Vietnam Flashcards
(128 cards)
1
Q
When was the Vietnam war?
A
1965-1973
2
Q
Who were fighting against each other in the Vietnam war?
A
America and South Vietnam VS communist Vietcong and North Vietnam
3
Q
Who ruled Vietnam before the Second World War and what was the name of the region it was then a part of?
A
France ruled over Indochina
4
Q
Who conquered Vietnam during the Second World War and how would you describe their rule?
A
Japan, they ruled harshly and brutally
5
Q
What group was formed in Vietnam during the Second World War in response to the Japanese rule?
A
The Vietminh- led by Ho Chi Minh
6
Q
Which area of Vietnam did the Viet Minh control by 1945?
A
The North
7
Q
What did the Vietminh declare in 1945 in Hanoi?
A
They declared Vietnamese independence
8
Q
What broke out in Vietnam between 1945 and 1954?
A
A civil war between France and the Vietminh
9
Q
Which country became communist in 1949?
A
China
10
Q
How did America get involved in the civil war between France and the Viet Minh?
A
They gave $500 million each year to France, approximately 80% of the cost of the war
11
Q
What happened at the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954?
A
The French built an airstrip at Dien Bien Phu to lure the Viet Minh into battle. But they were surrounded by 50,000 Viet Minh with anti-aircraft guns. After 55 days the French surrendered due to a lack of supplies and the commitment of the Viet Minh.
12
Q
What happened in Geneva in 1954 after Dien Bien Phu?
A
A peace agreement was signed
13
Q
What was agreed at Geneva?
A
- To withdraw French troops
- To temporarily divide Vietnam with the North controlled by Ho Chi Minh
- Elections would be held in 1956 to reunify Vietnam
14
Q
Who was appointed leader of South Vietnam?
A
Ngo Dinh Diem. He was supported by the USA
15
Q
Who were the ARVN?
A
The army of South Vietnam, supported by the Americans.
16
Q
Why was Diem’s government weak?
A
- Many communists still controlled areas of South Vietnam
- Diem was Catholic and persecuted the majority Buddhist population
- He was corrupt
- He did little to gain support from peasants
17
Q
Why did the situation in South Vietnam get worse after 1955?
A
- Diem was still unpopular
- Diem refuses to hold elections in 1956 with the support of the US
- Diem refused to make reforms and arrested his opponents
- The communists fought back and killed over 400 local officials by 1958
- Communist groups in the South continued fighting and became known as the Viet Cong and formed the NLF in 1960
18
Q
What was the Ho Chi Minh trail?
A
It was formed in 1959 by NV to supply the VC in the South. It ran through Laos and Cambodia
19
Q
What evidence is there that the ARVN were weak by 1963?
A
They lost the battle of Ap Bac despite outnumbering the VC 5 to 1
20
Q
What image was given worldwide publicity in 1963?
A
A Buddhist monk setting himself on fire in response to recent persecution
21
Q
What happened to Diem in 1963?
A
He was overthrown and assassinated by his own troops which was approved by the USA
22
Q
What were Einsenhower, Kennedy and Johnson’s aims in Vietnam?
A
- Setting up a democratic government in SV
- Keep SV separate to stop it becoming communist
- Stop the war escalating/ avoiding nuclear war
- Winning over the South Vietnamese people
23
Q
How did Eisenhower get involved in Vietnam between 1954 and 1960?
A
- Sent equipment and military advisors to SV even though he could have stopped after the French lost
- Prevented elections in SV
- Supported Diem with about $1.6 billion
- Set up SEATO due to fear of domino theory
24
Q
How did Kennedy get involved in Vietnam between 1961 and 1963?
A
- Increased number of advisors to over 16000 by 1963
- Allowed Diem to be assassinated and supported his replacement
- Used counterinsurgency tactics to isolate the VC
- Used the Green Berets to try and win over ‘hearts and minds’
- Built 5000 strategic hamlets by 1962 to stop VC recruiting peasants
25
Describe the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964 and its results
1. 2 US ships were patrolling the Gulf on the 2nd August and one was fired at by NV torpedo boats
2. On 4th August in a bad storm the ships claimed they had been fired at again but reports were not clear
3. Johnson told Congress and asked for money to stop future attacks
4. On 7th August Congress passed Gulf of Tonkin Resolution allowing Johnson to ‘take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression and achieve peace and security’
5. Johnson ordered air strikes over NV
6. There was no declaration of war because the US didn’t want war with the USSR or China
26
Why did Johnson feel the need to escalate involvement?
