Section B2 - Escalation of conflict in Vietnam Flashcards
(110 cards)
1
Q
When and why did France obtain control over northern Vietnam?
A
1884 - following victory over China in the Sino-French War
2
Q
When was the French Indochina formed?
A
1887
3
Q
When did Ho Chi Minh move to the USSR?
A
1920s - studied communism and guerrilla warfare tactics
4
Q
What did Ho Chi Minh do in 1930?
A
Formed the Indochinese Communist Party which fought for an independent vietnam free from French control
5
Q
What happened to Indochina in 1940?
A
The Japanese invaded and removed the French - they ruled brutally and anti-Japanese resistance movement (Viet Minh) led by Ho Chi Minh
6
Q
What did the Viet Minh do in 1945?
A
Defeated Japan so the Viet Minh took control of North Vietnam and declared Vietnam independent - however France wanted to take back their colony now Japan was defeated - war between French and Viet Minh began in 1946
7
Q
What happened with France in 1946?
A
France wanted control of their colony back - war between French and Viet Minh began in 1946
8
Q
What did the USA do in the war between France and the Viet Minh?
A
1945-49
- didn’t like European countries having colonies so secretly supplied the Viet Minh with resources to fight the French (not realising it was communist
- China becomes communist and supports Ho Chi Minh - the USA now decide to support the French with $500 million per year
9
Q
How much did the USA give to the French to fight Ho Chi Minh?
A
$500 million per year
10
Q
How much of the cost of the French war with the Viet Minh did the USA cover?
A
75-80%
11
Q
During the French/Viet Minh War what were the areas of control?
A
The French generally controlled the towns and Viet Minh dominated the countryside - allowing guérilla tactics the French couldn’t beat
12
Q
How many French casualties were there as a result of the Viet Minh hit and run raids?
A
90,000 casualties
13
Q
When did France lose the French/Viet Minh War?
A
1954 - The Battle of Dien Bien Phu
14
Q
How many French died at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?
A
3,000
15
Q
When was the Geneva Agreement?
A
1954 - to decide the future of Vietnam and to reach a settlement for the whole of what had been Indochina
16
Q
What was agreed at the Geneva Agreement?
A
- Withdrawal of French troops
- A ceasefire
- New territorial settlement
- Laos and Cambodia formed
- North Vietnam (communist) and South Vietnam (non-communist) created on a temporary basis - dividing line 17th parallel with demilitarised zone
- Free elections across whole of Vietnam in 1956 to decide a future government for whole peninsula
17
Q
Why did the USA prevent elections from taking place in Vietnam?
A
in fear of communist victory - Ho Chi Minh was seen as an inspirational figure
18
Q
How many people did Eisenhower predict would vote communist in the Vietnam elections?
A
80%
19
Q
What did the USA do in 1955?
A
USA helped set up the Republic of South Vietnam under Ngo Dinh Diem (v anti-communist)
20
Q
What was Ngo Dinh Diem like when he controlled South Vietnam?
A
- a christian who showed little respect for Buddhism
- from landowning class that treated peasants badly - “Agrovilles” policy moved peasants from their villages (resented)
- corrupt regime, employed family/friend and refused to hold elections
- prepared to imprison or exile communists
21
Q
What was Diem’s policy of agrovilles?
A
to move peasants from their villages - this made Diem resented
22
Q
How much did the USA give to support Diem’s regime?
A
$1.6 billion in the 1950s
23
Q
What was set up in 1960?
A
the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (Viet Cong) - started guerrilla war against SV forces, officials, buildings etc
24
Q
What did the Viet Cong do in 1963?
A
killed Ngo Dinh Diem - the government that followed were equally corrupt but still received US support - 10 different governments in the next two years
25
How many different governments were there in Vietnam following the overthrow of Diem?
10 governments in two years
26
How much of Vietnam were Buddhist?
70%
27
How much of Vietnam were catholic and why?
