History Flashcards
(24 cards)
The Tet offensive
In January 1968, the Vietcong launched a massive counteroffensive against US forces. The Vietcong captured 75 percent of main towns in South Vietnam for a few hours, including the American embassy in Saigon,
offensive failed but had two important effects: Americans realised they could not win a war against such a dedicated and widespread enemy. It would take more damage to civilians and American forces than the usa were prepared to withstand
President Johnson stopped bombing North Vietnam in return for peace talks in Paris
foreign support
Vietcong and North Vietnam were supported by USSR and China who supplied money and weapons
China
sent 170,000 Chinese soldiers as well
as military equipment to north
helped build road, railway and airstrips
sent their help as a loan
USSR
3000 secret soldiers served in Vietnam as advisors
trained North Vietnamese pilots, gave them modern fighter planes
supplied tanks, artillery, guns and deadly surface air missiles( SAMS)
supplied medicines, food and oil.
Changing views of war in the USA
television brought home people horror of war, many young Americans were drafted and more and more US troops sent home in body bags. Complaints were heard about cost of war. Students protested against US government policies. President Johnston himself became so unpopular he decided not to run for reelection of 1968. demonstrations continued after Richard Nixon became President in a protest the national guard killed 4 students during a protest as Kent state university
Peace talks
in 1973 a peace treaty was signed in Paris, it was agreed the withdrawal of the US forces and return of the US prisoners of war. It allowed the Vietcong to remain in the South and put off a decision on the country’s political future to a later date
Consequences of the Vietnam war
Many Americans worried about cost of war
heavy military and civilian losses
120 billion had been spent
US veterans suffered physical and psychological damage
Vietnam was left devastated
Impact on international relations
USA was humiliated and in future reluctant to send troops in a crisis
Containment in Indochina failed. Two years after the war, all of Vietnam was communist. Cambodia and Laos also became communist
Cuban missile crises
The Cuban missile Crisis was one of the most dangerous periods of the Cold War. For 13 days in October 1962, world appeared to stand on the brink of nuclear war.
Cuba is 90 miles off coast of Florida
backstory
Until 1959, closely allied to the United States, there was considerable American investment in Cuba as Americans owned most of the businesses, banks, sugar and tobacco plantations, as well as a large naval base
USA was the chief consumer of Cuba’s sugar and tobacco.
in 1959, the Cuban dictator Batista was overthrown in a revolution led by Fidel Castro
Causes of this crisis
Once in power, Castro began to take control of American businesses in Cuba- this upset the Americans and trade between the two nations declined
In 1960 the USSR and Cuba agreed to trade oil and sugar for machinery
USSR became Cuba’s main trading partner
In 1961 Castro announced he was communist
The bay of pigs
In January 1961 J.F. Kennedy became the US President and was informed by the CIA that it was planning an invasion of Cuba with assistance of anti Castro Cuban exiles.
Kennedy approved the invasion, but it went wrong. Landing at the Bay of Pigs on Cuba, bad intelligence led the invaders to overestimate local support for them.
The rebels were easily defeated when they were met with 20,000 heavily armed Cuban troops. All were captured or killed.
The invasion made Kennedy looked inexperienced and turned Castro into a hero in Cuba
USSR Actions
After the Bay of Pigs incident, Cuba felt threatened by the United States and turned to the USSR for support.
In August 1962 Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev decided to agree to Cuba’s request to establish nuclear missile bases in Cuba
Cuba was only 90 miles from the coast of Florida meaning that the USA, including many of the biggest cities like Washington DC and New York, would well within range of these missiles
The lives of 80 million Americans were at stake.
Why did the USA put nuclear missiles in Cuba
To close missile gap; Khrushchev knew the USA had medium and long range nuclear missiles aimed at USSR from bases in Turkey, just on the USSR’s doorstep
Domestic politics: Khrushchev wanted to strengthen his political position in the USSR and show his government that he wasn’t soft on America
To protect Cuba: Khrushchev wanted to support the new communist country and ensure that the Americans would not attempt another incident like Bay of Pigs and attempt to overthrow Castro
22 October
Kennedy imposed a naval blockade around Cuba to stop the Soviet ships suspected of carrying nuclear missiles from reaching Cuba
23 October
Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev saying that the Soviet ships will not stop at the blockade, but force their way through
24 October
180 US ships, submarines, troops and Air Force were placed on full alert. Despite Khrushchev’s “tough talk”, the twenty ships approaching the blockade turned back
25 October
US spy planes report increased building work at the missile launch sites on Cuba
26 October
Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev promising to remove the launch sites if the USA agrees to lift the blockade and promises not to invade Cuba
27 October
A second letter from Khrushchev says the launch sites will only be removed if the US removes its missiles in Turkey. Tension increased when a U2 plane was shot down by a Russian missile and the pilot killed. However, Kennedy keeps his cool and opts to answer only the first telegram while privately offering to consider the removal of missiles in turkey
28 October
Bobby Kennedy met with the Soviet Ambassador and agreed a deal to resolve the crisis. The President gave a warning that if he didn’t receive a reply by 29 October an invasion of Cuba would begin. In a public message to President Kennedy on Moscow radio, Khrushchev agrees to the removal of all missiles on Cuba and their return to the Soviet Union
Consequences of the crisis
world came to brink of war, but this had been averted. Cuba stayed communist and highly armed though the Soviet missiles were removed under UN supervision
Both sides considered they had secured a victory- Khrushchev has saved the communist regime in Cuba form an invasion by the USA and had negotiated a deal with the USA on removal of their missiles in Turkey. Kennedy had kept his election promise and stood up to the USSR and kept nuclear missiles out of Cuba.
Both allowed their opponent to retreat without too much loss of face. Kennedy did not boast of victory and paid tribute to Khrushchev’s contribution to peace. While Khrushchev did not reveal the secret deal over turkey , both powers honored the agreements made
Impact on relations
cold war thawed steps were taken to reduced risk of nuclear war.
In order to ensure easier communication between Washington DC and Moscow in the event of future conflict, a hotline was installed giving a direct phone link between White house and the Kremlin
USA and USSR realized they were on brink of nuclear warfare and entered talks. These talks eventually led to 1963 Test Ban Treaty which began the process leading to the end of nuclear weapons testing
The Cuban missile crisis did pave the way for a period of detente as there was close communication between superpowers on human rights, nuclear disarmament and trade
