The Cold War- Vietnam

Question 1

What was Vietnamization?

Answer 1

the term used by Richard Nixon to describe US policy towards South Vietnam in the later stages of the Vietnam War. Vietnamization was Nixon’s policy to enable South Vietnam to take a greater responsibility for the war while America started a planned withdrawal, while at the same time supporting the government in Saigon in its fight against the Viet Cong.

Question 2

In ___, Nixon announced the first reduction in troop numbers – Vietnamization were to be withdrawn. However, this still left ___ US troops in South Vietnam. In ___, Nixon announced a further ___ men were to leave South Vietnam.

Answer 2

June 1969, 515000, December 1969, 60000

Question 3

French came back wanting Vietnam again- war for _ years

Answer 3

1945, 9

Question 4

China goes communist and helps Vietnam and the US backs France w __ a year

Answer 4

1949, $500mill

Question 5

Vietnam divided into North and South. US prevented elections bc they feared communists would win

Answer 5

1954

Question 6

North Vietnam army creates the Ho Chi Minh trail to carry supplies down to South Vietnam

Answer 6

1959

Question 7

North Vietnam creates the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (Viet Cong)

Answer 7

1960

Question 8

___ American ‘advisors’ help organise the S.Vietnam army

Answer 8

1961, 16000

Question 9

The Viet Cong uses guerilla tactics against S.Vietnams army and gov. More american advisors and equipment arrives in Vietnam

Answer 9

1962/3

Question 10

North Vietnamese patrol boats fire on American warships on Gulf of Tonkin. The American Congress give Johnson authority to do whatever he thinks necessarcy

Answer 10

1964

Question 11

Operation rolling thunder
American combat troops (___marines) come ashore at Da Nang
Major Viet Cong offensive
Battle in La Dreng Valley - comms heavily lose

Answer 11

1965
Feb
March,3,500
June/Sep
November

Question 12

The US begins policy of Vietnamization - US air power continues to bomb N.V intense fighting continues throughout year ___ battle for Hamburger Hill

Answer 12

1969, May

Question 13

Fighting spreads to Cambodia-US Secretary of State Kissinger and N.V leader Le Duc begin secret peace talks

Answer 13

1970/71

Question 14

Most American forces now out of Vietnam, Maj comm offensive in __ captures most land but is recaptured by S.V army by the end of the year. American heavy bombers bomb __ and ___

Answer 14

1972, March, Hanoi, Haiphong

Question 15

Ceasefire signed in __ and end of draft in the USA- last US troops leave Vietnam

Answer 15

1973, Paris

Question 16

Major NV army offensive against SV

Answer 16

1974

Question 17

SV capital Saigon falls to communists; US officials evacuated by helicopter

Answer 17

1975

Question 18

Japan’s initial involvement in Vietnam

Answer 18

conquered Vietnam in WW2, Viet Minh emerged from communist Ho Chi Minh. Viet Minh entered Hanoi 1945 and declared independence

Question 19

France initial involvement in Vietnam

Answer 19

Before ww2 Vietnam ruled by France, 1945 wanted to rule again, 9 years of war with Viet Minh and the French. Ho supported by China. French pulled out in 1954

Question 20

America initial involvement in Vietnam

Answer 20

1954, US prevented elections from happening. 1955 helped Ngo Dinh Diem set up the Republic of South Vietnam bc he was anti-communist. Supported him w $1.6 billion + he was overthrown by the army in 1963 who were just as bad and supported by the US.
In response, Viet Cong formed and attacked American air force and supply bases.

Question 21

Why did the US get increasingly involved in Vietnam

Answer 21

CONTAINMENT
stopping the spread of communism
DOMINO THEORY
Eisenhower was convinced China and USSR planning to spread communism through Asia. Vietnam would lead to Laos, Cambodia etc.
AMERICAN POLITICS
1950s +60s won elections by talking tough about communism
MILITARY/INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Gov. gave huge budgets to military commanders- both military and big businesses encouraged more war for money

Question 22

Main reasons for US involvement

Answer 22

French Losing 1954
Gulf of Tonkin Ships fired at 1964
Containment/domino theory

Question 23

Ho Chi Minh death

Answer 23

September 1969

Question 24

Viet Cong training

Answer 24

Had experience and HO helped them train- but very little training

Question 25

Viet Cong tactics

Answer 25

Used booby traps - small bombs, used poison and faeces wore down enemy morale and used ho chi minh trail- americans shouldn't have bombed because they were in Laos and Cambodia, but they did anyway

