Vietnam before USA involvement

Question 1

Who ruled Vietnam before the second world war and what was Vietnamese opinions of them?

Answer 1

• France

- French rule was brutal and resistant groups started to appear

Question 2

What was the main resistance group in Vietnam and who lead them?

Answer 2

• The Viet Minh

- Ho Chi Minh

Question 3

How much of the country did the Viet Minh control by the end of WW2?

Answer 3

-The North of Vietnam

Question 4

How did Vietnam try to become independent?

Answer 4

-The Viet Minh tried to take control of Hanoi

Question 5

When did the Viet Minh defeat the French?

Answer 5

-1954 after nine years of fighting

Question 6

Who supported France and who supported Ho Chi Minh?

Answer 6

• France was supported by the USA

- Ho Chi Minh was supported by China and USSR

Question 7

What was Dien Bien Phu and what happened?

Answer 7

• A battle of France vs Viet Minh

- 8,000 French troops were killed and France surrendered

Question 8

What was agreed at the Geneva Agreement?

Answer 8

• To divide the country along the seventeenth parallel temporarily
• Planned for democratic elections for the entire country in 1956

Question 9

Who was the leader of South Vietnam and why was he so unpopular?

Answer 9

• President Diem from 1954
• Struggled to keep control
• Catholic and treated Buddhists horribly
• Ruled Harshly
• Arrested enemies
• Strongly supported by USA for being anti communist
• Was killed in 1963 by his own troops

Question 10

What was the NLF?

Answer 10

• The national liberation front or Viet Cong

- Set up and lead by Ho Chi Minh to fight Diem and the USA

Question 11

What did the Viet Cong do in 1961?

Answer 11

• Had 20,000 VC fighters in South Vietnam
• Surprise attacks on enemies
• Set up the Ho Chi Minh trail
• Won support of local areas by treating them well

Question 12

What was the Ho Chi Minh trail?

Answer 12

• A complex series of trails used to move supplies and troops North to South