The Vietnam War Flashcards
Where is Vietnam and how is it split?
It’s a country in south-east Asia. Like Korea, it had been divided into a communist North and capitalist South. The government in the South was very unpopular with the mainly peasant population in the North, who supported a communist guerrilla movement in the South called the Vietcong.
What did the US unsuccessfully do from the late 1950s? What did they become involved in?
From the late 1950s, the US unsuccessfully sent advisors to help the South Korean forces. In 1963 they became involved in a coup against the unpopular leader Van Diem.
What happened in Vietnam after the successful coup against Van Diem?
It was followed by a succession of military dictators, none of whom appeared either effective in fighting the Vietcong or popular with the South Vietnamese people. Despite US efforts, the Vietcong were gaining more ground and the US was becoming increasingly involved.
What was President Johnson told about South Vietnam? What did he subsequently do?
That it wouldn’t survive without wholescale US military involvement. In August 1964 he used a naval attack on a US destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin to persuade Congress to agree to full-scale deployment of US troops.
What did Johnson agree to in 1965?
The large-scale bombing of North Vietnam with Operation Rolling Thunder.
What happened in Vietnam, despite US involvement?
The communist forces, now including regular North Vietnamese forces, continued to gain
What was the public response to the involvement in Vietnam?
The USA became divided as to support or oppose the war. Many young people opposed it - but others enlisted readily. However, more people became disillusioned as the war dragged on and the numbers of US deaths mounted - reaching 50,000 in total
Why was it difficult for the regular troops to fight in Vietnam? What did this leave the troops doing?
It was difficult for them to fight guerrillas who were concealed in local villages and fought largely from ambush. US troops became bitter and frustrated - sometimes responding brutally, as with the My Lai massacre of March 1968 when 347 people in a village which allegedly supported the Vietcong were killed by US troops.
What did the 1968 Tet Offensive help destroy? What did this mean for returning soldiers?
US resolve. Here the communist forces launched a surprise offensive which saw them temporarily gain control of 75% of South Vietnam. Although the offensive eventually failed, its impact on US morale was devastating. Many veterans returned home traumatised and ready to talk of the horrors of the war
What was different about the Vietnam War compared to all the other wars it had been in? How did this influence public opinion?
It was the first full-scale war to be televised, hence, Americans could see the realities of the conflict on the news in their homes each evening. Although up to the time of the Tet Offensive, the media was broadly supportive of the war, people could see the US not winning. The introduction of colour TV didn’t help.
What are some examples that showed the power of the media to influence opinion and help turn more and more Americans against the war?
Television showed US troops fighting the Vietcong in the grounds of the US Embassy - supposedly the most secure place in Vietnam. In 1972 the effects of napalm bombing were shown as a nine-year-old girl fled with her back on fire.
What was Nixon’s attitude towards Vietnam?
He was committed to withdrawing the USA from Vietnam, but he still hoped for a South Vietnamese victory.
* He introduced the idea of Vietnamisation whereby South Vietnam would take on more responsibility for fighting with US support
* Peace talks began in Paris
How did Nixon escalate the Vietnam War in May 1970?
By invading neighbouring Cambodia and Laos, which the North were using for supply routes.
How did invading Cambodia affect US troops?
They became more and more disenchanted, particularly as they knew the war was coming to an end and were unwilling to risk their lives unnecessarily.
When did the US withdraw from Vietnam? Was it seen as a success or a disaster?
1972 - three years later the North completed its conquest of the South. The Vietnam War was widely seen as a disaster for the USA.
