Changes

In ====Why was the late 1940s, the French struggled to control its colonies United States interested in Indochina - Vietnam?====Southeast Asia, Cambodia, and Laos. Despite financial assistance from with Indochina at the United Statescenter, nationalist uprisings against French colonial rule began had long been a region of interest to take their tolloutside powers. On May 7, 1954, Most of the French-held garrison at Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam region fell under European colonial control after a four month siege led by Vietnamese nationalist Ho Chi Minhthe mid-19th century. After the fall of Dien Bien PhuDuring World War Two, Japan also sought the French pulled out of resources the regionarea had to offer. Concerned about regional instabilityAfter the Japanese defeat, many of the United States became increasingly committed countries of Southeast Asia occupied by Japan protested their return to countering communist nationalists colonial status, resulting in Indochinaa surge of nationalism. American officials involved in the U.S. The United States would not pull out occupation of Vietnam Japan also developed a strong interest in the region, which they viewed as a potential market for another twenty yearsJapanese goods and a source of raw materials (like tin, oil, rubber, and rice) to supply Japanese manufacturing.

Southeast AsiaLike the other colonial powers, with France attempted to reestablish its position in Indochina at the centerafter 1945, had long been a region of interest to outside powersbut found that it was difficult. Most of the region fell under European colonial control after the mid-19th centuryLaos gained its independence in 1949, and Cambodia became independent in 1953. During World War TwoFrance promised Vietnam its autonomy by 1949, but only offered limited independence, Japan also sought the resources the area had with France continuing to offeroversee defense and foreign policy. After Japanese defeatTo counter the influence of popular nationalist Ho Chi Minh, many of the countries of Southeast Asia occupied by Japan protested their return French attempted to colonial statusreinstate former emperor Bao Dai, but he was never as popular as Ho Chi Minh, resulting and Vietnam’s independence movement continued to grow. Bao Dai eventually abdicated a second time and lived out his life in a surge of nationalismexile in France. American officials involved in {{Mediawiki:TabletAd1}}====Ho Chi Minh disappointed that the U.S. occupation did not their his drive for independence====Although Ho Chi Minh would become famous for leading the North Vietnamese forces against the United States in the 1960s, despite his communist leanings, he was not at the outset anti-American. He had been disappointed by the lack of Japan also developed a strong interest in support given native peoples struggling for independence from colonial rule at the Versailles Conference that ended World War I. In the region1940s, which they viewed as a potential market he made repeated requests for Japanese goods American aid and a source of raw materials (like tin, oil, rubbercampaigned for independence. Following unsuccessful discussions with the French in 1946, general war broke out between Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces and rice) to supply Japanese manufacturingFrench troops in the northern part of Vietnam.

Like ====Eisenhower creates to the other colonial powersdomino theory to explain why it opposed independence====[[File:Dwight_D._Eisenhower,_official_photo_portrait,_May_29, France attempted to reestablish its position _1959.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|President Dwight Eisenhower (1959)]]U.S. interests in Indochina after 1945the late 1940s and early 1950s did not, but found that it was difficulthowever, include supporting Vietnam’s effort to gain independence under a nationalist with communist leanings. Laos gained its independence Active communist rebellions in 1949Malaya and the Philippines, and Cambodia became independent the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1953. France promised Vietnam its autonomy by 1949, but only offered limited independence, with France continuing to oversee defense caused U.S. officials great concern. President Eisenhower explained the link between Vietnam’s status and foreign policy. To counter that of the influence rest of popular nationalist Ho Chi Minh, Southeast Asia through the French attempted metaphor of falling dominoes: if one country fell to reinstate former emperor Bao Daicommunism, but he was never as popular as Ho Chi Minh, and Vietnam’s independence movement continued to grow. Bao Dai eventually abdicated a second time and lived out his life in exile in Francethe rest of them would follow.

Although Ho Chi Minh would become famous for leading the North Vietnamese forces against the United States in the 1960s, despite his communist leanings, he was not at the outset anti-American. He had been disappointed by the lack of support given native peoples struggling for independence from colonial rule at the Versailles Conference that ended World War I. In the 1940s, he made repeated requests for American aid and campaigned for independence. Following unsuccessful discussions with the French in 1946, general war broke out between Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces and French troops in the northern part of Vietnam.U.S. interests in the late 1940s and early 1950s did not, however, include supporting Vietnam’s effort to gain independence under a nationalist with communist leanings. Active communist rebellions in Malaya and the Philippines, and the establishment of the People’s Republic of Chinain 1949, caused U.S. officials great concern. President Eisenhower explained the link between Vietnam’s status and that of the rest of Southeast Asia through the metaphor of falling dominoes: if one country fell to communism, the rest of them would follow. The United States also required French assistance developing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and rebuilding West Germany, and, as such, supported the failing French regime in Indochina. By the time of the Korean War armistice in 1953, the United States was already irrevocably committed to defending the French against the increasingly aggressive Viet Minh forces.

====Why did the French fall at Dien Bien Phu?====In early 1954, the French Army was encamped at Dien Bien Phu, a heavily fortified base located deep in a valley and near communications links on the Laotian border. By mid-March, it was clear that the French were struggling under a Viet Minh seige siege and that only outside intervention in the form of fresh troops or airstrikes could save them. Though President Eisenhower was determined to prevent a communist victory in Vietnam, the U.S. Congress and officials in the Administration were equally determined not to intervene unless they could do so as a part of a larger coalition. Britain and other members of NATO declined to participate in rescuing what they thought was a lost cause. Dien Bien Phu fell in May, and the French retreated from Vietnam.

* Article:" [https://history.state.gov/milestones/1953-1960/dien-bien-phu|Dien Bien Phu & the Fall of French Indochina, 1954]