First Indochina War
What years did the First Indochina War occur?
1946 to 1954
What major battle marked a turning point in 1954?
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu
In what year did the Geneva Conference take place?
1954
Who became the leader of South Vietnam after 1954?
Ngo Dinh Diem
What US policy was used to justify involvement in Vietnam?
Containment of communism
Who were the main opposing forces in the First Indochina War?
The French colonial forces vs. the Viet Minh (Vietnamese nationalists led by Ho Chi Minh)
Who led the Vietnamese forces in their victory over the French?
General Vo Nguyen Giap under Ho Chi Minh
What was one major outcome of the Geneva Conference for Vietnam?
Vietnam was temporarily divided at the 17th parallel
Name one political development in North Vietnam after 1954.
Land reform, collectivisation, and alignment with the USSR and China
What type of support did the US provide to South Vietnam in the 1950s?
Financial aid, military advisers, weapons, and training
What was the primary goal of the Viet Minh during the conflict?
To achieve independence from French colonial rule
How did geography help the Vietnamese forces at Dien Bien Phu?
The French were surrounded in a remote valley, giving the Vietnamese a tactical advantage
How was Vietnam divided as a result of the Conference?
North was controlled by the Viet Minh, and the South by the State of Vietnam under Emperor Bao Dai (later Diem)
What was the main economic system used in North Vietnam?
Communism – state-controlled agriculture and industry
What was the significance of the "Domino Theory" to US policy?
It held that if one country in Southeast Asia fell to communism, others would follow (like a row of dominoes)
Name one tactic used by the Viet Minh against the French.
Guerrilla warfare, ambushes, and hit-and-run tactics
What role did guerrilla tactics play in the Vietnamese victory?
It allowed smaller, mobile Vietnamese forces to harass and weaken French forces over time
What promises were made about future elections in Vietnam?
National elections were to be held in 1956 to reunify the country
Describe one way the South Vietnamese government suppressed opposition.
Through arrests, torture, and executions of suspected communists under the Cần Lao Party
How did US involvement escalate by 1964?
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964) led to direct military involvement through congressional approval of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
How did the international community view the conflict by 1954?
Increasingly as a nationalist struggle for independence, gaining sympathy during the Cold War context
Explain how the Vietnamese victory in 1954 changed global views on colonialism.
It demonstrated that a colonial power could be defeated by nationalist forces, inspiring anti-colonial movements globally
Why did the Geneva Conference fail to bring long-term peace to Vietnam?
The elections were never held; deep ideological divisions between North and South continued, leading to conflict
How did society differ between North and South Vietnam in this period?
North Vietnam embraced communist ideology and collectivism, while the South promoted anti-communism and US-backed capitalism, though often with authoritarian control
Evaluate the effectiveness of US policy in preventing the spread of communism in Indochina up to 1964.
US policy slowed but did not prevent communist influence; the focus on military aid and support for corrupt regimes weakened its effectiveness in winning "hearts and minds"