Chapter 13: Confrontation in the Vietnam War Flashcards
Johnson's war, escalation, Tet
1
Q
What were Johnson’s aims in the war?
A
- Quick victory -> bigger problems at home - aim of ‘great society’
- Continued involvement without americanisation
2
Q
What early actions did Johnson take in Vietnam?
A
- OPLAN 34A (Jan 1964) –> covert action in NV to inc pressure
- Continued counterinsurgency (from JFK)
- Increased military advisors - 16,000 -> 23,300
3
Q
What was the Gulf of Tonkin?
A
- 1964
- 2nd Aug - USS Maddox ‘attacked’ in gulf
- 7th Aug - Resolution passed - gave president actions as ‘defence’ without congress
4
Q
How was the war currently progressing?
A
- NV in good position -> USSR & Chinese support, Ho Chi Minh trail, inc NLF strength
- SV -> low morale, military advisors ineffective
5
Q
Why did Johnson escalate the war? (7 reasons)
A
- Combat increased NLF infiltration
- Kennedy’s legacy - Johnson not elected
- Fear by domino theory
- Containment - support in Asia for Japan
- Hawk advisors - assumed an easy victory
- Defence for US - Tonkin and Pleiku
- Support SV
6
Q
How did Johnson escalate the war?
A
- Ground troops introduced -> 1965 100,000, 1968 565,000
- Operation rolling thunder (Feb 1965 - 1968) -?> aimed to boost SV morale, destroy NV infrastructure, interrupt HCM trail, stop NLF support from SV
7
Q
How did Vietnam respond to escalation?
A
- Gave a settlement proposition –>
- US withdraw from SV
- N&S to have no military alliances with foreign powers
- SV affairs to be settled independently
- Reunification to be decided by N&S alone
8
Q
What was the American response to this proposition?
A
- No
- Despite generous terms in line with Geneva agreements - believed it would lead to a unified communist Vietnam
9
Q
What were US tactics in the war?
A
- Op rolling thunder - 864,000 tonnes bombs
- Napalm, agent orange and blue -> kill jungle cover and crops
- Search and destroy missions
10
Q
What were US strengths?
A
- Air and mobility - helicopters, modern equipment
- Stronger economy - can finance the war
11
Q
What were US weaknesses?
A
- Badly trained SV army
- Domestic and global criticism
- Low morale of SV
- Difficult to identify enemy
- Actions alienated enemy
12
Q
What were North Vietnamese tactics?
A
- Guerrilla warfare - tunnel systems, booby traps etc
- Ho Chi Minh trail - assist NLF in SV
13
Q
What were North Vietnamese strengths?
A
- Peasant support
- Use and knowledge of terrain
- Help from allies - USSR, China
- Anti-aircraft missiles
- China gave 300,000 troops
14
Q
What were North Vietnamese weaknesses?
A
- Poorly developed economy
- Overly dependent on allies
- Supply routes susceptible to bombing
15
Q
What was the Tet offensive?
A
- Jan - Feb 1968
- Tet = Vietnamese new year
- Fighting meant to stop for religious celebrations
- Viet Cong attack over 100 towns and cities in SV