10% - french awarded them with top jobs, they were the largest landowners in Vietnam
28
What were the conflicts between Diem and buddhists?
- May 1963, buddhists met to celebrate the birth of Buddha and were attacked by police trying to disperse the crowd, the panic ended in the death of a woman and eight children
- a month later, in relation monks volunteered to commit suicide to show anger at Diem - Thich Quang Duc set alight and sat in a busy Saigon street, leaflets handed out calling for Diem to show respect for all religions
- Diem responded by arresting thousands of monks
- in the next 3 months, 5 more monks committed suicide
29
Which monk committed suicide in response to the treatment of Buddhists on Buddha's birthday?
Thich Quang Duc - and 5 more in the following 3 months
30
What happened on Buddha's birthday in 1963?
police dispersed crowds, killing a woman and 8 children
31
Why did Vietnam get increasingly involved in Vietnam by 1965?
1945-49 - no direct involvement
1949-54 - financial support (supporting the failing french)
1955-62 - political involvement (supporting Ngo Dinh Diem)
1962-5 - non combative military advisors
32
What was US involvement in Vietnam in 1949-54?
```
Financial involvement (supporting the failing french)
(as previously mentioned)
```
33
What was US involvement in Vietnam in 1955-62?
```
Political involvement (supporting Diem)
(as previously mentioned)
```
34
What was US involvement in Vietnam in 1962-65?
Non Combative military advisors
1. 1962, Kennedy sends military advisors to fight the Viet Cong and introduces the Strategic Hamlet Relocation Programme - moving peasants from Viet Cong controlled areas to SV government areas
- 11,500-23,000 military advisors by end of 1964
2. 1963, Kennedy assassinated and replaced by Johnson who was prepared to start a war against communism
3. August 1964, NV gunboats open fire on US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin
4. congress passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution, giving Johnson power to "take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression and achieve peace and secure"
5. 8th March 1965 - 3,500 US marines land at Da Nang, starting the Vietnam War
35
How many US military advisors were there in Vietnam?
11,500 in 1962 and 23,000 by the end of 1964
36
What happened on the 8th March 1965?
3,500 US marines landed at Da Nang, starting the Vietnam War
37
What did congress allow following the Gulf of Tonkin
congress passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution, giving Johnson power to "take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression and achieve peace and secure" (start a war)
38
What was the relocation of peasants to areas controlled by the SV government called?
The Strategic Hamlet Relocation Programme
39
Why did Eisenhower and Kennedy get involved in Vietnam?
1. Containment
2. The military-industrial complex (just Eisenhower)
3. American politics
4. Domino Theory
40
How did containment lead Eisenhower and JFK to get involved in Vietnam?
- US wanted to stop the advance of communism wherever it was gaining ground
- e.g. supported the French in Vietnam as they through the Vietnamese were allied to communist China - also wanted to keep France against communism in Europe
- supported Diem as he was anti-communist
41
How did the Military-Industrial Complex lead Eisenhower to get involved in Vietnam?
- people controversially believed powerful US groups wanted a war
- government gave huge budgets to military commanders which were spent on contracts with huge corporations for weapons to fight the war - military and big businesses both gained from the conflict
- Eisenhower warned the US not to let these groups become too powerful
42
How did American politics lead Eisenhower and JFK to get involved in Vietnam?
- political issues in US played a role esp at election times
- vote winner to talk tough on communism
- e.g. in 1960 JFK promised to continue the tough policies of Eisenhower
43
How did the domino theory lead Eisenhower and JFK to get involved in Vietnam?
- Eisenhower thought China and the USSR were planning to spread communism throughout Asia - called the Domino theory
- if Vietnam fell, then Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand and even India may become communist too
- Vietnam was the first in the row so the US was determined to stop it falling
- 1954-60 Eisenhower ensured that the US government supplied Vietnam with $1.6 billion
44
What was the Strategic Hamlet Relocation Programme and what did it do?
