Textbook 1063-1066 Flashcards
Indochina (Cambodia
Laos
Viet Minh [League for Independence of Vietnam]: nationalist communist guerrilla resistance
Led by Ho Chi Minh “Uncle Ho” 100 lbs
worked 16 hrs/day
Created Democratic Republic of Vietnam
capital Hanoi
French regained control of cities
Viet Minh controlled countryside
Eisenhower pays 80% of military effort for France
Dien Bien Phu: valley of villages in NW Vietnam
12k French parachute to make base + lure Viet Minh
55k Viet Minh fighters go over mountains w/ Chinese Communist weapons
Dismantled cannons + dug trenches into valley → surrounded French
NSC (Dulles
VP Nixon) urge Eisenhower to use atomic bomb
“You’re crazy. Can’t use those awful things for the 2nd time in <10 years. My God!”
US anti-intervention unless Britain joined (they didn’t) → “politically impossible”
Geneva Accords: Independence of Laos/Cambodia + split Vietnam @ 17th parallel
Signed by FR
Britain
Viet Minh gets North
French South. US + South Vietnam refuse to sign (it affirmed communist win)
Ho Chi Minh takes over North Vietnam
killing opposition
Ngo Dinh Diem (South Viet) Catholic nationalist. Opposed French & Viet Minh. US provides aid $
Viet Cong: Communist guerillas attack Diem. “sink or swim w/ Diem”
“Falling domino” theory: If Vietnam fell to communism
Asia would follow
Eisenhower is popular (balanced budgets)
but unhealthy. Heart attack (1 of 3 major illnesses)
Democratic nominee: Stevenson
Fighting in Suez Canal (Egypt) & Budapest Hungary
Hungarian nationalists revolt against communists b/c of US propaganda Radio Free Europe
Soviets kill 2k “freedom fighters” + force 200k to flee + instal puppet gov’t all in 12 days
Eisenhower’s strat “Take a hard line–and bluff” Dulles makes reckless pledges
E feels guilty
