1. “The Implications of the French retreat from South East Asia for political stability and the conflict between Capitalism & Communism.”

2. Aims… Why were the French unable to keep control of Vietnam? Why were the French unable to keep control of Vietnam? Should the US become involved in helping the French at Dien Bien Phu? Should the US become involved in helping the French at Dien Bien Phu? What was agreed at the Geneva Conference, in reference to Indochina? What was agreed at the Geneva Conference, in reference to Indochina? What was the significance of the agreements at the Geneva Conference? What was the significance of the agreements at the Geneva Conference?

3. Eisenhower inherited Truman’s commitment to the French in Vietnam. He continued to finance their military effort but the French continued to lose ground in Vietnam.

4. The final battle between the French and the Vietminh was fought at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. The French plan was to establish a defensive position at a remote outpost in North Vietnam to prevent the Vietminh from invading Laos and establishing bases there from which to attack the French. General Giap surrounded the 13,000 French troops with 50,000 well armed Vietminh. The final battle between the French and the Vietminh was fought at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. The French plan was to establish a defensive position at a remote outpost in North Vietnam to prevent the Vietminh from invading Laos and establishing bases there from which to attack the French. General Giap surrounded the 13,000 French troops with 50,000 well armed Vietminh. The French were defeated 55 days after the battle started on the 7th May. It was the last major campaign the French would fight in Vietnam. The French were defeated 55 days after the battle started on the 7th May. It was the last major campaign the French would fight in Vietnam.

5. Dien Bien Phu was situated in a valley which Giap’s forces bombarded from the high ground. Dien Bien Phu was situated in a valley which Giap’s forces bombarded from the high ground. Giap’s forces were well supplied by 20,000 porters bringing artillery through the jungle. Giap’s forces were well supplied by 20,000 porters bringing artillery through the jungle. The French were outnumbered. The French were outnumbered. They underestimated the Vietminh. The Vietminh’s commander, General Giap, had been training his army using modern weapons from China. They underestimated the Vietminh. The Vietminh’s commander, General Giap, had been training his army using modern weapons from China. o French were surrounded & isolated. They believed they could continue to equipment themselves from the air. o The Vietminh captured the airstrips and the French soon ran out of supplied & food, forcing them to surrender. o The French did not receive military help from the US.

6. What was important about Dien Bien Phu for the US? The US avoided involvement in the battle. Eisenhower had been elected on the basis of ending the Korean War in 1953. Starting a new conflict in Indochina a year later was unlikely to win him support. It would certainly adversely affect his chances of gaining a second term in office. At this point, the US was unwilling to commit to Vietnam without the support and help from its allies; therefore, its commitment remained limited to financial aid. Nevertheless, because of the political pressure used by the French, the US had become more heavily involved in the region.

7. TASK… The class will be split into three groups. You have one lesson to become an expert in one of the following areas: The class will be split into three groups. You have one lesson to become an expert in one of the following areas: Why the French were unable to keep control in Vietnam? Why the French were unable to keep control in Vietnam? Arguments for & against US intervention at Dien Bien Phu? Arguments for & against US intervention at Dien Bien Phu? The Geneva Conference The Geneva Conference You need to use the information provided to find answer to key questions. You need to use the information provided to find answer to key questions.

8. TASK… You need to re-arrange yourselves to make groups of three. You need to re-arrange yourselves to make groups of three. In your groups of three, you need one expert on each of the topic. In your groups of three, you need one expert on each of the topic. You need to teach each other the key points that you have found out on your topic. You need to teach each other the key points that you have found out on your topic. The other members of your group need to make notes. The other members of your group need to make notes.