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USA Vietnam Flashcards

(47 cards)

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1
Q

Who were the vietminh?

A

League for the independence of vietnam

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2
Q

Who were the ARVN

A

Army of the republic of vietnam (south)

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3
Q

What is the background of vietnam before the war?

A

Vietnam given to France after WW2
1950 France appealed for US support
France defeated at the battle of Dien Bien Phu

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4
Q

What support was there for South vietnam 1954 -63?

A

Eisenhower supported south despite the new corrupt leader
US believed in Domino Theory
Eisenhower sent advisors to help south vietnamese army

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5
Q

Who was the new corrupt south vietnam leader in 1954 - 63?

A

Ngo Dinh Diem

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6
Q

What was JFK’s early involvement in Vietnam?

A

Increased advisor numbers from 700 to 15,000
Ordered construction of strategic hamlets
Threatened to withdraw military aid then backed a plot to arrest Diem.

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7
Q

What escalastions happened to the conflict under Johnson? (3)

A

Vietcong became increasingly threatening
Arrival of American troops in Vietnam
Gulf of Tonkin incident

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8
Q

Why were the Vietcong more threatening under Johnson?

A

They used guerrila tactics and woukd scatter after any conflicts

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9
Q

When was the Gulf of Tonkin incident?

A

1964

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10
Q

What was the gulf of Tonkin incident?

A

US warships claimed to have been attacked so the US had an excuse to give Johnson the power to send US troops into vietnam

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11
Q

What was the main nature of VC tactics in vietnam from 1964, 68? (3)

A

VC built thousands of miles of tunnels
VC built booby traps
VC supplied by the Ho Chi Minh trail by China and the Soviet Union

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12
Q

What was the main nature of US tactics in vietnam from 1964, 68? (4)

A

Search and destroy missions most commonly used. Success depended on dead vietnamese
Operation rolling thunder 1965
Heavy bombing and chemical weapons
Use of napalm to burn villages

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13
Q

When was operation rolling thunder?

A

1965

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14
Q

What were the main features of operation rolling thunder?

A

Heavy bombing and use of chemical weapons like agent orange to destroy nature and VC cover
Did not win the hearts and minds of people

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15
Q

When was the tet offensive?

A

1968

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16
Q

What was the tet offensive?

A

A huge attack from north vietnam on south vietnam in 1968

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17
Q

What were the features of the tet offensive?

A

Huge VC deaths.
VC reached the US embassy in Saigon

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18
Q

What were the results of the Tet Offensive?

A

The south seemed more vulnerable
Many in America saw it as a humiliating defeat

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19
Q

What changes in Vietnam happened under Nixon 1969 - 73? (5)

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A

Vietnamisation
Peace talks and withdrawl started
Attack on Cambodia 1970
Support for Laos invasion
Operation Linebacker

20
Q

What was the significance of vietnamisation?

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A

The south felt abandoned and vietnamisation was not successful. Gave a boost to the north.

21
Q

What was the significance of the Cambodia attack 1970?

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A

Damage done to the Ho Chi Minh trail but was still operational
Huge outcry about US bombing.
Congress furious and called for a faster withdrawl.

22
Q

What was the significance of the Laos invasion 1971?

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A

Battle of Tchepone was bloody and ARVN retreated. Invasion raised doubts about vietnamisation.

23
Q

What were the features of operation linebacker 1972?

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A

Heavy bombardment of the North of vietnam
Severe damage dealt to industry, supplies and communications.

24
Q

What was the significance of operation linebacker?

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A

The USSR urged North Vietnam to seek a peace deal.
Bombing was heavily controvertial - lead to more US protests.

25
What were some main reasons for opposition to the war? (10)
Tet offensive Cambodia attacks Rising death toll Cost of the war Length of the war Black American opposition Individuals such as Muhammed Ali The draft Impact of the media My Lai massacre
26
Why did many Americans oppose the draft? (2)
It sent poor, untrained people to war. Lottery introduced but this didnt make it more popular.
27
How could you avoid the draft? (4)
Delay until graduation Only son's were exempt Some workers exempt Study or work abroard
28
Why did the media increase opposition to the war?
Many people could watch the horrors of war on their television. Became known as the 'living room war'
29
What was the My Lai massacre?
Charlie company killed all people and animals in My Lai village in 1968. They claimed they had been ordered to do this.
30
Whats the significance of the My Lai massacre?
After the trial, Lt Calley was convicted of killing 22 civilians in 1971. It caused huge public outcry and decreased support for the war.
31
When was the My Lai massacre?
1968
32
When were the kent state university shootings?
1970
33
What were the kent state university shootings?
National guards opened fire on a protest of students after having bricks etc. Thrown at them. The protests were in response to the Cambodia attack and an officer training building on campus was burned down in the protest.
34
How many student died at the kent state university shootings?
4
35
What reasons to support the war was there? (7)
Fear of communism Domino theory Cold war Moral/religious reasons Freedom Patriotism Superiority of capitalism
36
What support for the war was there?
Hard hat riots 1970 Silent Majority
37
What was the 1970 hard hat riot?
Construction workers clashed with anti-war protestors in New York. A pro war rally of 60,000 peopel was then led. The 'hard hats' were seen to represent general working class support for the war.
38
What was the significance of the 1970 hard hat riots?
The 'hard hats' were seen to represent the general working class support for the war.
39
Who were the silent majority?
Those who supported Nixon's policies but didn't campaign for or against the war.
40
What was the importance if the silent majority?
Showed that Nixon did have support Nixon appealed to the majority in 1969 and it was remarkably successful. Lots of people supported him.
41
Why wasn't peace reached from 1972 - 1973? (3)
Secret peace talks made arrangements difficult North and South had difficulty aggreing over what to do/unite vietnam. Easter offensive shocked south vietnam so they would no longer sign the aggreement.
42
When was the Paris peace aggreement?
1973
43
What was the significance of the Paris peace agreement?
Us troops would be withdrawn in 60 days and a ceasefire began. All countries accepted Vietnam as a singal country. Congress cut financial support for south leaving ARVN abandoned.
44
What was the impact of the 1973 Paris agreement?
Both sides saw the agreement as little more than a ceasefire South economy collaped. Thieu did not make his gov more democratic VC gained control of villages in the North. North attacked in december 1974 and south was defeated by April 1975
45
What were the economic and human costs for the war for the USA? (6)
Cost an estimated $167 billion US lost face abroard Failed to keep vietnam from communism 58,220 died Poor treatment of returning soldiers - high suicide rates More divided society from protests
46
What strengths did north vietnam had that led to the failure of the US? (6)
They understood the landscape, climate and language VC fully commited to the cause VC popular in south vietnam North had support from other countries (China, USSR) Ho Chi Minh trail Guerilla tactics
47
What weaknesses did the US have that led to their failure? (7)
Misunderstood vietnamese villages Didnt understand landscape, climate and language Used defoliants and area bombing. Focused too much on body count Didnt win the hearts and minds Growing public opposition at home The draft collected young and inexperienced soldiers Supported a very unpopular government

History (8 decks)

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