Vietnam

Question 1

What was Vietnam like under french colonialist rule

Answer 1

Vietnamese were sharecroppers did not make a profit from rice exports
Paid high taxes to support costs of french army and administration
Resented growing influence of french culture (french believed in assimilation)

Question 2

Who occupied Vietnam in World War 2

Answer 2

Japan

Question 3

What are the 5 key context points before war

Answer 3

1. No involvement until WW 2 , defeat Japan together
2. Ho Chi Minh hopes USA will back Vietnam independence movement
3. America theory of domino effect
4. USA supports France in war
5. When France withdraws USA gets involved directly in helping south Vietnam

Question 4

When and why was the Viet Minh established

Answer 4

1941i, strong anit japanese resistance movement to help defeat Japan ( who had seized and exploited all resources) and gain independence for Vietnam, guerrilla warfare pockets became basis of Vietnamese army

Question 5

What does Viet Minh stand for

Answer 5

The league for the independence of Vietnam

Question 6

what happened in the immediate post world war 2 period

Answer 6

Viet Minh seized control over north and central vietnam, September 2 1945 declare it The Democratic republic of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh as president

Question 7

what happened at the 1919 versailles conference

Answer 7

HoChi Minh demanded independence for Vietnam but was ignored

Question 8

what year was the Vietnamese Communist Party formed

Answer 8

1930

Question 9

what were the tensions between Vietnam and France about

Answer 9

The South was occupied by Britain who decided to give it back to france after WW2. France wanted to re establish a colony and this lead to a war between france and the Viet Minh

Question 10

what was the USA involvement in the first Indo-China War

Answer 10

supported France’s military efforts as part of their policy of containment because they didn’t want Vietnam to become communist, saw that Vietnam was being supported by USSR and China

Question 11

what is the domino theory

Answer 11

The American belief that if one country in south-east Asia became communist , the others would follow in quick succession

Question 12

what was the outcome of the french vs viet minh war?

Answer 12

The French suffered a humiliating defeat, defeated by guerilla warfare, only 3000 out of 16 000 soldiers (French) survived.

Question 13

how long was the french vs viet minh war

Answer 13

1946-1954

Question 14

what was the significance of the Geneva Peace Conference in 1954

Answer 14

Decided that the French would withdraw completely from Vietnam, divided into communist north and non cmmunist south on the 17th parallel

Question 15

what is french indo china

Answer 15

laos , cambodia, vietnam

Question 16

explain the democratic republic of the north

Answer 16

Viet Minh government and Ho Chi Minh ruled North. supported by peasants (built up in the war)
Capital was Hanoi
Land reform, collectivisation, nationalisation of industry, movement to improve education
effective government propaganda (appealed to south vietnam peasants)
harsh measures taken against those who opposed

Question 17

what was the American government’s belief about the North Vietnamese government

Answer 17

believed it was controlled by China or the USSR

Question 18

explain the republic of the south

Answer 18

ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem
capital Saigon
corrupt government, torture and detention to eradicate opposition
failed to introduce land reforms
disrespected Buddhist religion

Question 19

why did USA support Ngo Dinh Diem

Answer 19

because he was strongly anti communist, prevented elections planned at Geneva from being held in the South because they did not want whole of Vietnam to become communist

Question 20

who were the Viet Cong

Answer 20

NOT A POLITICAL PARTY, National front for the liberation of Vietnam, formed in 1960, a communist resistance group supported by the North but made up of mostly members from the South, majority peasants. Aim was to reunify Vietnam, fought using guerilla warfare

Question 21

why did the USA become more heavily involved in Vietnam

Answer 21

tensions grew because SOuth was relying on US Aid, North receiving aid from China and USSR , Viet Cong began to attack American supply bases

Question 22

what forms of protest were occurring in the South in 1963

Answer 22

student protests, monks set themselves on fire to protest Diem’s harsh regime and mistreatment of buddhist religion

