The Global War 1955 – 1963: Conflict in Asia - Indo-China Under Ho Chi-Minh in the North and Diem in the South

Question 1

Who controlled Vietnam Since 1887

Answer 1

France

Question 2

Who did France lose Vietnam to in 1940

Answer 2

Japan when they invaded in WWII

Question 3

After the Japanese were defeated in WWII who rule

Answer 3

briefly The Democratic Republic of Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh

Question 4

When was the Franco-Vietnam War

Answer 4

1946-54

Question 5

In 1952, USA were footing ….% of the French bill
In 1954, USA were footing ….% of the French bill

Answer 5

As part of containment, USA support France
In 1952, USA were footing 30% of the French bill
In 1954, USA were footing 80% of the French bill

Question 6

What battle does the Franco-Vietnam War end with

Answer 6

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu

Question 7

When is the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?

Answer 7

March - May 1954

Question 8

What happens at The Battle of Dien Bien Phu

Answer 8

Viet Minh defeat French as the French positioned themselves in a basin + Viet Minh’s tactics of disguising as civilians

Question 9

When was the Geneva Conference on Indo-China

Answer 9

1954 April - July

Question 10

Why was Minh unhappy with the Geneva Conference?

Answer 10

As the Viet Minh were winning the War, even raised their flag at Dien Bien Phu.
So felt negotiations were not fair

Question 11

What was agreed at The Geneva Conference?

Answer 11

Vietnam divided at 17th parallel
Communists w/ Minh as PM in North
Diem, pro-capitalist premier in South, with Bao Dai (puppet emporer)
Truce
There would be election after two years for a single Vietnamese government

Question 12

Reactions to the agreement

Answer 12

US and North Vietnam did not sign it, South weren’t even present- had no legal force
Did not satisfy the north as failed at reunification and Ho cried as they exited
US not satisfied as land given to communists and domino partially fallen. ​
French not satisfied as lost a colony.

Question 13

Who was Ngo Dình Diem

Answer 13

Became president of Sout Vietnam in 1955
pro-US, pro-capitalist
Very unpopular, bhuddist persecution

Question 14

When does Diem depose Bao Dai in rigged election

Answer 14

Oct 1955

Question 15

With Diem as President what was established in the South after Bao Dai was deposed

Answer 15

The first Republic of Vietnam (RVN)

Question 16

Outline the main events of Indo-China under Ho Chi-Minh in the North and Diem in the South

Answer 16

• August 1955
- Diem refuses to hold elections in 1956 to reunify Vietnam

• 1956
- North Vietnamese army puts down revolt and about 6000 are killed

• August 1956
- Ho Chi Minh issues public apology for aggressive land reform policy

• January 1959
- VWP decides to adopt revolutionary violence strategy towards Diem

• December 1960
- National Liberation Front is formed

Question 17

When does Diem refuse to hold the planned 1956 elections on reunification?

Answer 17

August 1955

Question 18

What does Ho Chi Minh focus on following the decision to not hold national elections?

Answer 18

• Ho Chi Minh focuses on consolidating communist power in North Vietnam to fight for reunification of Vietnam
• This included Minh’s Vietnam Workers’ Party making land reform

Question 19

Land reform

Answer 19

• Process

• Regime seized privately owned land and redistributed it among the rural farming population
• Landowners and landowners were publicly denounced
• Thousands executed and many more imprisoned in labour camps
• Much of advice on process had come from China

• Effects

• In 1956, the military had to put down a revolt and 6000 people were killed
• In August 1956, Ho Chi Minh issues a public apology for aggressive implementation of land reform programme
• 1 million refugees flee from North Vietnam to South
• Many victims of policy were communists with little wealth
• Full-scale collectivisation was underway and agricultural production had increased

Question 20

How many people were executed and imprisoned in labour camps during Ho Chi Minh’s policy of land reform?

Answer 20

• Thousands executed

- Many more imprisoned in labour camps

Question 21

When did the North Vietnamese army have to put down a revolt against land reform? How many people were killed?

Answer 21

• 1956

- About 6000 killed

Question 22

When did Ho Chi Minh issue a public apology for his aggressive land reform policy?

Answer 22

• August 1956

Question 23

How many refugees fled from North Vietnam to the South following Ho Chi Minh’s aggressive land reform policy?

Answer 23

• About 1 million

Question 24

Revolutionary violence strategy

Answer 24

• January 1959the VWP committed to reunifying Vietnam
• This served as a declaration of war on the South
• Aimed to use military force to overthrow Diem’s regime and the ‘ruling power of the imperialist and feudalist forces’, including the US
• Emphasis on political struggle
• North supported anti-Diem groups in the South
• Led to the creation of the National Liberation Front in the South in December 1960

Question 25

When did the VWP commit to a revolutionary violence strategy against Diem? At what meeting was this agreed at?

Answer 25

• January 1959

- Fifteenth Plenum of the VWP Central Committee

Question 26

When was the NLF formed?

Answer 26

• December 1960

Question 27

What were the characteristics of Diem’s leadership?

Answer 27

• Nepotistic
• Corrupt
• Repressive
• Political opponents silenced
• Divisive policies
• Focused on the preservation of his own power

Question 28

Give examples of Diem’s corrupt policies

Answer 28

• Diem’s brother Ngo Dinh Nhu served as prime minister, and other members of his family were given lucrative posts in government
• Large amounts of US economic aid, such as those designed for agricultural improvements, were fraudulently taken by Diem’s officials and his family
• Diem created a loyal and corrupt ruling group and the support of the US

Question 29

What is the name of Diem’s brother and what position was he given?

Answer 29

Ngo Dinh Nhu
PM

Question 30

Who was John Foster Dulles and what did he say about the US supporting Diem?

Answer 30

• US Secretary of State

- Admitted that the USA supported Diem ‘because we knew of no one better’

Question 31

Who coined the term ‘domino theory’

Answer 31

Eisenhower, idea of communism spreading to neigbouring countries
He was determined to stop domino falling in Vietnam

Question 32

How many military advisors were sent during Eisenhower’s presidency

Answer 32

700