- The Viet Cong were stronger by 1964 and had more local support
- NV were sending more supplies down the Ho Chi Minh trail
- The ARVN were struggling
- By 1963 the VC controlled 60% of SV
27
Identify 4 reasons which explain why the US became increasingly involved in Vietnam before 1965
1. Helping the French until 1954
2. Their policy of containment
3. The weakness of the SV government and the ARVN
4. The Gulf of Tonkin incident
28
Identify 5 American military tactics used during the Vietnam war
1. The strategic hamlets programme
2. “Search and destroy” patrols
3. Bombing campaigns (e.g. operation rolling thunder)
4. Herbicides (e.g. agent orange)
5. Napalm
29
Describe the Strategic Hamlets Programme
Started by JFK, whole villages in VC areas were moved to new sites controlled by SV. American soldiers controlled them and gave food and materials.
30
What evidence is there that the Strategic hamlets programme was ineffective?
People did not like having to leave their homes and build new ones without pay
31
What happened on “search and destroy” patrols?
Americans would search villages and kill any VC forces found
32
What evidence is there that the “search and destroy” patrols were effective?
Some VC members were killed and some tunnel systems were destroyed
33
What evidence is there that “search and destroy” patrols were ineffective?
They were often based on inadequate information
34
What is a good example of a “search and destroy” failure?
Operation Cedar Falls 1967
35
Describe the bombing campaigns used by the US
Operation Rolling Thunder began in February 1965 and targeted NV, the Ho Chi Minh trail and suspected VC bases. It ended in 1968
36
What evidence is there that the bombing campaigns were effective?
It damaged NV war efforts and industry and destroyed supply routes
37
What evidence is there that the bombing campaigns were ineffective?
The bombing only slowed down the communists and the Ho Chi Minh trail was rebuilt. Also, it was very expensive and cost $400000 to kill one VC fighter
38
What were Agent Orange and Agent Blue?
Highly toxic weed killers used to destroy the jungle where VC were hidden
39
What was the name of the operation which dropped herbicides in SV?
Operation Ranch Hand. Between 1964 and 1970 over 24% of SV was sprayed
40
Why did Operation Ranch Hand fail to win over hearts and minds?
Inhabitants weren’t warned before herbicides were dropped , which caused health problems
41
What was napalm and why was it used?
A chemical weapon dropped from planes that destroyed jungles and villages
42
How many tons of napalm were used during the war?
20,000 tons
43
What evidence is there that napalm was ineffective?
It killed many soldiers and innocent civilians
44
Why did the US army become weaker after 1967?
- Many troops were conscripted and not professional soldiers
- Many troops were young and did not care about defeating communism
- The army struggled to recruit soldiers as many would avoid conscription
- The morale was very low
- Drug abuse in the army was common
45
What proportion of US soldiers killed were 17-21?
60%
46
Why were there tensions between US officers and troops?
Many officers wanted promotions and forced soldiers on patrols who wanted to stay alive. There was evidence of troops killing officers
47
What type of warfare did the Viet Cong use?
Guerrilla warfare
48
Identify 5 Viet Cong tactics used during the war
1. Ambushes (“hanging onto American belts”)
2. Booby traps
3. Underground tunnels
4. Ho Chi Minh trail
5. Winning over the Vietnamese people
49
What evidence is there that ambushes were successful?
They caused 51% of US casualties and undermined US morale who lived in fear of ambushes. It also led to close fighting which meant that US air power could not be used
50
Name 2 booby traps used by the Viet Cong
1. Punji Pits filled with sharpened bamboo sticks
| 2. The Bouncing Betty land mine
51
What evidence is there that booby traps were effective?
- They were cheap and easy to make
- They disrupted “search and destroy” missions
- They caused 11% of US casualties
- It undermined the morale of US troops
52
How big was the underground tunnel network used by the VC?
240km
53
What evidence is there that the underground tunnel network was effective?
- It made VC soldiers hard to locate
| - It avoided US air power
54
How did many VC members treat the Vietnamese population?
They were polite and respectful and helped with farming and education
55
Why did many SV people support the VC?
They wanted a change in government from the corrupt Diem
56
What evidence is there that the Viet Cong used violence and terror?
- People were forced into joining
- The VC killed peasants who opposed them
- The VC targeted employees of the SV government
57
How many VC and NV soldiers died during the Vietnam war?
1 million
58
Identify 3 reasons for the Viet Congs success
1. Their military tactics
2. Support from civilians
3. The weakness of the American army
59
Who launched the Tet offensive?
The Viet Cong
60
When did the Tet offensive take place?
January 1968
61
What was the Tet offensive?
1. Before Tet, the VC attacked the US base at Khe Sanh to distract them
2. The VC and NV attacked cities and US bases in SV
3. They got to Saigon and captured the US embassy and the ARVN headquarters
4. After 3 weeks of fighting most cities were recaptured by the Americans
62
Why was Tet an important turning point?