- March 1962 - JFK sent military "advisors" to fight the Viet Cong and introduced this programme to move peasants from Viet Cong controlled areas to areas controlled by the SV government with stockades to protect from attacks - US supplied building materials, money and food but made them unpopular with the villagers
- end of 1962 there were 3,000 hamlets and 4 million peasants
45
How many peasants were moved in the Strategic Hamlet Relocation Programme?
4 million to 3,000 hamlets by the end of 1962
46
How many "advisors" were there in South Vietnam between 1962-64?
1962 - 11,500
| end of 1964 - 23,000
47
Why was the Strategic Hamlet Relocation Programme a failure?
- pushed peasants towards the VC
- corrupt officials under Diem took money for themselves in the programme
- impossible to isolate VC members from hamlets as they dressed as civilians
48
What happened after the Gulf of Tonkin incident (dates)?
1. 1963 - Kennedy assassinated and Johnson was prepared to start a war against communism
2. August 1964 - NV gunboats open fire on US ships
3. Congress pass the Tonkin Gulf Resolution where Johnson can "take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression"
4. further VC attacked led to the bombing campaign in Feb 1965 - Operation Rolling Thunder
5. 8th march 1965 - 3,500 US marines land at Da Nang
49
What happened at the Gulf of Tonkin?
1. August 2nd/4th 1964 an American destroyer, the USS Maddox was attacked by 3 NV torpedo boats
2. USS Maddox fired warning shots in attempt to stop them and then opened fire
3. all boats were damaged
4. 2nd attack was apparently similar but many believe it didn't happen and it was an excuse to send soldiers
50
How did the Vietcong limit US air support?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- "Hanging onto American belts" meant US airpower was limited as they didn't want to hit their own troops
- Jan 1968 Vietcong launched the Tet Offensive attack on 100 cities and military targets so US couldn't use air support in case they hit civilians (however in the end they did and devastated cities, leading to great SV hatred of USA)
51
When did views of the Vietnam War begin to change?
- good views between 1965-67
| - Jan 1968 confidence was shattered by the Set Offensive
52
What was the Tet Offensive?
communists launched an attack during the Tet New Year holiday which targeted over 100 cities/military targets
- a commando unit tried to capture the US embassy in Saigon
- 4,500 fighters tied down a larger US and SV force in Saigon for 2 days
53
How was the Set Offensive a disaster for the VC?
- thought the people of SV would rise up and join them but they didn't
- lost 10,000 experienced fighters
54
How was the Set Offensive a disaster for the USA?
- 500,000 troops in Vietnam and $20 billion spent per year and people questioned why the VC could still take them by surprise
- retook towns quickly but lost large amounts of artillery and ancient city of Hue destroyed
- Walter Cronkite "What the hell is going on? I though we were winning the war"
- Johnson concluded that the war couldn't be won militarily and reduced bombing campaign - peace conference began in Paris March 1968 - he also decided not to run for re-election and new candidates both campaigned to end the war
55
How many VC fighters were lost in the Set Offensive?
10,000
56
How many troops did the US have in Vietnam during the Set Offensive?
500,000
57
How much was spent on Vietnam per year?
$20 billion
58
Which ancient city was destroyed by the US during the Set Offensive?
Hue
59
When did the peace conference for the Vietnam War occur?
March 1968 in Paris (following the Tet Offensive)
60
When was the My Lai Massacre and the Tet Offensive?
Tet Offensive - Jan 1968
| My Lai - March 1968
61
What happened at My Lai in march 1968?
1. Charlie Company (under Lieutenant Calley) started a search-and-destroy mission in the SV village of My Lai - told they would find a VC headquarters with 200 fighters
2. they were under the impression they should kill everyone - burn houses, kill livestock
3. 300-400 villagers killed brutally in 4 hours (mostly women and children)
4. No Viet Cong found - only 3 weapons recovered and only ended when Warrant Officer threatened to open fire if they continued
62
How many villagers were killed at My Lai?
