Indochina

Indochina is made up of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.   It was colonized by the French in the


late 1800's and given up in 1939.   Japan tookover France’s loss after that.   After Japan’s


defeat in 1945, Vietnam’s patriot and communist, Ho Chi Minh and his Viet Minh declared


Vietnam independent.   After that, France came to claim their loss.   The US supported France


fearing the "Domino Theory" would take affect after in 1949 China fell to communism.   In


1950, the US sent troops to South Korea to prevent the dominos from falling.   The


Vietnamese took fort Dien Bien Phoo in May of 1954, so then the French finally pulled out.


That set up 2 nations North Vietnam and South Vietnam split at the 17th parallel.  




Ho Chi Minh was in the North and was a Communist  


Ngo Dinh Diem was in South and disliked communism.




He argued that if there was an election to choose a leader of 1 unified nation, that Ho


would not permit fair elections.


Viet Cong Rebellion


In 1956, Diem closed all elections, and appointed local officials.   That gave him less of


support.   Also he didn’t win the support of the peasants, that was a major mistake... in


the south Vietminh members who were located in South Vietnam formed their own communist


party.   Diem called them the Viet Cong meaning Vietnamese Communists.   North Vietnam


supported the rebellion in the early parts.   In 1959 the Vietminh set up a supply route to


South Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia.   They were then named the Ho Chi Minh trail.   Also


in 1959, the first American advisors were killed during a battle. By 1960 the Vietcong had


about 10,000 troops and were threatening to overthrow Diem.   Then the US sent


15,100(WorldBook) more US advisors in from 1961 - 1963. The Buddhist’s also had a hard time


with Diem, they felt he did not...