The Americans Move InThe Americans Move In

The United States and South The United States and South Vietnam, 1955-1960Vietnam, 1955-1960

Geneva Conference of 1954Geneva Conference of 1954

1.) Division of Vietnam at 171.) Division of Vietnam at 17thth Parallel Parallel2.) Elections in two years2.) Elections in two years3.) Movement of peoples North and 3.) Movement of peoples North and

SouthSouth4.) US takes “note” of the 4.) US takes “note” of the

agreements, but is not a party to agreements, but is not a party to themthem

SEATOSEATO

SEATO – Southeast Asian Treaty SEATO – Southeast Asian Treaty OrganizationOrganization

1.) Created at Manilla Conference in 1.) Created at Manilla Conference in September 1954September 1954

2.) Signatory countries – US, UK, France, 2.) Signatory countries – US, UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines and ThailandPhilippines and Thailand

3.) Only consultation in the event 3.) Only consultation in the event 4.) Vietnam, Cambodia , Laos – protected 4.) Vietnam, Cambodia , Laos – protected

in protocol, not treatyin protocol, not treaty5.) Treaty aimed at China5.) Treaty aimed at China

Ngo Dien Diem: The Third Force?Ngo Dien Diem: The Third Force?

Ho Chi Minh vs.Ngo Dinh DiemHo Chi Minh vs.Ngo Dinh Diem

Diem and the Sects Crisis of April 1955• 1.) Cao Dai – Religious Movement –

Army of 30,000• 2.) Hoa Hao – Religious Movement

– army of 10,000• 3.) Binh Xuyen – Vietnamese Mafia

- strong force in Saigon• 4.) Diem’s Victory – final

withdrawal of French

Emergence of South VietnamEmergence of South Vietnam

• 1.) Diem Defeats Rivals – power base among Catholics from the North

• 2.) Refuses to allow elections – deposes Bao Dai

• 3.) Cold War and Divided Countries – Germany, Korea, Vietnam, China

Why Does the US Move in?Why Does the US Move in?

• 1.) Strategic reasons

• 2.) Domestic politics - McCarthyism

• 3.) Economic reasons – concern about Japan

• 4.) Cold War opportunity

• 5.) Ideological reasons

Eisenhower in 1956Eisenhower in 1956

• http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/

US Assistance to South US Assistance to South VietnamVietnam

1.) 1.2 billion between 1954-1959; 1.) 1.2 billion between 1954-1959; 1500 Americans, 51500 Americans, 5thth of recipients of of recipients of aidaid

2.) Creation of a military force – 2.) Creation of a military force – ARVN – Army of the Republic of ARVN – Army of the Republic of VietnamVietnam

3.) Commodity Import Program3.) Commodity Import Program

Diem’s StateDiem’s State

►1.) Family Dictatorship, favoritism to 1.) Family Dictatorship, favoritism to CatholicsCatholics

►2.) Anti-Communist Campaigns2.) Anti-Communist Campaigns►3.) Failure of Land Reform3.) Failure of Land Reform►4.) Political unrest in the South, coup 4.) Political unrest in the South, coup

attemptsattempts

North Vietnam, 1954-North Vietnam, 1954-19601960 1.) Focus on building socialism1.) Focus on building socialism 2.) Violent land reform program – 2.) Violent land reform program –

thousands killedthousands killed 3.) Key Role of Le Duan – southerner 3.) Key Role of Le Duan – southerner

urging assistanceurging assistance 4.) Growing Sino-Soviet split – 4.) Growing Sino-Soviet split –

opportunity for Hanoiopportunity for Hanoi 5.) Spring 1959 – Party authorizes 5.) Spring 1959 – Party authorizes

resumption of “struggle in the South”resumption of “struggle in the South” 6.) December 1960 – Creation of the 6.) December 1960 – Creation of the

NLFNLF

Le Duan (1907-1986)Le Duan (1907-1986)

Real leader of North Vietnam after Real leader of North Vietnam after 19581958