V2. US policy and intervention 1954-64

Created by: mali20
Created on: 23-03-24 11:12

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US POLICY AND INTERVENTION 1954-64
- THE AIMS OF GENEVA CONFERENCE & US RESPONSE
  - 1954: divides Vietnam into N & S
    - N = Democratic Republic (VM)
    - S = State of Vietnam (Dai -> Diem)
      - USA > support Diem w/ $1.6 BILLION
    - ELECTIONS 1956?
      - STOPPED BY DIEM AND THE USA
    - also 300 days -> people can migrate to either side
  - BOTH SIDES UNHAPPY WITH THE ACCORDS...
- WHY DID USA BECOME INVOLVED IN VIETNAM?
  - 1. DOMINO THEORY
    - president Eisenhower
    - if VN allowed to fall to communism -> Burma, Laos, Cambodia, India, Thailand could also
  - 2 CONTAIMENT
  - 3. AMERICAN POLITICS
    - 1960: election year....appeals to voters
  - 4. MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
- THE FORMATION OF SOUTH VIETNAM
  - 1955: Diem elected
    - RIGGED ELECTIONS -> 605,000 VOTES FROM SAIGON (popl. = 450,000)
  - $1.6 billion from the US
  - WEAK GOVT -> RELIES ON US
- NO ELECTIONS 1956:
  - DIEM -> VERY UNPOPULAR
  - US know -> 80% would have voted HCM
- LIFE IN NORTH AND SOUTH VIETNAM:
  - NORTH VIETNAM: HO CHI MINH
    - supported by USSR and China
    - LAND REFORM AND REDISTRIBUTION
      - 8m benefit from rent reduction
    - 1961: 85% of farms = cooperatives
    - CRUEL - PERSECUTED IF NOT COMMUNIST (500,000 die)
    - HO CHI MINH TRAIL -> north to south
    - ASSASSINATED 4,000 SV OFFICIALS PER YEAR
  - SOUTH VIETNAM: DIEM
    - TRADITIONAL!
    - CORRUPT (gave high positions to family and friends)
    - denounced communists -> 12,000 killed and 40,000 imprisoned
    - PEASANTS HAD TO PAY HIGH TAX -> CONCESSIONS TO THE WEALTHY
    - HATED BUDDHISTS -> WAS VERY CATHOLIC
      - QUANG DUC: 1963 ON FIRE
        REFLECTS TERRIBLY ON USA
    - MADE HO CHI MINH MORE POPULAR!
    - ARMY = ARVN
- THE NLF/VIET CONG:
  - South Vietnamese GUERRILLA GROUP -> opposition to DIEM
    - allied with VIETMINH
  - SET UP DEC 1960
  - end of 1960: LESS THAN 50% OF SV UNDER GOVT. CONTROL
- HO CHI MINH TRAIL
  - norrth -> south
  - 40,000 VC guards
  - north supply south
  - passes through LAOS AND CAMBODIA (fighters can seek refuge there)
- THE RESPONSE OF THE US
  - 1962: STRATEGIC HAMLET PROGRAMME (failure -> many starve)
    - 5,000 by sep 1962
  - HEARTS AND MINDS
    - PACIFICATION -> troops & SV govt. win over support of villagers
      - GREEN BERETS - train villagers to protect themselves from VC
  - 1962: jfk sends in 16,000 'ADVISERS'
  - JAN 1961: $40 MIL TO TRAIN ARVN
- FALL OF DIEM:
  - 1963: overthrown in military coup
- GULF OF TONKIN INCIDENT 1964:
  - AUG: NV open fire on US ships (USS MADDOXX)
  - congress pass GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION
  - 'TAKE ALL NECESSARY MEASURES'
  - MARCH 1965: 3500 US TROOPS CAME ASHORE AT DA NANG = WAR

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V2. US policy and intervention 1954-64

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