- It was a humiliation for the US
- Propaganda victory for the VC
- The US public were shocked to see that the US weren’t effortlessly winning and it led to a rise in opposition
- The media turned against the war
- Johnson didn’t stand for re election in 1968
- Congress turned against the war
- When Nixon was elected he began a process of withdrawal
63
Was the Tet offensive successful?
No. Forces were pushed back and 50,000 VC were killed
64
Identify 6 reasons why the US withdrew its troops from Vietnam in 1973
1. Military failures
2. VC successes
3. The Tet offensive
4. Human and economic cost
5. The role of the media
6. The rise of anti war protests
65
How many American soldiers died during the Vietnam war?
58,000
66
How much was the US spending each year on the Vietnam war?
$167 billion by 1973
67
How did the cost of the war impact US society?
Money could not be spent on Johnson’s Great Society Programme leading to more poverty
68
How were returning soldiers treated?
- Very few parades for them
- Spat on
- Beaten up
- Many suicides
69
How did America and the wider world begin to view the American government?
Many people began to question and lose respect for it
70
Why did the human and economic cost cause America to withdraw?
It caused Americans to speak out against the war and question if it was sustainable
71
What were Americans attitudes towards the war before 1968?
Most people were supportive of it
72
What evidence is there of opposition to the war before 1968?
- MLK privately criticised the war from 1965
| - A Quaker burned himself to death outside the pentagon in 1965
73
How did the media portray Vietnam between 1965-1967?
They were very positive about the war and only showed positive elements of it
74
What happened to the tone of the media in terms of Vietnam during 1967/1968?
Journalists began to question whether the war was winnable and images were shown of bad things happening
75
What did the reporter Walter Cronkite say about Vietnam following the Tet offensive?
He declared that he thought the war was unwinnable
76
What did some news stations begin to report on from 1968?
- Villages being napalmed
- Civilian massacres
- Casualties
- Teenage soldiers killed
- Towns and cities being destroyed
77
What was the Vietnam war also known as?
A living room war because it was the first televised war
78
What took place in Vietnam in March 1968?
The My Lai massacre
79
What happened in My Lai in March 1968?
American troops on a “search and destroy” mission killed 400 civilians in a village, mostly women, children and the elderly
80
At first, how was My Lai recorded?
It was recorded as a success, claiming that American soldiers killed 90 Viet Cong troops
81
What happened in November 1969?
The press got hold of the real My Lai story and published photographs of the incident
82
Which US officer was trialled and imprisoned after My Lai?
Lieutenant William Calley
83
How did Calleys sentence change?
He was sentenced to life imprisonment for personally killing 22 civilians. This was changed in August 1971 to 20 years of hard labour. He was released in November 1964
84
How did students protest against the war?
- Burning draft cards
- Sit ins
- Boycotts
- Marches
- Demonstrations which became more violent as the war went on
85
How did the My Lai massacre affect public opinion about the war?
It helped to change public opinion to mostly negative
86
Why did the media and anti war protests encourage America to withdraw from the war?
The government wanted to keep students on their side for future elections
87
What student group was set up in 1960?
Students for a democratic society (SDS). It had 3000 members by 1965
88
What did SDS protest about?
Anti war but also supported the NV and communism
89
What was the draft?
Compulsory service in the armed forces. Men were drafted from 18
90
Why did many feel the draft was unfair?
Poor white and black families were targeted for the draft because people who went to college were exempt
91
How did people avoid the draft?
- College students could delay
- Only son of a family was exempt
- Physically and mentally unfit were exempt
- Some people went into hiding/ fled to Canada
- Conscientious objectors could avoid fighting ( there were 170,000 in this war)
92
What protest took place on 4th May 1970 and what took place?
Kent State University. Protesters were demonstrating against the invasion of Cambodia. The national guard fired into the crowd and 4 students were killed
93
What impact did Kent State have?
It made people horrified and many turned against the war
94
How did attitudes to Vietnam from congress change?
They got more negative over time
95
What impact did Congress’ lack of support for the war have?
Funding was limited, especially after the Paris Peace Accords of 1973. The South Vietnamese economy collapsed in 1975
96
Summarise reasons why opposition to the war increased over time
- Tet offensive
- Invasion of Cambodia
- Human cost
- Economic cost
- African American opposition increased because less was spent on poverty
- Rise of the student movement
- The draft
- Media turned public opinion anti war
- Kent state and My Lai
- Johnson lied to Congress about the cost of the war
97
Why did some Americans support the war?
- Fear of communism
| - Patriotism
98
Who supported the war?
- Some students
- Hard hats (construction workers)
- Ex soldiers
- Hawks in government
99
What evidence is there that people supported the war later on?
- Hard hat riots 1970: on 8 May construction workers beat up up anti war protesters in New York
- Pro war rallies
100
What speech did Nixon make in 1969?
