US Involvement in Vietnam, 1954-61

Dien Bien Phu and French withdrawal

• at the end of WWII, France wanted to regain its former colony Vietnam
• the Vietminh, led by Ho Chi Minh, wanted independence and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) was declared
• the Vietminh had control of the north of Vietnam, while the French controlled the south. Fighting broke out between the two sides. 
• in 1949, China became a communist country. China supported the Vietminh by giving supplies, advisers and troops
• the USA began to send the French supplies, military advisers and soldiers
• the soldiers were ordered not to actually fight because the USA was reluctant to get openly involved in the war
• by1954, US support was so strong it paid 80% of the cost of France's war with the Vietminh
• the French and the Vietminh fought a major battle at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. After 55 days of fighting the French were forced to surrender due to the strength of the Vietminh
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