Why did the United States refuse to allow elections in Vietnam?

1 Answer
Sep 18, 2016

The Elections mandated by the Geneva Accords if held in South Vietnam would have elected members of the Viet Minh (Communists) led by Ho Chi Minh like it was in North Vietnam.

Explanation:

With the defeat of the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 the Viet Minh had won independence throughout Cambodia, Laos And Vietnam.
They would have overwhelming won a majority in all the areas of Vietnam. The U.S. was unwilling to allow the spread of Communism in this way. The U.S. first supported a hereditary Emperor Bao Dai soon replaced by a dictator President Ngo Dinh Diem in South Vietnam.
This led to the 2nd Vietnam War or The American War.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ngo-Dinh-Diem