Why did the US get involved in the Vietnam War in the 1950’s? L.O Recall your knowledge of Vietnam so far Explain the key reasons why the US got involved Evaluate these reasons in planning for an essay

Test your knowledge so far: What was the term for the areas of South East Asia owned by the French and British beginning in the C19? What parts of it were owned by France? Which parts of it were owned by Britain? Which Vietnamese nationalist and leader of the Vietminh got help from the Americans during WW2 against the Japanese and then set up the DRV in 1945? Whose triumph in China in 1949 scared the US and influenced them to assist the French in their fight against the Vietminh from 1950? What % of France’s conflict with the Vietminh were the US financing by December 1953? Which US president was in charge in 1953? What was the name of the US theory that the communist worldwide threat would result in countries falling one after another to Communism? Give two reasons why Eisenhower did not intervene more to help the French in Dien Bien Phu? Why were the French defeated here in 1954? How did the conflict in British Malaya increase America’s commitment to involvement in Vietnam? Who was Eisenhower’s Secretary of State? Why was Eisnehower reluctant to get too involved in Vietnam? What was the name of the agreements which divided Vietnam in two? What was the US opinion of these agreements? What ‘strong man’ did the US back in order to keep South Vietnam free of Communism? What Military role did they have in helping this man from 1955? What were the problems with this leader of South Vietnam? What did not happen in 1956? What was SEATO, why was it created, and how could it be called a continuation of the policy of ‘containment’?

What kind of US intervention took place in the 1950’s? Military? Financial? Political?

Essay question: Why did the UA become increasingly involved in South East Asia in the 1950’s?

FACTOR (Reason) Evidence to support it How important compared with the other factors? What is your overall POINT on the role of this factor? Surrender of the French Domino Theory Communist insurgency in Malaya

FACTOR (Reason) Evidence to support it How important compared with the other factors? What is your overall POINT on the role of this factor? The Geneva Conference To defend democracy Domestic Pressure?

Extension Should Eisenhower be blamed for increased American involvement in the war? Had he got the US entrenched in something it could not get out of? Were US actions legal?