Reasons For Increasing Involvement Of The Usa 1963 - March 1965 Flashcards
Why was the USA’s fear of communism a factor for involvement?
USSR and China backed the north
Vietnamese
Presidents reluctant to withdraw as containment had failed
‘Domino theory’ feared the expansion of communism
Didn’t want a repeat of Korea
What happened at Dien bein Phu?
General Navarre appealed to USA for help as they were surrounded by 70,000 Vietminh troops
Giap used guerilla warfare to surround the French
China have Giap howitzers and anti- aircraft guns which stopped French supplies
March 13th 1954 Giap launched his attack 56 days the Vietminh pushed the French back untill the French had a small space of Dien bein Phu.
How many French died at Dien bein Phu?
7,000
11,000 held prisoner
What was the effects of the Dien bein Phu battle?
Conference in Geneva
Vietnam split in two
Diem became president of the republic of Vietnam
Backed by USA
Army called Vietcong
What did the Harry Truman do that increased the USA’s involvement with Vietnam?
Harry Truman - supported the French with $2 billion so they could containment Vietnam
Dulles (USA Secretary of State) wanted Dwight Eisenhower to bomb Vietnam - he refused. Eisenhower also backed Diem not to have elections - USSR and China backed Diem
JFK- supported containment sent in cash and 23,000 advisors by 1963
What did Dwight Eisenhower do to increase the involvement of the USA in Vietnam?
Dulles (USA Secretary of State) wanted Dwight Eisenhower to bomb Vietnam - he refused. Eisenhower also backed Diem not to have elections - USSR and China backed Diem
What did JFK do to increase the involvement of the USA in Vietnam?
JFK- supported containment sent in cash and 23,000 advisors by 1963
What did Lyndon Baines Johnson do to increase the involvement of the USA in Vietnam?
Military conflict under LBJ
increased number of personal sent to Vietnam by 30%
Believed in the domino theory
And used the Gulf of Tonkin 1964 to get resolution passed
Operation rolling thunder
How did the rise in numbers of the Vietcong increase the involvement of the USA?
The Vietcong supported the communists as Diem became very unpopular
Persecution of Buddhists as he was Catholic
Vietcong attacked US air bases/ military air bases
Christmas 1964 - bomb detonated and US camp near Pleiku attacked
VC: 1961 - 20,000. VC: 1964 - 100,000
What lead to the Gulf of Tonkin?
August 1964 - US claimed two attacks on the US Maddox and Turner joy.
LBJ and McNamara wanted support from congress to avenge the attack
Led to gulf of Tonkin resolution
What else increased the involvement of the USA?
Diem was extremely corrupt
Saigon government was incompetent
