US policy and intervention, 1954-64

Aims of the Geneva Conference (1954) and the US

response
- In February 1954, there was an international meeting in Geneva,
Switzerland
- It involved the Soviet Union, the United States, France, the United
Kingdom, China, and the Viet Minh.
- involved attempted to negotiate a settlement to end the conflict in
Indochina and reunify Vietnam.

Eisenhower and the Domino Theory

- in February 1954 President Eisenhower refused to put
American troops in the Vietnamese and France war
- in authorized military aid to France
- after the French surrendered to the Viet Minh, Eisenhower
aided Diem to combine with the power in Saigon.
- Eisenhower delivered a press conference on his concern
with the threat of communism spreading worldwide.

The formation of South Vietnam

- Vietnam was temporarily divided at the 17th parallel, with
the north going to the communists which was led by the
Viet Minh
- the south to be administered by the State of Vietnam, then
under the leadership of former Emperor Bảo Đại
- French forces were to move south of the 17th parallel,
while Viet Minh forces moved to the north.
- Ngo Dinh Diem declared himself President. Diem's anti-
communist regime received considerable economic and
military support from the United States because of it
- The U.S. aimed to prevent the spread of communism in
Southeast Asia and saw supporting South Vietnam as
critical to this goal
- The formation of South Vietnam was a crucial eve,
reflecting the global struggle between communism and
capitalism and was the cause of the Vietnam war

Life in south and north Vietnam

- Life in north Vietnam was communist and was led by Ho
Chi Minh
- The first actions taken by the North Vietnamese
government was to initiate land reforms aimed at
redistributing land from the colonial landowners and
wealthier peasants to the poorer peasants and landless
workers.
- Farmers were encouraged and then forced to join
collective farms, where land and resources were shared
- This aimed to increase agricultural production and self-
sufficiency but often led to decreased productivity and
food shortages in the short term.
- By 1960 the production of coal and electricity had
increased, which led to a rise in the production of
technology in farming machinery and the expansion
infrastructure
- North Vietnam also focused on industrial development,
prioritizing heavy industry to support its military efforts,
this was achieved through Soviet and Chinese aid
- However, the importance on heavy industry often came
at the trade of consumer goods and agriculture
- The government invested heavily in education and
literacy campaigns, significantly reducing illiteracy rates.
- Health care and social services were also expanded, with
a focus on improving the health of the population
- life in North Vietnam was really affected by the Vietnam
War. The U.S. bombing campaign, Operation Rolling
Thunder, and other military operations caused
widespread destruction
- destroying infrastructure, disrupting agriculture, and
killing millions of people
- Life in South Vietnam was under Ngo Dinh Diem, who
served as President from 1955 until his assassination in
1963,
- the United States played a significant role in the life and
of South Vietnam, providing extensive military,
economic, and political support to prevent the spread of
communism.
- The US also bringing in not only military personnel but
also civilian advisors, aid workers
- While parts of the economy, such as industry and
services, experienced growth, the war severely disrupted
agriculture
- The influx of American aid and the war economy led to
inflation, corruption, and a widening gap between the
rich and the poor
- In south Vietnam, people fled the countryside to escape
the fighting, leading to overcrowded cities
- The war also divided families and communities, with
some members supporting the South Vietnamese
government while others support with the Viet Cong.
- Education and cultural life in South Vietnam were also
affected by the war and political conditions.

The impact of Ho’s politics to unite Vietnam

- Ho chi min discouraged his supports from the south from
attacking the region of diem to try to unite the two
together
- As a result, diem executed 8,000 of ho chi minhs
supporters
- This led to a change in strategy from the north and they
were prioritizing freeing the south as well as their own
position

Ho chi minh trail

- The north was invested in the trail, which was system of
jungle and mountains
- The north used it to transport troops and supplies into
Loas, Cambodia, and south Vietnam
- Takes a full month to go from north to south Vietnam

The NLF
- The Viet minh called themselves the NLF (national
liberation front)
- Diem called them the Viet Cong
- Many of them moved to the north but traveled south
again to attack the government and led to the second
Indochina war
- Formed December 1960 and the goal was to overthrow
the south Vietnamese government and unite the two
together