Question 23

What happened in August 1964

Answer 23

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Question 24

What was the Gulf of Tonkin resolution

Answer 24

USA accused North Vietnamese patrol boats of firing on USA warships in the Gulf of TOnkin off the coast of vietnam. Preisdent Johnson used this as an excuse to take whatever means necessary to prevent further aggression, declared war on vietnam

Question 25

how long was America involved in vietnam war

Answer 25

1965-1969, withdrawal process from 1969-1975

Question 26

how were the Viet Cong fighting against Diem governement

Answer 26

used guerilla warefare, ho chi minh trails to get arms and assistance from the north and fight in the south

Question 27

what was operation rolling thunder

Answer 27

a campaign from 1965 -1972 where US airforce launched a massive bombing campaign to bomb the Ho Chi Minh trails to stop the supply of weapons and aid going from north to south. Used Agent Orange to destroy the vegetation. also bombed Laos and Cambodia, believed to be aiding them. Bombed "strategic targets" caused many deaths and damage of infrastructure.

Question 28

what was the strategic hamlet programme

Answer 28

villagers forcibly removed into fortified villages to cut off support for the viet cong, many civilians died in the process of being moved, lead to more support for the Viet Cong, USA destroying their Livelihoods

Question 29

What did the US military do to try gain support from the Vietnamese people

Answer 29

set up schools and clinics to win the hearts and minds of the South Vietnamese people, unsuccesful

Question 30

what was the nature of the sturggle

Answer 30

Viet Cong received arms and equipment from USSR and China, were vastly outnumbered by the South and USA but Ho CHi MInh believed guerilla tactics would prevail. Viet Cong opetated in small groups and did not wear uniforms, used booby traps, undergrounf tunnels. Surprise attacks.

Question 31

what was the tet offensive

Answer 31

January 1968, the Viet Cong launched a surprise attack on towns and cities of South Vietnam on Vietnamese new year, attacked American Embassy in Saigon

Question 32

what was the outcome of the Tet Offensive?

Answer 32

It was very costly , lots of lives lost for Viet COng (40 000- 50 000) had an extrememly negative impact on public opinion in the USA, became convinced country was losing war , increased pressure on government to withdraw

Question 33

Perspectives: Vietnamese Perspective

Answer 33

Viet Cong seen as nationalist not communist, was a struggle for National liberation USA resented for interference and destruction war was devasting for vietnam, loss of infrastructure, vegetation, lives 5 million villagers fleed search and destroy missions like the my lai massacre South Vietnamese benefitted from US Aid

Question 34

Perspectives: American Perspective

Answer 34

many Americans supported war at first because did not want spread of communism, however after conscription introduced and large number of casualties people began to oppose draft and war, war was highly expensive, couldve been focusing on internal poverty and issues. Extensive media coverage allowed americans to experience first hand the brutality of the war, people worried aboout negative impact on economy and international relations- huge pressure on government to withdraw

Question 35

attitudes towards USA

Answer 35

- huge anti war movement around world - criticism for use of chemical weapons - seen as guilty for war crimes : search and destroy missions i. e my lai massacre

Question 36

what was the my lai massacre

Answer 36

March 1968, a search and destroy mission where soldiers massacred 300-400 vietnamese villagers. When made public soldiers said they were following orders of Lt. William Calley, belief was that negative attitudes and extreme stress of the soldiers allowed events to happen

Question 37

what was vietnamization

Answer 37

Nixon's policy, the process of withdrawing American troops from Vietnam over a period of time to save face , whilst equipping the south vietnamese with the ability to carry on fighting without the USA ( handing responsibility for war back to South Vietnam). USA resumed bombing troops in North , Nixon promised south aid but this did not happen, american troops leave vietnam in 1973

Question 38

what is the war powers act , 1973

Answer 38

law which limits presidents power to send troops into combat, must inform congress within 48 hours, cannot stay more that 90days without congressional approval

Question 39

what happens to vietnam, cambodia and laos in 1975

Answer 39

South Vietnam collapses, all countries become communist