Hist Test 2 Part 11

• · air and possible even Nuclear power against communists in Asia to reinforce the French.
• · Nixon saw that if Vietminh would win it would not be a victory as some Vietnamese over others but a victory of communism

• · Vietnam. A meeting was held with top advisors, vp, sec of state, along with members of congress. Lyndon Johnson was the leader of Democratic party and he did not want US to intervene in Vietnam.
• · Johnson and Eisenhower knew Churchill had no disire to help the French so US would enter alone.
• · Outcome of meeting was Eisenhower sent John Foster Dulles to UK to see if British were interested. They were not to French ended

· May 7 1954 French lost battle of Dien Bien Phu

• · 1954 - (France, China, Soviets, US, Cambodia, Laous, Veitnam)
• · American sec of state John Foster Dulles went to Geneva. Did not want to be around the Peoples Republic of China. Hurried home.

• · July 20, 1954 ceasefire between Vietminh and the French. Drew a line and Vietminh went north and French went south
• · July 21, 1954 Final Declaration: All parties agreed that within 2 years there should be a free election in Vietnam. Even though country was divided along 17th parallel by the ceasefire, they would then be reunited.

• · September 8, 1954
• · (Counterpart to NATO, US trying to separate communists from rest of the world.
• Included Australia, Thiland, Phillipines, New Zealand, Pakistan.
• · None of the countries (Cambodia laus Vietnam) of french endo china were in the treaty.

· in Saigon was beginning to change. Americans supported Ngo Dinh Diem

• · Siezed control of Saigon from Binh Xuygen (the mafia French cut a deal with to police Saigon)
• · Staged plebecide in 1955 to allow people of south vietnam to have a republic or oust Bao Dia.
• · Ngo Dinh Diem became the president of the republic of south Vietnam. US during this period gave additional support to him.

· from wealthy peasants to landless peasants. Part of the communist system, but there was not much land. This created a rebellion because they took land from people that didn't really have much to begin with.

· resettlement of northerners. A number of catholics also moved to the south and other additional Vietnamese. They were resettled in the south and given land. This was the land reform program in the south.

Land reform was a bad deal because they basically got a title for land they were already using then charged a fee. This was not beneficial for the government in Saigon.

· All of the elcections (1956, 59, 61, 63) and all of them were rigged.

• May 6 1959 a new law provided the death penalty for
• · any persons who opposed the government in Siagon led by Ngo Dinh Diem

· Hanoi gov. was totalitarian.

· by 1959 there was resumption of the civil war against the Saigon. Gov in Hanoi were giving limited support to insurgents in the south. The insurgents were known as Vietcong. Hanoi gov under Ho ChI Minh gave some assistance to them.

Ho Chi Minh called for resistance of Saigon Gov. Sept of 1960 Orginazation of resistance was formed. The NLF was basically an import into the south by the north.

· Americans refused to work with Ho Chi Minh because there were no elections. US showed a firm commitment in Vietnam. The goal after 1956 was a viable new south Vietnam state (violated Geneva convention) because they did not want to allow spread of communism.

· Later made Kennedy wonder whether to drop the commitment or bring more troops.

· 2000 Americans serving as advisors to Army in south Vietnam.

· If you view a country as a domino you reduce the understanding of the country. If south Vietnam fell then many more would too. In actuality countries are not dominos not wooden blocks go figure.

· Sent VP Lyndon Johnson to southeast asai. Toured and visited Saigon. Encouraged Americans to give more leadership and advice.

· Advised an escalation of assitance to south Vietnam. Kennedy decided to send more troops to serve as advisors. They would train pilots. Some flew the helicopters themselves. In the process they became directly involved. By 1962 Americans were directly engaging combat not just assistance.

· By 1963, Buddists felt they were discriminated against in favor of catholics. Buddists began to protest. This included students.

· Once the students started protesting this meant new generation was against their parents.

· Set themselves on fire. This kind of protest did not particularly move Ngo Dinh Diem or his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu.

· Nov 26 1963