How did the United States respond to the French defeat at Bien Dien Phu?
1 Answer
By taking over the anti-communist fight which led to 20 more years of warfare in Vietnam.
Explanation:
The Americans were reluctant to put boots on the ground to help the French before Dien Bien Phu. The U.S. had been obstructive of the French efforts to recolonize Vietnam immediately post World War. They were philosophically opposed to recolonization. As the Cold War heated up they were more and more drawn into the conflict. The French were poor cousins in the war of attrition that Vietnam needed. American volunteers (often civilian) and equipment were extensively committed help the French often in very dangerous circumstances. It was never enough.
With the Geneva Accords, the French were out of Vietnam. The U.S. had a choice to to walk away as well. Instead they took up the fight by protecting the newly created South Vietnam.
Eisenhower backed the Diem Presidency and the refusal to have the elections agreed to the the Accords. There was no question that if the elections had occurred they would have returned a communist government. American Armed Forces advisers were sent in to help organize anti-communist resistance.
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