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THE VIETNAM WAR Flashcards

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1
Q

what were the events of dien bien phu

A

french control of Hanoi in November 1946 pushed the Vietminh into the jungle

French attacked peasant villages

In the spring of 1954 a small french Air Force base in dien bien phu was surrounded by 50,000 Vietminh soldiers

The Vietminh bombed the runway and trapped the french

The french ran out of supplies causing them to surrender on May 1954

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2
Q

When was the Geneva Agreement

A

1954

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3
Q

what was the Geneva Agreement

A

Vietnam would divide on the 17th parallel
Ho Chi Minh would rule the north
ngo dinh diem would rule the south

The french would leave Vietnam

The Vietminh would leave south Vietnam

Vietnamese could live wherever

A general election would be held before 1956

Laos and Cambodia would be independent

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4
Q

What caused tension in the July 1956 vote

A

Punishing peasant off their land
Key jobs to families and friends
Punishing opposition
Called an election in October 1955 earlier than agreed angering Ho Chi Minh

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5
Q

what happened at the July 1956 vote

A

America suggested that the voting paper should have two colours - green + red

Diems name was on the red side as linked to good luck in Vietnam

Diem claimed he won the election by 98.2% of the vote so was elected president of south Vietnam

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6
Q

Who were the two groups opposing diem

A

National Liberation Front

Buddhists

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7
Q

WHY and HOW did the NLF National Liberation Front oppose diem

A

why - nationalist wanted land to be given to peasants. Wanted north and south to unite

how - they targeted officials in diems government. Later they were encouraged to fight ARVN

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8
Q

why and how do Buddhists oppose diem

A

Why - felt targeted as diem was catholic. Diem introduced anti-Buddhist policies eg they needed permission to worship

How - went on hunger strikes, held mass rallies, set fire to themselves (self immolation). They gained lots of media coverage as would invite foreign press

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9
Q

who supported diem

A

ARVN has more money and weapons as US supported them

USA gave ARVN fighter jets and helicopters

The USA had launched a propaganda campaign against north Vietnam

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10
Q

what were the Vietcong aims

A

Vietnam to be united under their ideologies - communism
More rights and land for peasants
A government that represented everyone in society

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11
Q

What were the causes of war in Vietnam

A

Clash of ideologies
Gulf of Tonkin
Already a war in Vietnam

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12
Q

who supported Vietcong

A

Both peasants and middle class supported Vietcong

Peasants wanted their land back so they were prepared to feed and hide the Vietcong

Had code of conduct

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13
Q

what were the Vietcong tactics

A

Guerrilla tactics

Attack in small groups

Didn’t wear uniforms so could blend in with peasanTs

Used the Ho Chi Minh trail

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14
Q

What was the domino theory

A

Eisenhower believed that if south Vietnam fell into communism then the rest of Asia/counties around Vietnam would also fall to communism

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15
Q

what was Eisenhower’s political involvement

A

Invited to South Vietnam to join SEATO to work to stop the spread of communism

Sent CIA agents to Saigon to gather information

Used propaganda to gain more support for Diem and turn the people of Vietnam against Ho Chi Minh

Tried to get diem to carry out land reforms to keep peasants happy

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16
Q

What was Eisenhower’s military involvement

A

Sent millibars advisers to ARVN

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17
Q

what was Eisenhower’s financial involvement

A

Gave supplies military and money to south Vietnam

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18
Q

what was Kennedy’s political involvement

A

Didn’t tell US press about US involvement as he was worried about public opinions

Supported the strategic hamlet programme

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19
Q

What was Kennedy’s military involvement

A

Increased millibars experts in Vietnam

300 helicopter pilots were sent to transport ARVN

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20
Q

What was Kennedy’s financial involvement

A

Increased the money given to ARVN

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21
Q

What was the Strategic Hamlet Programme

A

Introduced by diem in 1962 and supported by Kennedy

A way to cut off the peasant support of the Vietcong

Peasants were moved away from their villages into hamlets surrounded by barbed wire and fence. It backfired and support for Vietcong went up by 300%. - over 2/3 of the population had been moved away and were angry

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22
Q

When was the golf of Tonkin

A

1964

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23
Q

What happened in the gulf of Tonkin

A

3rd August 1964

  • three north Vietnam torpedo boats head towards Maddox
  • us jets sink one of the boats and damage two

4th August 1964

  • a report comes in from Maddox saying north Vietnam is going to launch another attack
  • Johnson then launched an attack on north Vietnam

7th August 1964
The us government approves the gulf of Tonkin giving Johnson the power to take any military measures necessary

