Indochina

Consequences of the Vietnamese victory against the French. 1. French control until 1940. 2. Japanese coup in 1945. 3. Bao Dai government established by the French in 1950. 4. Viet Ming victory at Dien Bien Phu got rid of French and allows the Vietnamese to negotiate from a position of power at the Geneva Conference. 5. However also is the start of Cold War in Indochina. Indochina is part of the French colonial empire in Southeast Asia since 1887. During World War II, the colony was administered by Vichy France and was under Japanese occupation. In May 1941, the Central Committee of the ICP, and Ho Chi Minh in particular, responded to the failure of these uprising by founding the Revolutionary League for the Independence of Vietnam, more commonly known as the Viet Minh. Its aim was to unite all the Indochinese nationalist groups in a common struggle. Then on 9th March 1945, the Japanese carried out a coup d’état in which they seized complete control of Indochina from the French. The Japanese handed over then running of Vietnam to Emperor Bao Dai and his Prime Minister, Tran Trong Kim. But the Japanese made all the major decisions and Bao Dai was a puppet of the Japanese. Viet Minh opposed the government of Bao Dai and Tran Trong Kim. The Viet Minh quickly reached the conclusion that the only way they could get rid of the French from Indochina was by the use of armed force. This is generally referred to as the First Indochina War, began in November 1946 and continued until May 1954. In early 1950 the French transferred the administration of Vietnam to a new government headed by Bao Dai. Also in 1951, Bao Dai’s government began to cooperate more fully with the French against the Vent Minh and the democratic government. The First Indochina War culminated in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, in north-eastern Vietnam, which lasted from 13 March to 7 May 1954. This battle was a Viet Minh victory. Which “broke the French will to continue the war” (Sir Robert Thompson). It made them realised that they were military weak and ultimately would not be able to retain power in Indochina. On the other hand, the Viet Minh gained great confidence from their victory and enabled them to negotiate at the Geneva Conference from a position of strength although they were not able to achieve everything that they wanted. The French defeat at Dien Bien Phu sowed the seeds for further fighting in Indochina and for continued intervention in the region by other countries. The Cold War is a term used to describe the rivalry which existed between the communist Soviet Union (USSR) and the anti-communist United States (USA) from the end of World War Two in 1945 until 1990. Rivalry between the two superpower took many forms including an arms race, gaining control over or forming alliances with as many countries as possible, prevent other power from expanding its power, territory and influence, make scientific and technological adcances, building up their economies and increasing the standard of living and winning as many medal as they could at sporting events. Consequences of the Geneva Peace Agreement for the Vietnamese people to 1964. 1. Geneva Conference in 1954 produced the Geneva Accords. • Division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel • Ceasefire between French and Viet Minh. • Democratic elections to unite Vietnam in 1956. • Independence of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. 2. Viet Minh unhappy about division. 3. United States and South Vietnam oppose free elections. 4. United Stated assistance to the South begins in 1954, with President Eisenhower offering Diem aid in moving people between North and South Vietnam. 5. In 1956, Diem and United States refuse to hold free elections, fearful of a Northern victory. 6. United States becoming increasingly involved out of fear of the “domino theory”, following the policy of “containment” of communism. 7. Around 1956, This policy of “rollback”.