Diems goverment

• Who was Ngo Dinh Diem?

  Corrupt leader of South Vietnam
• why was diems gov chosen by USA to govern SV?

  -Diem anti-Communist

  -had ties to USA

  -US authorities thought they could control him
• what were problems with Diems gov?

  -implemented unfair taxes

  -those who opposed him imprisoned and some murdered

  -Diem didn't follow advice of USA

  -Gave peasants land to rich families

  -Gave important job to friends and family
• how did Diem break the rules about the 1956 election?

  held election in south Vietnam in 1955
• what did Diems gov do to secure win?

  -Diems name printed on red background which is a lucky colour in Vietnam

  -Diem inflated percentage of votes to 98 percent
• why did the national liberation front oppose Diems government?

  -wanted to unite north and south and replace diems gov with one that represented all groups in SV
• how did the national liberation front oppose Diems government?


  -targeted officials in gov and killed them

  -Ho chi Minh encouraged them to target ARVN
• what was the ARVN

  South Vietnamese Army
• why did Buddhists oppose Diems gov?

  -Diem introduced anti Buddhist policies

  -Diem was catholic and favoured Catholics in society
• how did Buddhists oppose diems gov?

  -went on hunger strikes

  -held mass rallies

  -some set fire to themselves which gained foreign press
• what were the consequences of opposition to Diems gov?

  -civil war broke out in 1957
• what led to the overthrow of Diems gov?

  -became increasingly unpopular
• what events led to overthrown of Diems gov?

  -May 1963 Diems troops open fire on Buddhist procession and killed nine

  -USA announced it would no longer support Diem and his gov
• What was the result of the overthrow of the Diem gov?

  -Diem removed by ARVN generals and later assassinated