13. Confrontation In The Vietnam War Flashcards
What was Johnson’s initial policy in vietnam?
-to achieve a quick victory without having to commit USA to an escalation of its role in Vietnam
What is OPLAN 34A and what is its significance?
- January 1964
- based on covert action to escalate pressure on north Vietnamese
- also to force Hanoi to stop aggressive policies
- that Johnson was not committed to a negotiation
- that he saw the conflict expanding into NV.
- the V was can be seen as becoming Americanised at this point
When did Johnson become president + why?
- Kennedy was assassinated and he was vice
- November 1963
What happened as a result of European allies not liking Johnson’s approach?
- USA’s allied support began to diminish
- French leader warned increase of involvement in V could lead to the failed Indochina
when and What was the golf of Tonkin resolution?
- 7th August 1964
- After US navel vessel was attacked by NV force in golf of Tonkin
- congress agreed to allow Johnson to take whatever action necessary to resist
What did the golf of Tonkin resolution allow Johnson to do?
-freedom to conduct any policy he wanted without consulting congress
What led to America’s further escalation in Vietnam late 1964?
- China and USSR providing military supplies to NV
- USSR establishing diplomatic links with NLF
- Vietnamese forces moved down Ho Chi Minh trail
- Vietcong strengthened position in SV
Why didn’t Johnson believe in diplomacy in 1964 + evidence?
- believed that NV would back down when faced with the economic and military might of the US (similar to E and Brinkmanship)
- and gold of Tonkin resolution enabled him to enforce this
- offers to talks arranged by UN secretary were rejected by US
Why + when did Johnson order ‘rolling thunder’?
- feb 1965-1968
- it was a bombing campaign
- Due to Vietcong attack on army barracks and US helicopters
What did rolling thunder show about the nature of the war?
- Americanisation of the war
- escalation of US involvement
What was NV’s four point proposal?
- US troops withdraw from SV
- neither NV OR SV can enter into a military alliance with a foreign power
- SV affairs must be settles by the people w/out external interference
- peaceful reunification of Vietnam to be settled by the people
What was johns response to the 4-point proposal?
- rejected them
- believed acceptance may lead to a unified communist Vietnam=domino theory
- ordered 20,000 troops to deploy and publically announced escalation of US military role
What were the strengths of the North Vietnamese war effort
-large supply of soldiers (used conscription), but many volunteered as they wanted to save their country
-knew terrain
-skilled in guerrilla warfare
-won support from peasants (US
search and destroy team helped this)
-ho chi Minh trail
What were the weaknesses of the North Vietnamese war effort
- dependency in the USSR and China
- north economy could not maintain a prolonged war
- no guaranteed support from SV peasants
- lacked air and military prowess of America
What were the strengths of the American war effort
- SV soldiers in side
- had powerful Air Force, could deploy bombs and troop support
- large army (2.8 million Americans) over 100,000 being deployed each year
What were the weaknesses of the American war effort
- weren’t prepared for terrain and weather
- inexperienced in guerrilla warfare
- 19 was average age= inexperienced troops
- 43% died In first 3 months of their tour
- many cases of desertion
- America became overly extended on numerous military commitments
- SV we’re not committed and not trained
- press coverage =anti war movement
Give an example of guerrilla tactics?
- complex tunnels
- booby traps
Explain how bombing was a strength for the US?
- rolling thunder
- deployed huge B-52 bombers
- was successful in destroying some military targets
What was the aim of US bombing
-aim to destroy economy and undermine northern forces
How was US bombing seen as a weakness?
- aim failed as they had very well disguised military targets
- NV resources were replenished by aid from China and USSR
- agent orange turned peasants against the US, causing famine. Many civilians were victims
Explain search and destroy?
- intended to find and destroy enemy in the jungle + villages
- many innocents were killed in raids
- livestock + homes of peasants were destroyed
Why was search and destroy a weakness of the US?
- rural peasants refused to ally
- they saw success by body count not by number of enemy dead and many civilians died
What big figure supported the anti war movement in America?
- MARTIN LUTHER KING
- he was an influential voice appealing to so many black men that were conscripted
- helped increase domestic opposition from black community
How did NV gain peasant support?
- promised things to them eg. Respect and peace
- element of cooperation through terror and were preferred than Americans
How was the Ho Chi Minh trail a strength for NV?
- primary supply route and crucial for supplement of men and equipment
- never fully disabled by US attacks
When did China agree to provide aid to USSR?
-December 1964
How long was the Tet offensive?
Jan-Feb 1968
What is the Tet offensive?
- Vietcong launched surprise attacks on US targets
- attempt to foment rebellion among the South Vietnamese population and encourage the United States to scale back its involvement in the Vietnam War.
What was the outcome of the TET offensive for the Vietcong?
- military defeat
- 25,000 Vietcong killed
explain negative impacts of the TET offensive for the US?
- showed the war to be at a stalemate, as the Enemy were able to strike with such force
- showed a US victory would be far away even tho they had won this battle
- military containment looked useless
- Despite heavy casualties, and its failure to inspire widespread rebellion among the South Vietnamese, North Vietnam achieved a strategic victory with the Tet Offensive, as the attacks marked a turning point in the Vietnam War and the beginning of the slow, painful American withdrawal from the region.
What impact the the Tet offensive have for Johnson?
- Before Tet, Westmoreland and other representatives of the Johnson administration had been claiming that the end of the war was in sight; now, it was clear that a long struggle still lay ahead. people lost trust in Johnson
- Johnson declared that he was limiting the bombing of North Vietnam to the area below the 20th parallel and calling for negotiations to end the war.
- Johnson’s decision to halt escalation after the Tet Offensive marked a crucial turning point in American participation in the Vietnam War.
what is the great society?
- An idea by Johnson which is an improved united states with better health care + economy which was the allure to him being voted in
- Johnson either had to put money into the great society or into Vietnam and if he didn’t put money into either he would loose his presidency
- his advisors who were also advisors to kennedy convinced him to fund money into the war
why is kennedys death important in the course of the Vietnam war?
- his death can be seen as a turning point of the vietnam war
- speculation around if kennedy was alive, would the vietnam war have began?
explain the impact of the TET offensive on the domestic US?
- news coverage of the massive offensive shocked the American public and eroded support for the war effort.
- effected domestic situation inside America and this led to a change of focus
- people lost confidence in johnson, shifting public opinion
- stated he didn’t intent to run for re-election (march 1968)