The response of the US

- The Geneva Agreement ended eight-year French
Indochina war, this led to us supporting south Vietnam
- By 1956 President Kennedy increased the number of
military advisors, these included green berets
- The green beret was a special force unit trained in
guerrilla warfare

The strategic Hamlet Programme

- implemented by the government of South Vietnam, with
the support of the United States, during the Vietnam
War.
- The program aimed to counter the influence of the Viet
Cong by relocating countryside, Vietnamese civilians into
fortified villages, known as hamlets, under government
control.
- was to protect civilians from Viet Cong attacks, isolate
Viet Cong supporters from the general population
- The Strategic Hamlet Program had a lot of problems.
People didn't like being forced to leave their homes and
 villages. This made them angry with the government and
the South Vietnamese military
- In addition, people didn't know what they were doing,
and sometimes they treated people badly. This made the
local people even more unhappy and made them
support the Viet Cong even more

The Gulf of Tonkin incident

- The Gulf of Tonkin incident was a pivotal event during
the Vietnam War that occurred in August 1964, It
involved two separate confrontations between United
States Navy warships and North Vietnamese naval forces
in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the coast of North Vietnam.
- The first incident took place on August 2, 1964, when the
USS Maddox, a U.S. destroyer was conducting a mission
and reported being attacked by North Vietnamese
torpedo boats. The Maddox avoided the attack and
sustained minor damage.
- Following this alleged attack, the United States launched
a return airstrike against North Vietnamese patrol boat
base
- The second incident occurred two days later, on August
4, 1964, when the USS Maddox and the USS Turner Joy
reported radar and sonar signals indicating that they
were under attack by North Vietnamese patrol boats.
- In response to the Gulf of Tonkin incidents, President
Lyndon B. Johnson requested and obtained from
Congress the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which granted
him broad authority to use military force in Vietnam
without a formal declaration of war.
 - This resolution effectively escalated U.S. involvement in
the Vietnam War, leading to a significant increase in
American troop deployments and military operations in
Southeast Asia.

The fall of Diem

- Ngo Dinh Diem, the President of South Vietnam, on
November 2, 1963. Diem had been in power since 1955,
supported by the United States in its efforts to combat
communism in Vietnam.
- in South Vietnam unhappy because he ruled with a tight
grip and didn't treat everyone fairly
- He felt he favored Catholics too much even though most
of the country was Bundist and didn't let other religions
or groups have a say. This unfair treatment sparked
protests and made things unstable in the country.
- concerns grew within the U.S. government about his
ability to lead South Vietnam effectively
- As a result, U.S. officials began exploring options to
remove him from power.
- In November 1963 a group of South Vietnamese
generals, with approval from the United States, launched
a military overthrow against Diem
- The coup resulted in the overthrow and assassination of
Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu, who served as his
chief adviser.

Essay about Diem

Ngo Dinh Diem was the President of South Vietnam from 1955
to 1963, and his leadership was marked by both positive and
negative aspects.
On the one hand, Diem aimed to modernize Vietnam and
counter communist influence. He implemented reforms such
as land redistribution and rural development projects to
improve the lives of farmers and rural communities.
Additionally, Diem worked closely with the United States to
receive support in defending South Vietnam from communist
forces.
However, Diem's rule was also characterized by
authoritarianism and favoritism towards Catholics. He
concentrated power in his own hands and suppressed political
opposition, leading to social tensions and unrest. His
discriminatory policies favored Catholics over Buddhists,
causing resentment among the majority Buddhist population.
Furthermore, Diem's administration was plagued by
corruption and nepotism, undermining his efforts to improve
South Vietnam. Despite attempts at reform, many of his
initiatives were hindered by inefficiency and resistance from
local elites.
Ultimately, growing dissatisfaction with Diem's leadership,
coupled with escalating social unrest and religious tensions,
led to his overthrow in a military coup supported by the
United States in 1963. Despite his efforts to modernize South
Vietnam and resist communism, Diem's authoritarian rule and
failure to address underlying issues contributed to his
downfall and further instability in the country.
In summary, Ngo Dinh Diem's presidency in South Vietnam
was a complex mix of attempts at modernization, anti-
communist efforts, and authoritarian rule. While he made
some progress in certain areas, his leadership ultimately
failed to address the underlying grievances of the Vietnamese
people, leading to his downfall and further instability in the
country.