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Prematurely Catholic during a very Anti Catholic regime, the ancestors of Ngo Dinh Diem faced many threats of persecution after their conversion by Portuguese missionaries in the early 1830s up to the public denounciation of Catholics by Emperor Thu Doc in the late 1880s.

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After Ngo Dinh Diem graduated at the top of his class in 1921, he began to work immediately as a lowly bureaucrat and quickly moved up in ranks. By 1923, DIem was promoted to province chief, supervising over three hundred villages.

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Diem's loyalty to the Communist resistance

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Diem's loyalty to the Communist resistance

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By the early 1930s, Diem gained his reputation as a staple in the Communist resistance movement by reporting many Communist groups across Vietnam.

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In 1951,  Ngo Dinh Diem was interviewed by Robert Hoey, the State Department's officer in charge of Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos affairs. During the interview, Diem carefully crafted  his responses to intrigue US policy makers to take action in  Vietnam. He confirmed the fears they had about the Domino Effect of communist countries

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After eluding capture by the Viet MInh, Diem joined with conservative Catholic politician, Nguyen Ton Ho to found a political party, the Vietnam National Alliance. This alliance called for Paris to accord Vietnam dominion status within the French Union, a relationship resembling the bond between Great Britain and its Commonwealth. Despite being unsuccessful with attaining leadership they were successful in removing the Viet Minh from power

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In 1954, the world's superpowers held a conference that resulted in a truce that was signed by representatives of the French high command and the Viet Minh, bringing hostilities to a halt. The agreement fixed a demarcation line along the 17th parallel, dividing Vietnam into two temporary political entities. This allowed the citizens to choose the economic politcal system they wanted to live in.

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In 1955 Diem issued a referendum  to force citizens to choose between  him and the Bao Dai to run South Vietnam. Diem used loads of propaganda to lead the masses astray of what the Bao Dai was actually like. He also rigged the election by stuffing  ballots, intimidating voters, creating laws to maintain his power etc.

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The Commercial Import Program was a means of economic assistance from the US created by the Eisenhower administration. The CIP was favorable because it benefitted both sides. It promoted industrialization without negatively impacting the economy. The lower class and the government benefitted from CIP. The government had money to fund an army and the lower class used the  money superficially. The lower classes in rural areas were not benefiting from the CIP because they were out of reach. Diem prioritized the upper and middle classes because they were closer to his capital

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In order to gain favor from the working classes, Ngo Dinh Diem proposed land reforms in order to protect the rights of farmers. These laws were labor laws dictating reasonable pay and sustainable working conditions. However these laws were loosely enforced and barely adhered to.Tenant farmers didnt want to pay rent for land they tended themselves. Land owners didnt like it because they didnt want to pay tenants their fair share.

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In 1956, Nhu created the Revolutionary workers' Party to build  support for the Diem regime. This organization was a tactic to help middle class communists to slowly infiltrate the government.

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This order, removed most restrictions on the punishment an official can inflict on political opponents.  This posed a threat to any non Christian and/ or communist citizen. Any presumption of dissent resulted in the imprisonment, beheading, or mandatory house arrest of any one. This fueled more civil unrest under Diem's regime

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The National assembly was a stressor for Diem because unlike the 1956 elections this one had less mobility for voter suppression.  South Vietnam was voting for the council of the national assembly. This threatened Diem because if the vote was casted by the people he couldnt ensure his victory. However he still did everything in his power to eliminate his opposition and to intimidate voters.

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It was around this time Madame Nhu began to gain popularity as a symbol for unheard housewives all over Vietnam. With her strength, confidence and elegance Nhu easily became a household name. She enacted Family Laws created to protection for the wives of unfaithful husbands.  She also  started the movement to change traditional female tunic and equipped women to take part in battle.

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Despite overtly rigging the election, Diem still lost to a local physician by a landslide. When the winner attempted to take his rightful seat, he was arrested for fraud.  So on April 26th, 1960 a group of journalists and assembly members from different nations all over the world created a group called the Caravelle group.  They created a work called Manifesto of the Eighteen to expose the corruption of DIem but the information was censored in Southern Vietnam.

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In 1961, Diem instituted the Agroville Campaign.  The objective was to increase positive sentiment towards Diem by creating communities that are supposed to cater to the lower class. However, The peasants disapproved because they were required to help build the community themselves without compensation. They also were weary about leaving the grounds they lived on because of its familial sentimental value. Diem insisted the peasants build their own communities which fueled more resentment and put more light on the communists.

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Tensions rise between the North and South

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Tensions rise between the North and South

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By the end of the first half of 1961 the Viet Cong guerrillas assassinated over five hundred local officials and civilians, and kidnapped over one thousand more. In response to this Diem increases the levels to his cencorship. He created hostility in neighborhoods by killing and jailing all those who he felt were conspiring against him. The citizens were now unable to do many things without wait for the approval of their leader.

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By 1963, multiple family members of Diem had become staples in the Southern Vietnamese government, but his former librarian brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu who had been granted the title of political counselor, became his main source of advisal. The politics became a show of class and familial antics

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As a result of continuous failed attempts at creating a just government, many southern peasants began to conform to the Viet Cong. The National Liberation front also was created based on ideas discussed during the Third Party Congress in North Vietnam. Their objectives were to overthrow Diem and the American influence and to also start rebuilding Vietnam by bringing equity to its citizens

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Diem's land reform of 1955
In order to gain favor from the working classes, Ngo Dinh Diem proposed land reforms in order to protect the rights of farmers. These laws were labor laws dictating reasonable pay and sustainable working conditions. However these laws were loosely enforced and barely adhered to.Tenant farmers didnt want to pay rent for land they tended themselves. Land owners didnt like it because they didnt want to pay tenants their fair share
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The Battle of Ap Bac began on January 2nd 1963 in South Vietnam when it appeared communists had been travelling to the South to prepare for war. The ARVN were confident that they could consolidate a win because The US was well equipped with weaponry and the South Vietnamese was acquainted with the land.  This confidence allowed them to lose vigilance. However, underestimated, the Viet Cong now had the element of surprise. They also had coordination and strategy. As a result, the Viet Cong wins the battle of Ap Bac