The ‘Silent Majority’ speech
101
What impact did the ‘Silent Majority’ speech have?
- 77% of people showed support for Nixon’s policy in Vietnam
- 30,000 letters of support sent to Nixon
- House of Representatives and Senate passed resolution supporting the war
- Meant Nixon could try to get an agreement from NV
102
What evidence is there that Congress still supported the war?
- The military claimed victory was close
- They didn’t want America to be beaten
- They continued to fund the war but put restrictions on the money spent
103
What did the Nixon doctrine of 1969 state?
- The USA would honour any agreements it had made in South East Asia
- It would help any ally against nuclear war with aid but not troops
104
What was Vietnamisation?
The USA would withdraw troops slowly by training the ARVN to take over the fighting
105
Why did Vietnamisation allow the US to withdraw?
They could withdraw their troops without looking like they had lost
106
What is evidence that Vietnamisation was a success?
- US troops began to withdraw between 1969 and 1973
| - Fewer US deaths
107
What is evidence that Vietnamisation was not a success?
- Morale of soldiers decreased because they knew they were withdrawing
- Fragging increased
- Drug use among soldiers increased
- Many ARVN troops deserted
- Training of ARVN was ineffective because it was hurried
- ARVN failed an invasion of Laos in 1971
- The government in Saigon was corrupt and South Vietnamese people did not support it
108
Which countries did the US invade under Nixon?
Cambodia in 1970 and Laos in 1971
109
Why did Nixon invade Cambodia and Laos?
1. To destroy VC bases
2. To show America’s strength to North Vietnam
3. To save Cambodia and Laos from communism
4. To destroy the Ho Chi Minh trail
110
What were the consequences of the invasion of Cambodia?
1. NV withdrew from the peace talks
2. Protests in America
3. Ho Chi Minh trail was partly destroyed but could be rebuilt
4. Confess was outraged and called for less funding
111
What were the consequences of the invasion of Laos?
- ARVN failed to win
| - NV planned an attack on SV (Easter Offensive)
112
What was the Easter Offensive in 1972?
A North Vietnamese attack on South Vietnam. The North Vietnamese eventually were pushed back
113
What was Operation Linebacker in 1972?
- US reaction to Easter Offensive
- US bombed North Vietnam
- Bombed Hanoi and Haiphong in order to stop China and USSR ships bringing in supplies
114
What were the consequences of Operation Linebacker?
- North Vietnamese industry damaged
- Disrupted supplies from China to the USSR
- Led China and the USSR to urge North Vietnam into peace talks
115
What happened to American relations with China and the USSR under Nixon?
Relations began to improve in a period of détente
116
What impact did the improved relation with China and the USSR have on ending the war in Vietnam?
It made negotiations with North Vietnam easier
117
Why had peace talks failed before 1972?
At the Paris Peace talks in 1969 the US wanted an independent South Vietnam whereas North Vietnam wanted to unite Vietnam under communism
118
Why were secret peace talks held in 1969?
- Paris peace talks had led nowhere
- Nixon held talks with China and the USSR to urge North Vietnam to negotiate
- North Vietnam didn’t want to lose supplies from China so agreed
- South Vietnam did not know about these talks
119
Why were further peace talks held in 1972?
- North Vietnam were worried about losing supplies from China
- US bombing of NV put pressure on them
- Cost of the war for both sides
- Reduced funding for US by Congress
- Growing anti war protests
120
Why did Thieu (President of SV) refuse to agree to peace terms?
He was angry that they had been held in secret
121
How did America finally press for a new peace agreement in January 1963?
- Further bombing of North Vietnam
- Further talks with USSR
- Making concessions to Thieu
122
When was the peace agreement signed ending the war in Vietnam?
January 1963
123
What did the Paris Peace accords state?
1. Immediate ceasefire
2. Withdrawal of US forces
3. The release of prisoners of war
4. All countries to accept Vietnam as a single country
124
What happened after the Peace Accords?
- US cut funding in March despite promising funding to SV
- South Vietnam economy collapsed
- Saigon fell to communism in April 1975
125
Why did it take America so long to end the Vietnam war?
1. Vietnamisation took time
2. Further invasions delayed peace talks
3. Nixon was preoccupied with Watergate
126
What were the geographical and cultural strengths of the Viet Cong and North Vietnam?
- Knew the landscape which was good for guerrilla warfare
| - Many Viet Cong had family and friends in South Vietnam
127
What were the political and economic strengths of North Vietnam?
- They were determined
- The Viet Cong were well organised
- Financial help from China and USSR
- Laos and Cambodia allowed the Ho Chi Minh trail in their countries
128
What were the military strengths of North Vietnam?
- Guerrilla tactics in jungle conditions
- Tunnel networks
- North Vietnamese army was stronger than the Viet Cong after Tet
