4.4 Reasons For Us Defeat In Vietnam

Question 1

How the failure of the policy of containment using the military led to defeat?

Answer 1

• us’ vast militarystrength vouldnt stop communism.
• guerrilla tactics used by vietcong and their absolute commitment to the cause, far outweighed the desire of Americans to keep going. This was added to by the lack of knowledge of the enemy and area they were fighting in , by the us.

Question 2

How the policy of containment failing politically led to defeat?

Answer 2

• us faield to stop vietnam falling to communism , their actions in neighbouring countries of laos and cambodia had helped bring communist governments to power there too
• many us politicians were mounting pressure to commit to peace.

Question 3

How the policy of containment failing in the propaganda war led to defeat?

Answer 3

-having presented the war in vietna, as a moral crusade against communism , the atrocities committed by the us military in terms of killing and use of chemical weapons , had tarnished americas image at home and abroad

Question 4

Hoe the cost of the war led to americas defeat?

Answer 4

• 58000 Americans died and 1-4 million vietnamese.

- cost over 100 billion dollars and damaged reputation and morale at home

Question 5

How the russian and chinese influence led to us defeat in vietnam war?

Answer 5

-both soviets and china pumped money and technology into vietnam to help communist forces. After vietnam a policy of containment was replaced by a period of detente.