Kennedy's policies to Indochina

Question 1

What did Kennedy criticise about Eisenhower’s administration in Asia?

Answer 1

Criticised for allowing rise of communism in Asia

Question 2

What did Kennedy believe would happen if France didn’t grant independence to the people of Indochina?

Answer 2

Nationalism may turn the Indochinese to Communism and the remainder of Southeast Asia could follow

Question 3

What modern day countries make up Indochina?

Answer 3

-Cambodia
-Laos
-Vietnam

Question 4

What was Kennedy’s foreign policy in Asia based on?

Answer 4

Strategy of flexible response
-A range of military and non-military options to respond to communist threats, rather than relying mainly on nuclear weapons

Question 5

What tactic which had a focus on intelligence gathering did Kennedy use in Vietnam?

Answer 5

Counterinsurgency
-Focus on intelligence gathering

Question 6

How did Kennedy support Diem in February 1962?

Answer 6

Sent in additional military aid under newly formed ‘Military Assistance Command, Vietnam’ (MACV)

Question 7

What was the rise in the number of American military advisers in Vietnam in the first two years of Kennedy presidency?

Answer 7

December 1961 -> 3000
1962 -> 12,000

Question 8

When was the battle of Ap Bac?

Answer 8

January 1963

Question 9

What happened in the battle of Ap Bac?

Answer 9

ARVN refused to attack Vietcong
-Five US helicopters and three pilots lost
-ARVN troops refused to mount rescue mission

Question 10

What were the reasons for the US/ARVN failure in the battle of Ap Bac?

Answer 10

-Strength and preparedness of Vietcong unexpected
-ARVN’s General Cao unwilling to fight
-Diem unwilling to listen to US advice
-Americans delayed the attack because of New Year

Question 11

What was the significance of the battle of Ap Bac?

Answer 11

-Drew unprecedented attention in the US
-Diem militarily incapable of winning the war