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24
Q

what was the guerrilla warfare Vietcong tactic and how successful was it

A

Retreat when enemy attacks
Hit and run - no open battles

Psychological war far PTSD
America lost 58,000 soldiers

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25
Vietcon - why did they wear no uniform and how successful was it
Blend in with peasants, America didn’t know who to attack Americans killed in comment people so looked bad. America didn’t know who to attack
26
why did the Vietcong have no base and how successful was it
America couldn’t attack them all at once Yes they could disappear into the jungle into tunnel system
27
Why did the Vietcong have a tunnel system and how successful is it
300 km underground for the Vietcong to hide if they heard American helicopters Avoid American bombs $400,000 to kill one Vietcong soldiers Stopped Americans main bombing tactic
28
why did the Vietcong do ambushes and how successful are they
Stop Americans air attacks on Vietcong through the risk of killing American soldiers 51% of death caused by ambushes
29
what were the Vietcong punji sticks and bouncing betties tactics and how successful were they
Slow down Americans due to their ‘no man left behind’ policy - psychological warfare Spring traps caused infections Psychological advantages infected soldiers - 11% of deaths cause
30
What was the code of conduct Vietcong tactic and how successful was it
To have the supper of peasants so they would cover tunnel systems. Tortured and killed soldiers who were caught stealing or abusing villagers Almost all peasants helped Vietcong
31
what were the terror tactics of the Vietcong and how successful were they
Terror tactics for allies of US provoke fear to us anyone who was found helping US would be killed Peasants were scared of Vietcong meaning they’d help
32
what was the US tactic of operation rolling thunder and how successful was it
Blanket bombing to scare Vietcong into surrendering not successful as planes could be heard where Vietcong could escape down tunnels. Friendly fire and civilians were hurt making America look bad
33
what was the US tactic of agent orange and how successful was it
Chemical weapon Defoliate then jungle where Vietcong were hiding Not successful as Vietcong could use tunnels. Civilians starved because it killed their crops losing support. Toxic chemical caused cancer
34
what was the US search and destroy tactics and how successful were they
Zippo raids Search for Vietcong equipment and villages who supported Vietcong. They would burn the village down Not successful as America looked bad no compensation was given and villagers lost homes My Lai Massacre
35
what was the US tactics of napalm and how successful was it
Chemical weapon Defoliant to burn back foliage Not successful and hurt civilians. Hurt Americans good image
36
describe a Vietcong soldier 7
``` Travelled light Fast and nimble Ration of rice and water Used to hot and humid thick jungle Knife for making punji sticks Main weapons is AK-47 Easier for all environments better than American weapons easier to operate ```
37
What was the gun thst American soldiers use
m16
38
Why were the American guns bad
Would jam near water
39
What was the American soldier like 7
Some would blow up their own commanding officer Many soldiers had spent life in the city- not used to jungle Nylon boots which have drainage to let water our- reinforced soles to stop punji traps- makes them heavy Smoke grenades used to show us helicopters where they are- frag Grenades would sometimes explode being caught on plants Soldiers were drafted into war and served one year- would go to jail Uniform would rot in the heat and damp Carried ration packs ammunition and lots of water which was heavy
40
What were the problems for us soldiers 8
``` Vietcong punji traps -infection Climatising Hygiene Vietcong surprise attacks caused Americans to always be on edge Heavy uniform and equipment PTSD Pain injuries / trench foot Mosquitos causing malaria ```
41
What were the political problems for us solders
Weren’t treated well when they went home because of tje negative image the war had
42
what was the tension for us soldiers
Felt demoralised as they didn’t understand what they were fighting for
43
When was the tet offensive
1968 30th January
44
What happened at the tet offensive
US soldiers taken by surprise when vc attacked over 100 cities = change tactics 10,000 ARVN US soldiers were killed US embassy was taken 50,000 US soldiers pushed back + killed 50,000 Vietminh and 10,000 Vietcong The us won but was portrayed as a loss
45
What were the consequences of tet
The media turned against the war Cronkite declared it unwinnable America turned against the war as it was costing $30 billion a year - 300 soldiers a week Johnson said tjst if the lost Cronkites support then he’d lost the support of middle America - didn’t stand for re-election general west more land asked for 200,000 troops to finish the war - Johnson refused
46
Who was Walter Cronkite
Well respected journalist - very influential Had a daily show on CBS that 35 millions families watched Went to Vietnam to cover the war and was shocked Against the war Influenced public opinion against the war
47
When was the my lai massacre
1968
48
What happened at the my lai massacre
Pinkville allegedly had lots of Vietcong and troops Charlie company search and destroy mission gone wrong Nearly 500 civilians were murdered