Question 26

Viet Cong Support

Answer 26

China, North Vietnam, Villagers, Laos and Cambodia

Question 27

Viet Cong extra benefits

Answer 27

Had a motivated mindset and encouraged the US to do drugs

Question 28

US Army training

Answer 28

little training- 1 year to be soldier, 3 weeks basic training and 8 weeks advanced

Question 29

US equipment and supplies

Answer 29

Had helicopters, armoured vehicles, chemical weapons,(agent orange) and large bombs. Had guns food ammunition, medical supplies, grenades but were loaded down by heavy military backpacks

Question 30

US methods

Answer 30

used blanket bombing, including bombing Ho Chi Minh trail | Search and Destroy tactic in villages to try and find Guerilla fighters

Question 31

US support

Answer 31

only from gov, conscription meant htat mose didnt want to be there & americans didn't support towards the end of the war

Question 32

extra US issues

Answer 32

drug abuse, missing home, no support from media

Question 33

Military disadvantages in America

Answer 33

60% of soldiers killed aged 17-21 didn't know what they were fighting for majority of troops from immigrant backgrounds over 500000 incidents of desertion

Question 34

Total war cost

Answer 34

$173 billion

Question 35

Tons of Napalm and Herbicides dropped

Answer 35

20,000 tonnes napalm, 100mill lbs of Herbicide

Question 36

How many shells fired a day

Answer 36

10000

Question 37

N.V and Viet cong deaths

Answer 37

1 million

Question 38

Total no. of US soldiers involved

Answer 38

2,594,000

Question 39

Total no. of US casualties

Answer 39

58,220

Question 40

Total no. of US wounded

Answer 40

303,644

Question 41

total military casualties

Answer 41

1.475 million

Question 42

total civilian casualties

Answer 42

4 million

Question 43

total wounded from both sides

Answer 43

2.094 million

Question 44

approximate cost for each enemy killed by the USA

Answer 44

$168,000

Question 45

The Tet Offensive

Answer 45

- 1968 during Tet new year holiday, viet cong fighters attacked over 100 cities and other military targets - 4500 viet cong fighters tied down much larger US and south Vietnamese force in Saigon for 2 days - USA won because Viet cong lost 10,000 experienced fighters- badly weakened. Made media go negative and gov. started questioning purpose of war

Question 46

My Lai

Answer 46

- March 1968- Charlie company started search and destroy mission in QUang Ngai in S.Vietnam- told to destroy all houses dwelling and livestock bc all villagers had left for market. - Early morning 16th March, 300-400 villagers murdered in 4 hours in MY LAi, mainly women children and old men.

Question 47

Result of My Lai

Answer 47

Ended in the trial for mass murder of Lieutenant William Calley. Sep 1969 charged with murdering 109 people - 10 other members charged. August sentenced to 20 years of hard labour but released in 1974. Deeply saddened American public- clearest evidence war had gone wrong

Question 48

Early Stages of Media

Answer 48

Followed official line of policy- supported gov | US Army created MACV to liaise with journalists

Question 49

1967 and later stages of Media

Answer 49

- TV taking over from papers, more raw account of war - more graphic images- increasing doubts, 1/4 of reports showed dead bodies - Walter Cronkite declared war was unwinnable - most agreed - media undermined and crippled war effort

Question 50

President Johnson started __ programme but was cancelled because

Answer 50

Great society, war cost over $20 billion so money could not be divided equally

Question 51

___ said why should he fight for a country which discriminates against him

Answer 51

Muhammad Ali

Question 52

Kent State protest __ students died ___ students injured ___students protested and set fire to buildings which lead to more campaigns president campaigns and gov couldn't continue the war with such little support

Answer 52

2nd May 1970 9 11 1000

Question 53

US tried to get out of Vietnam by | 1)Sweet talk

Answer 53

negotiating - 1969 Kissinger and Le Duc Tho

Question 54

2)Sneak out

Answer 54

400,000 troops withdrawn | By March 29th last US forces had withdrawn

Question 55

3)Look tough

Answer 55

bombed Laos and Cambodia March 1969 - May 1970

Question 56

4)Make friends

Answer 56

S.A.L.T treaties allow discussion between comm and non-comm superpowers USSR and China- make them encourage Vietnam to give up

Question 57

5)Peace

Answer 57

document signed in March 1973.

Question 58

6)Remove funding :0

Answer 58

1973- S.V had no military backup, no money

Question 59

Ending the S.V War- 1975 Nixon promised to continue financial and military support to Vietnam but___ refused to allow it.New president __ also didn't manage, so w/o US air power or military back up. __ could not survive for long. ___ N.V attacked S.V- Saigon fell to comm forces ____. ____ S.V escaped, ____ left behind

Answer 59

``` Congress Ford S.V Dec 1974 April 1975 500,000 1 million ```