US supplied 80% of the French War• 500,000 total troops

in Vietnam US paying to keep

Vietnam in French Hands

A Tiger vs. An Elephant?

If the tiger ever stands still, the elephant will crush him with his mighty tusks. But the tiger does not stand still…He will leap upon the back of the elephant, tearing huge chunks from his hide and then the tiger will leap back into the jungle. And slowly the elephant will bleed to death. That will be the war in IndoChina.

March 13- May 7, 1954 French took the low

ground & had no aircraft!

Ike would not use nukes! Congress would not

authorize strike without UK.

Ridgway- to win in Vietnam, draft almost 1 million men

French Forces leave October 9, 1954

April 26, 1954 USSR, US, China, UK, South Vietnam,

North Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia 1. Vietnam split along the 17th parallel 2. Neither north or south could sign

military alliances 3. Elections would be held within 2

years. • US would not support, Ho would win 4 to 1.

4. Unification after elections.

September 8, 1954 GB, FR, Pakistan,

Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, US

All would send troops to Vietnam

Broke Geneva w/ alliance, would send troops

US Support-Ngo Dinh Diem• Lived in New Jersey

Election of 1956• Diem (Red-Good Luck)• Bao Dai (Green-Bad

Luck) If vote red, receive a treat If still voted green,

followed, beaten, pepper spray, water down throat

Diem 98%, Bao Dai 2%

Catholic in a Buddhist nation• Needed permission to

conduct Buddhist activities

• Catholic Church largest landowner

Supported the wealthy• 80% aid-SV Military

Imprisoned Political Prisoners• 30,000 placed in

reeducation camps Vietcong created

• People of the South who want to help the North take over

Aid - $7 Billion Advisors - 700