49
Consequences of my lai
14 were charged with murder Lt called was found guilty of murder - given a life sentence - released after 3 years
50
what was the early war coverage like 4
Censored not to show the harsh realities Commercial - tv companies didn’t want to lose money from people turning over Army pressure - army told journalist to turn off cameras do didn’t look bad Army journalists approved and given permission to report on war
51
who was Ron reidenhour
Soldier wrote about my lai massacre
52
Who was lt calley
PTSD | Scapegoat for my lai
53
What was later war coverage like 5
Colour tv - looked more realistic and violent 35 million homes had a colour tv More search and destroy missions were going rogue and people wanted to hear about it Better visual and sound recording - more images broadcast of better quality Walter Cronkite influenced people into believing that the war was unwinnable
54
Why was the war so unpopular
Failure of tje great society Money wasted = $30 billion a year on war Race issues - 12% of Americans were black but 16% of soldiers were black Media highlighted the atrocities on a daily basis The draft was unfair - rich people could avoid it
55
Who opposed the war 5
``` Women Hippies Students Veterans African Americans ```
56
Why did women oppose the war
Upset the impact of their families | Couldn’t fight
57
Why did hippies oppose the war
1969 summer of love in California Woodstock
58
Why did African Americans oppose the war
Upset about being the main group to fight the war
59
Why did students oppose the war
Angry and idealistic | Kent state massacre
60
Why did veterans oppose the war
Had more respect as they had seen the war
61
what opposition to the war happened in October 1965
First anti war demonstrations
62
What happened in the opposition to the war in October 1967
100,000 March on Lincoln memorial and 30,000 on the pentagon
63
What happened to oppose the war in 1967
Dr king came out against the war and the failure of the great society -$30 billion a year on war
64
What happened to oppose the war in 1968
There were 500,000 us soldiers in Vietnam and 40,000 drafted each month 15,000 were killed per year with 110,000 casualties Families ruined
65
What happened in 1967 with veterans
Veterans against the war was formed and many threw away medals Many young men 18-26 threw away medals Muhammad Ali refused the draft and was sentenced to prison (overturned) and banned from boxing for 3 years
66
When was the Kent state massacre
4th March 1970
67
what happened in the Kent state massacre
Ohio 3,000 students protested Soldiers opened fire with 67 bullets in 13 seconds 4 died + 9 injured Put pressure on Nixon to end war and shocked people
68
Who were the four who died in Kent state
Allison Krause Jeffrey Miller Sandra scheuer William Schroeder
69
What was operation linebacker
In April 1972 the us launched a new bombing campaign This destroyed roads factories and supply lines Led to protests around the world
70
What was vietnamisation
Nixon wanted the war to continue until there was ‘peace with honour’ Nixon’s policy to reduce us troops giving ARVN more responsibility In June 1969 - 25,000 us troops withdrew followed by 30,000 in September Unsuccessful ARVN was not strong enough
71
What was the mad man theory
Nixon’s administration tried to lake north Vietnam leaders think Nixon was irrational and volatile so people would avoid the us
72
What happened in Cambodia
In March 1969 Nixon allowed Cambodia to be bombed to destroy Vietcong bases and the Ho Chi Minh trail - this failed In April 1970 Nixon ordered us troops into Cambodia and wanted to send 150,000 more troops n - led to mass demonstrations Cambodia’s people were forced into supporting communist like the Khmer Rouge
73
What happened in Laos
Early 1971 Nixon thought ARVN had been well trained so used them for an attack on n Vietnam troops hiding in Laos US artillery was used ARVN was easily beaten and in spring 1972 n Vietnam attacked the south as revenge. Communists took over Laos
74
What was the watergate affair
In 1972-4 Nixon’s team were caught spying on the Democratic Party The pentagon papers were leaked about the president lying to Americans = credibility gap Nixon had to resign before he was impeached Added to the pressure of Nixon’s failed policies
75
What were the terms on the Paris treaty 1973
Immediate ceasefire All prisoners of war released in 60 days Withdraw all us forces and bases Self determination for south Vietnam
76
What was the impact of the war on Vietnam citizens
Chemical warfare led to horrific birth defects due to dioxin 2 million killed and 5 million injured Unexploded bombs killed people for decades after Napalm caused awful burns and disfigured victims
77
What was the impact of the Vietnam war on the environment
Crops were damaged and led to food shortages Streams and rivers were poisoned 5.4 million acres of forest destroyed
78
What was the impact of the war on us troops
Soldiers who handled agent orange developed cancer Veterans were not welcome
79
What happened at the peace talks
1969- Nixon asked Kissinger to begin peace talks saying n Vietnam troops should withdraw meaning Lott ikr progress was made October 1972 - they reached a provisional agreement January 1973 - the agreement was signed March 1973 - all us troops had been withdrawn from Vietnam

HISTORY (6 decks)

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