Reasons For US Involvement 1954-63

Question 1

What battle occurred on 13th March 1954?

Answer 1

The battle at Dien Bien Phu.

Question 2

Who was involved in the battle at Dien Bien Phu?

Answer 2

Between Vietnamese and French troops.

Question 3

What were the main reasons for the battle?

Answer 3

France wanted to regain control of its colony. The Vietnamese Vietminh, led by Ho Chi Minh, wanted independence.

Question 4

Why did France lose control of Vietnam?

Answer 4

France lost control when Japan occupied it during WW2.

Question 5

What did Ho chi Minh ask USA to help with independence?

Answer 5

Wanted USA to help secure Vietnam’s independence from France.

Question 6

What did USA fear about Vietnam’s independence?

Answer 6

Ho Chi Minh would make Vietnam communist.

Question 7

Who was in control of South Vietnam?

Answer 7

Bao Dai.

Question 8

What did the French do to lure the Vietminh into battle?

Answer 8

Built an airstrip at Dien Bien Phu. They brought 15,000 troops and waited.

Question 9

What were the French surrounded by at Dien Bien Phu?

Answer 9

50,000 Vietminh with anti-aircraft guns and other artillery.

Question 10

How long did the Battle last? When did the French surrender?

Answer 10

Lasted 55 days. On 7th May 1954 they surrendered.

Question 11

Why did the Vietminh win at Dien Bien Phu?

Answer 11

Local conditions. China’s help. Local support. Vietminh commitment. French problems.

Question 12

How did local support help the Vietminh win at Dien Bien Phu?

Answer 12

Helped dig 5 new roads to move supplies. Helped move supplies. Spied on the French.

Question 13

How did French problems lead to the Vietminh win?

Answer 13

Underestimated support for Vietminh. Didn’t expect Vietminh to be so armed. Supply planes shot down by Vietminh. Troops lacked commitment.

Question 14

After the defeat of France in the battle what happened to Vietnam?

Answer 14

Was to be temporarily divided and separated by a demilitarised zone.

Question 15

What was the northern part of Vietnam called? Who ran it?

Answer 15

Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Ran by Ho Chi Minh.

Question 16

What was the Southern part of Vietnam called? Who ran it?

Answer 16

The State of Vietnam. Ran by Bao Dai. Later Ngo Dinh prime minister in June 1954.

Question 17

How was there greater involvement under Eisenhower?

Answer 17

Instead of leaving Vietnam to work towards reuniting, he committed more US aid to South Vietnam, even after the French left.

Question 18

What was the most significant reason for greater US involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 18

Fear of communism. If Vietnam became communist then other countries in Southeast Asia would follow. This was known as the ‘domino theory’.

Question 19

What is SEATO?

Answer 19

South East Asia Treaty Organisation.

Question 20

When was SEATO set up?

Answer 20

September 1954.

Question 21

Who was members of SEATO?

Answer 21

UK, France, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand.

Question 22

Why was Diem’s government weak?

Answer 22

There were still communists in South Vietnam. Diem was catholic; most Vietnamese were Buddhist. Diem was Saigon based, he has little respect for peasants. Mainly gave jobs to family.

Question 23

Who were the Vietcong?

Answer 23

Vietnamese Communists.

Question 24

When did Kennedy become president?

Answer 24

1961.

Question 25

By early 1961 how many Vietcong (VC) guerrillas were in the South?

Answer 25

12,000. Over half the country was under some level of communist control.

Question 26

What did Kennedy want a policy of?

Answer 26

A policy of pacification for troops and South Vietnamese government to win support of the villagers.

Question 27

What did Kennedy tell troops to do against VC?

Answer 27

Hunt them down. Don’t just lure them.

Question 28

Why was it hard for ARVN to win over the villagers?

Answer 28

Many officers looked down on the villagers. While many villagers saw ARVN as part of the corrupt government system.

Question 29

How did US Special Forces struggle to gain villager support?

Answer 29

VC would visit villagers during the night when US have gone. Being foreign soldiers was difficult to gain trust.

Question 30

How much money did Kennedy spend on training ARVN?

Answer 30

40 million.

Question 31

What did Kennedy authorise the use of?

Answer 31

Defoliant chemical sprays to kill crops and jungle plants.

Question 32

What is Strategic Hamlet Program?

Answer 32

Large new villages (surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by the ARVN) with facilities such as schools and clinics.

Question 33

Why did they make the Strategic Hamlet Program?

Answer 33

To stop the VC from recruiting villagers or getting supplies from them.

Question 34

When did work on Strategic Hamlet Program start?

Answer 34

January 1962.

Question 35

Why did the Strategic Hamlet Program fail?

Answer 35

US advisers and Diem’s government ignored that villagers didn’t want to leave their homes. Also failed to provide enough food.

Question 36

What did Kennedy ask Diem to do with Buddhists? How did Diem react?

Answer 36

Kennedy pressed Diem to make peace the Buddhists. Instead Diem increased persecution, in August 1963, Diem’s troops raided a buddhist temple killing more.

Question 37

What did Kennedy realise after Diem’s actions?

Answer 37

Diem would never run a democratic government and his government was too unpopular to survive.

Question 38

What happened after USA announced they no longer support Diem’s government?

Answer 38

On 1st November, Diem was overthrown by ARVN generals. USA didn’t warn Diem of this. He was assassinated.