Diem calling an early election in 1955 was the main cause of the civil war in south Vietnam?

Diem calling an election was a major cause of the civil war in south vietnam as he very obviously fixed
the election as he claimed he won 98.2% of the vote. He influenced the election (with assistance of
America) by printing his name on a red card whilst his opponent Bo Dai’s was green, symbolising
good luck for Diem and inverse for Bo Dai. This blatant corruption infuriated many democrats
including communists such as Ho Chi Minh who would’ve likely won the July 1956 election. This was
a major reason that Civil war broke out as : in allowing Diem to hold this election early the US had
broken the Geneva Agreement of 1954 of 1956 which angered not only North Vietnam but also the
Population of South Vietnam who were denied their democracy by the ‘superpower’ who was
supposed to be keeping them safe.

Yet another major reason that Civil War broke out in 1957 was the widespread support ofCommunism
under the National Liberation Front (lead by Hua Tho). This organisation, later known as the
VietCong, was supportive olf the peasantry and of Religious tolerance and thus in stark opposition to
Diem’s corruption, taxation of the poor and blatant discrimination against the Buddhist majority in
Vietnam. Not only this but also,They opposed Diem’s support of foreign intervention in Vietnam. As a
Catholic ally of the USA he embodied the antithesis of their ideals and thus they engaged in terrorist
activities in order to combat Diem’s authority. A total of around 10,000 Government workers were
killed. This led to civil war as there were now two groups with opposing ideologies and strong senses
of nationalism.

However, an additional reason for the outbreak of civil war was the sustained repression of Buddhism
and the resentment of Diem’s regime by the followers of the religion. Buddhism teaches peace
whereas Diem’s militaristic, anti-communist regime not only opposes this belief but also believed in
converting the population to Diem’s catholicism. Many Buddhist practices were prohibited and many
Buddhists were massacred by the ARVN for carrying them out. This resulted in widespread hatred of
Diem’s regime and the self Immolation of one buddhist monk earned the attention of the world to the
plight of those living under Diem. This also led to Civil war as the majority of the population was
buddhists and some even joined the NLF

Finally, a final reason for the outbreak of civil war in Vietnam was the ‘cold war’ like atmosphere
raging across the world at the time. After WW2, on the 2nd September 1945 the Vietminh decleared
vietnam an independent country, which ultimately led to the Indochina wars resulting in French Defeat
at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. As a result of this vietnam was split across the 17th parallel into a
communist north (led by Ho Chi Minh) and an anti-communist south (led by Diem) and both sides
wanted to reunite the nation under their own ideology. This led to civil war as both sides became
hostile to one another and given cold war tensions they were backed by China and the USA
respectively, this ultimately led to war as the North began to directly supply weapons to the NFL
through the Ho Chi Minh trail.

Overall, the main reason for the civil war in vietnam was the actions of Diem in 1955, this is because
the election angered the North Vietnamese,and America to an extent, and ultimatley led to the
popularisation of the NLF. he also stirred tensions between the US and North Vietnam through his
anti-communist regime which not only was a major reason for his assassination by the ARVN on the
2nd November 1963 but also was a key reason for Kennedy’s withdrawal of support in the same year.