16.1_2 Flashcards
- Who was the first American killed in Vietnam during intelligence gathering in 1945?
o Answer: Lieutenant Colonel Peter Dewey.
- What led to American involvement in Vietnam during the French Indochina War?
Answer: Supplying the French during the French Indochina War.
- Which countries composed French Indochina?
o Answer: Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
- Who fought against the French in 1930 and later declared Vietnam independent?
o Answer: The Indochinese Communist Party led by Ho Chi Minh.
- Why did the United States support France during the French Indochina War?
o Answer: To assist an ally and prevent communism.
- What happened at the Geneva Conference in 1954 regarding Vietnam?
o Answer: Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel until the 1956 election.
- Which South Vietnamese leader received U.S. economic aid but faced corruption issues?
o Answer: President Diem.
- When did the National Liberation Front (Vietcong) begin its activities?
o Answer: In 1957.
- How did North Vietnam supply the Vietcong during the Vietnam War?
o Answer: Via the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
- What was the significance of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in the French-Indochina War?
o Answer: The French defeat led to a reevaluation of their involvement in Vietnam.
- What impact did the Geneva Accords (1954) have on Vietnam’s division?
o Answer: It temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel.
- What challenges did President Eisenhower face in building up South Vietnam?
o Answer: Dealing with President Diem’s unpopularity and corruption.
- What operational methods did the Vietcong use during the Vietnam War?
o Answer: Guerrilla warfare, ambushes, and hit-and-run attacks.
What did President Johnson vow in the 1964 election regarding American involvement in Vietnam?
Answer: Not to send American boys where Asian boys should fight for themselves.
When did Johnson begin sending tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers to Vietnam?
Answer: In 1965.
What percentage of Americans supported Vietnam in 1965?
Answer: 61%.
What arguments were made by Under Secretary of State George Ball and Secretary of State Dean Rusk regarding escalation in Vietnam?
Answer: Ball argued against escalation, while Rusk strongly argued for it to maintain U.S. prestige.
How many Americans were in Vietnam by the end of 1965?
Answer: 180,000.
Where did the Vietcong attack the U.S.?
Answer: Both in cities and countryside.
What challenges did Americans face in Vietnam due to the Vietcong’s tactics?
Answer: Booby traps, landmines, and difficulty discerning friend from foe lowered morale.
What difficulties did Americans encounter in finding the Vietnamese?
Answer: Elaborate underground tunnels used by the Vietcong.
What impact did napalm and Agent Orange have during the war?
Answer: They cleared foliage but also killed and harmed civilians.
How did low morale affect American soldiers?
Answer: Increased usage of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs; some soldiers fragged their officers.
What challenges did President Johnson’s Great Society program face due to military spending?
Answer: Funding began to fail due to inflation caused by military expenditures.
What claims were made by General Westmoreland and Secretary McNamara regarding victory in Vietnam?
Answer: They claimed that victory was imminent.
How many American soldiers died in Vietnam between 1965 and 1967?
Answer: 16,000.
Q: What sparked American involvement in Vietnam?
A: Support for French colonial interests and anti-communism.
Q: Why did the Americans supply the French during the French Indochina war?
A: To support an ally and contain communism.
Q: For what resources did the French use Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia?
A: For rice and rubber.
Q: What led Ho Chi Minh to fight against the French in 1930, and where did he flee?
A: Fought French rule; fled to the Soviet Union and China.
Q: What was the U.S. strategy under Eisenhower and Kennedy regarding South Vietnam?
A: Provided economic aid to strengthen South Vietnam.
Q: Why were the 1956 elections in South Vietnam cancelled?
A: Cancelled due to fears of a Ho Chi Minh victory.
Q: How did Ho Chi Minh supply the Vietcong in 1959?
A: Supplied them via the Ho Chi Minh trail.