300-400 in 4 hours
63
What was actually found at My Lai?
only 3 weapons - no VC fighters
64
What were the reactions at My Lai?
- at the time it was treated as a success - reported that 20 non-combatants killed by an accident but that the rest were VC - soldiers saw it as inevitable part of war
- 12 months later Ridenhour who knew soldiers that took part wrote to government officials that "something dark and bloody" occurred - recounted stories and asked Congress to investigate
65
What was reported at the time of My Lai massacre?
that 20 non-combatants killed by an accident but that the rest were VC - soldiers saw it as inevitable part of war
66
What happened 12 months after My Lai?
Ridenhour wrote to government officials that "something dark and bloody" occurred - recounted stories and asked Congress to investigate
67
What did Life magazine do following the truths of My Lai?
published photos of the massacre taken by an official army photographer - triggering an investigation of Lieutenant Valley
68
What trial occurred following the truths of the My Lai Massacre?
- Lieutenant Calley on trial for mass murder - September 1969 formally charged with murdering 109 people
- 10 other members of Charlie Company and the commanding officers were also charged - all placed responsibility on Calley
March 1971 Called found guilty of murdering 22 civilians and sentenced to 20 years of hard labour
- released after 3 years
69
What was the public reaction to My Lai?
November 1969 - 700,000 anti-war protesters demonstrated in Washington DC - largest political protest in US history
70
What tactics did the Vietcong use? (5)
1. limiting US air support
2. Treatment of South Vietnamese
3. Well trained soldiers
4. Guerrilla Tactics
5. Ho Chi Minh Trail
71
How was limiting US air support effective for the communists?
- "Hanging onto American belts" meant US airpower was limited as they didn't want to hit their own troops
- Jan 1968 Vietcong launched the Tet Offensive attack on 100 cities and military targets so US couldn't use air support in case they hit civilians (however in the end they did and devastated cities, leading to great SV hatred of USA)
72
What was it called when the Vietcong kept close to US troops?
"Hanging onto American belts"
73
How was limiting US air support ineffective for the communists?
- still hit by Operation Rolling Thunder incl. Hanoi and Haiphong 1970-72 which forced the NV to negotiate for peace
- US air superiority meant the VC was fighting a defensive war - 900,000 NV and VC killed during the war
74
How many NV and VC were killed during the Vietnam war?
900,000
75
How was VC treatment of South Vietnamese effective for the communists?
- respectful and courteous to SV peasants and helped them in the fields e.g. during harvests - carrot and stick methods meant peasants remained loyal - 170,000 VC troops in South Vietnam
76
How many South Vietnamese VC fighters were there?
170,000
77
How was the VC treatment of South Vietnamese ineffective for the communists?
- killed peasants who opposed to them - campaign of terror against SV police, tax collectors, teachers etc
- 1966-71 killed 27,000 civilians
- this pushed people towards the Americans
78
How many civilians did the VC kill?
27,000 between 1966-71
79
How was having well trained soldiers effective for the communists?
- motivated (as fighting to protect their country)
- no uniform so looked like ordinary peasants
- travelled light with small food rations so could move quickly in jungle conditions that they were also used to
- AK47 used - reliable and accurate in wet
- machetes to cut through jungle and make bamboo-spike booby traps
80
What weapons did the VC carry?
- AK47 (reliable, accurate in wet)
| - machetes (to cut through jungle and make bamboo-spike booby traps)
81
How was having well trained soldiers ineffective for the communists?
not as well armed as the Americans and relied on aid from China and Soviet Union - $2 billion
82
How were guerrilla tactics effective for the communists?
- no uniform so blended in
- attacked in small groups with limited weapons so undetectable
- small arms fire caused 51% of US casualties
- attacked then retreated, aim was to wreck enemy morale
- booby traps caused 11% of US casualties e.g. bouncing betty land mines
- used 240km of tunnels which protected them from attack
83
How long was the VC tunnel complex?
