4.4 - Reasons For The Failure Of The USA In Vietnam Flashcards
What were the strengths of North Vietnam?
- Vietnam had previously been one country so the North had a good geographical and cultural understanding of the South.
- Many people in North and South Vietnam wanted to be reunited as a single country.
- The North Vietnamese, unlike the Americans, had a good knowledge of the natural environment in South Vietnam.
- They shared a language with the South Vietnamese.
- The North Vietnamese expected full commitment to the war from the oldest to the youngest citizen.
- Children were given military training and pertormed support roles, like carrying messages.
- The North Vietnamese believed that fighting and dying for their country was a matter of honour.
- “Opposing the aim of the war — to reunity their country with the South Vietnamese people - was not an option in North Vietnamese political culture. Open political opposition to the government was not allowed.
Why were the Vietcong tactics and commitment effective?
The guerrilla tactics of North Vietnam’s allies, the Vietcong (VC), were difficult to undermine. The VC were used to fighting in jungle conditions and were well organised and equipped for guerrilla-style warfare.
The strong commitment of the VC and North Vietnamese troops was also difficult to challenge, as they had a clear ideology about why they needed to win the war and the reasons they were fighting. In comparison, the ARVN received poor training and did not have the same levels of belief in what they were fighting for.
How did the Ho Chi Minh Trail help North Vietnam win the war?
Laos and Cambodia allowed the Ho Chi Minh Trail to operate in their countries. This was a vital supply route for the North Vietnamese to reach the VC in South Vietnam. Militarily it caused the USA a lot of difficulty. It was about 1000 km long and some sections of it were made-up trails to trick the enemy. Thousands of Vietnamese were involved in keeping the route open and workable. The Americans used biological weapons to deforest the jungle and expose the trail, yet despite this the route was kept going throughout the war.
