Outbreak of Vietnam War (1940-63) Flashcards
(7 cards)
What caused the First Indochina War?
Japan occupied French Indochina during WW2, after Japan lost, Ho Chi Minh took over, but France wanted their colony back
What happened at Dien Bien Phu?
- French planned to trick Vietminh into open battle
- 240,000 volunteered to help carrry heavy artillery to hills surrounding French
- 8,000 French killed, surrendered and signed Geneva Agreement
What were the three main terms of the Geneva Agreement?
- French left Indochina, Vietnam made independent
- Vietnam divided on 17th parallel
- Elections in 1956 to decide who to control all of Vietnam
What was Diem’s rule over South Vietnam like?
- Persecuted Buddhists
- Persecuted communists and Vietminh
- Used US financial aid for himself
- Nepotism made his rule a dictatorship
What happened in 1956 that led to outbreak of war?
Diem refused to hold elections as he believed they would not be free in the North.
This broke the Geneva Agreement
How did the US help S.V and why did this surprise Ho Chi Minh?
US sent money and military advisors to S.V, as they supported anti-communist stance held by Diem
Minh thought the US would help N.V as they fighting for independence against colonisers
What happened to Diem in 1963?
He was killed, the US stopped supporting his cruel regime against Buddhists. This meant US involvement in Vietnam increased
