especially communists). Began to arrest political and religious opponents

Question 19

What did the ‘denounce a communist campaign’ in Diem’s campaign encourage?

Answer 19

Reporting communists

Question 20

What did ARVN do in 1957 for Diem’s campaign?

Answer 20

They were sent to countryside and 65000 suspected communists were arrested and 2000 killed

Question 21

How many officials had been killed by 1958?

Answer 21

400

Question 22

How did communists fight back to Diem’s campaign?

Answer 22

S. Vietnam groups (Vietcong - Vietnamese communists) fought Diem’s government N Vietnamese supported VC and hoped for revolution

Question 23

How did N. Vietnamese and China get involved by May 1959?

Answer 23

Sent N. vietnamese troops and weapons into S. Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh trail

Question 24

What made it clear Diem’s policies actions a civil war?

Answer 24

Once the VC and N. vietnamese troops starting fighting together against S. Vietnamese

Question 25

When was first attempt to overthrow Diem?

Answer 25

November 1960, failed

Question 26

How did Diem and USA relations worsen?

Answer 26

Diem blamed the U.S. for plot but the U.S. urged Diem to become more democratic and make reforms for popularity, but Diem ignored this

Question 27

What was the National Liberation Front (NLF)?

Answer 27

Made in December by Vietcong and anti-Diem groups. Organised political opposition to Diem and urged villagers to support local VC groups

Question 28

How much of S. Vietnam was under government control by end of 1960?

Answer 28

Less than half

Question 29

The Domino Theory (Post 1945)

Answer 29

The Domino Theory was a prominent foreign policy concept during the Cold War era, particularly in the context of Southeast Asia. The theory suggested that if one country in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would also become communist in a domino effect. This theory was often used to justify and guide the United States’ policy of containment and its intervention in various conflicts during the Cold War, including the Vietnam War.