240km
84
How many US casualties were caused by booby traps?
11%
85
How many US casualties were caused by small arms fire?
51%
86
How were guerrilla tactics ineffective for the communists?
could not inflict major casualties with these tactics - only 60,000 US casualties compared to 900,000 VC and NV troops
87
How many US troops died in comparison to communist troops?
60,000 compared to 900,000 communist troops
88
How was the Ho Chi Minh Trial effective for the communists?
- trail that supplies came along e.g. food, clothing and weapons - total aid from the Soviet Union and China was $2 billion
- US bombed it constantly but 40,000 Vietnamese worked to keep it open
- US not allowed to send troops to Laos and Cambodia where VC retreated to
89
How much was total aid to the VC from the Soviet Union and China?
$2 billion
90
How many Vietnamese people worked to keep the Ho Chi Minh trial open?
40,000
91
How was the Ho Chi Minh Trial ineffective for the communists?
supplies disrupted by US bombing - meaning VC troops left without ammunition for prolonged periods
92
What tactics did the USA use? (4)
1. bombing
2. chemical weapons
3. ground troops
4. search and destroy
93
How were bombing schemes effective for America?
- air superiority over North/South Vietnam so could fly troops to key areas and remove them easily
- illustrated US power and technology in contrast to VC who lacked consistent air support
94
How were bombing schemes ineffective for America?
- only lasted 3 years as Johnson ended it following the Tet Offensive where VC attacked 100 targets in 1 day
- Operation Rolling Thunder was expensive - 5,000 helicopters and 3,500 planes destroyed - estimated $400,000 to kill one VC soldier
- didn't ruin VC morale as expected
- 300,000 civilians killed in 1968, mainly by bombing raids
95
How long did the USA's bombing campaign last?
3 years
96
How much did it cost to kill one VC soldier?
$400,000
97
How many US helicopters and planes were destroyed in Vietnam?
5,000 helicopters
| 3,500 planes
98
How many Vietnamese civilians were killed in 1968?
300,000 killed in 1968 - mostly by bombing raids
99
How were chemical weapons effective for America?
- initially napalm and agent orange used to clear areas of jungle so VC couldn't hide
- psychological effects on the VC - Napalm burns skin and is almost impossible to remove
100
How were chemical weapons ineffective for America?
- US public saw images of chemical attacks on villages and were horrified - increase in "draft dodging" and protests
- destruction of 5.4 million acres
101
How much land was destroyed by US chemical weapons in Vietnam?
5.4 million acres
102
How were ground troops ineffective for America?
- after 1967 - drafted ground troops could return home just after a year - 43% of this rookie army died in first 3 months of fighting
- 4 times more men treated for drug abuse than combat wounds - low morale
- booby traps accounted for 11% of US casualties
- weapons like M16 rifle were ineffective esp. in wet conditions
103
How much of the US army died in the first three months of fighting?
43% - inexperienced and could return home after a year
104
How many US soldiers were treated fro drug abuse?
4 times more than they were for combat wounds - shows low morale
105
What weapons did US ground troops use?
M16 rifles that weren't suited to wet conditions
106
How was search and destroy effective for America?
- could take VC by surprise by dropping in by helicopter
| - able to locate and destroy VC soldiers
107
How was search and destroy ineffective for America?
- killed indiscriminately e.g. My Lai - march 1968
- 6 civilians killed for every 1 VC weapon found
- zippo raids turned civilians against the USA
- easy for US troops to walk into ambushes/booby traps
108
How many civilians were killed?
6 for every 1 VC weapon found
109
How much napalm and agent orange were dropped by America?
20,000 tonnes of napalm
| 30,000 missions using Agent Orange
110
What was the estimated cost of the Vietnam War for the USA?
$2,000 per second for 10 years
