Cold War, USSR, China And Vietnam Flashcards

Question

CUBAS MISSLE CRISIS JFK What problem did JFK inherit from Eisenhower

Answer 1

Prior to 1959 Cuba was ruled by Bastia Ally of US Encouraged UD business 59 Nationalists led by Castro overthrew him Eisenhower requested a CIA plan to overthrow Castro This was illegal

Answer 2

Approved plan which involved invasion by Cuban exiles Took place 62 Failed Made Castro look to USSR for aid JFK created Operation Mongoose next - involved maximum disruption of Cuba’s trade, made more raid and another attempted assassination Result nearly created nuclear war

Answer 3

EXCOM (military and advisors) met to consider tactics Few days later JFK meets USSR foreign minister Both sides argue Missle site photos are being taken by U2 planes simultaneously EXCOM recommends action but JFK fears retaliation on Berlin in a tit for tat reaction

Answer 4

Few days later JFK broadcasts about Cuban missiles HE imposes a blockade around Cuba and demands their withdrawal by USSR Threat of war wages JFK then forbid boarding of Soviet ships in international waters Reports suggest midsized

Answer 5

The USA did not know that there were already missiles on Cuba being prepared for firing -Evidence suggests that Cuba would have fires them had he USA invaded The USA did not know the soviet commander in Cuba had been given the go ahead for a pre-emptive nuclear strike if USA invaded Krushchev has little inside knowledge of US planning. He only knew about the US plans because a journalist was overheard in a Moscow bar. He did not realise the pressure JFK was under to invade If nuclear weapons were used no one knew how the war they would create would end but everyone feared the worst

Answer 6

Misunderstanding led to ‘hotline’ being place so that confrontation could be less public Compromise was more possible in private Television had encouraged a crisis It also created significant public protest at the weaponary JFK was shot less than a month lager

Answer 7

Yes -Krushchev agreed to remove missiles if US promised not to invade Cuba Also a secret agreement that USA will remove missiles from Turkeys JFK agrees and crisis over -Hotline - less public confrontation No - Eisenhower CIA Plan = illegal - JFK invasion on Cuba exciles 1961 failed - operation Mongoose almost led to nuclear war

Answer 8

Castro in power Invasion of Cuban exiles 1961 Operation mongoose He imposed blockage around Cuba and demands withdrawal

Answer 9

Hotline and talk w issue w out public

Answer 10

Truman: 1950 $10 million offered and MAAG has been set up to assist in the training and provide bombers and weapons Between 1950-1952 US spent $50m on economic and technical assistance to the Vietnam people. By 1954, investment reached US $3bill US tried to win over peasants by providing seeds and fertiliser to increase agricultural production. They introduced health programmes aimed at reducing malaria. US insisted that aid should go directly to local hoc to show local pop the benefits of US involvement

Answer 11

The USA feared that as Ho Chi Minh was a communist he would naturally ally w USSR or China Therefore US gave French aid, but refused to intervene $7bill aid between 1955-61 In 1954 the Viet Minh sieged Dien Bien Phu and this led to Geneva accords which were drawn up 1954 This recognised French withdrawal, partitioned Vietnam’s, req feee elections and recognised Laos and Cambodia as neutral But the USA was fighting the Cold War and determined to contain communism and to prevent Domino effect. Eisenhower feared collapse of 1 Asia state would lead to another. If Ho Chi Minh won the election in 1956, he would run it as a communist state so US decided to -refuse to sign -gave help to Diem, leader of south Vietnam -agreed to postpone elections -ignored persecutions of opponents -set up 1000 advisors in Saigon -this was unpopular and the situation JFK inherited

Answer 12

A cease fire and temporary division of the country into 2 military zones at 17th parallel All Viet Minh forces were to withdraw north of that line All French and associated state of Vietnam troops were to remain south of it Permission was granted for refugees to move from one zone to the other during limited time period An international commission was established, composed of Canadian, Polish, and indian members under an Indian chairman, to supervise the execution of the agreement Elections, supervised by the commission, to be held throughout Vietnam in July 1956 in order to unify the country

Answer 13

Vin Minh appeared certain to win these elections, and the US and the leaders in the south would not approve or sign the final declaration; elections were never held With assistance from the USSR and China, the north embarked on an ambitious program of socialist industrialisation; they also began to collectivise agriculture in earnest in 1958 In the south, a new gov appointed by Dai began to build an new country. Diem a Roman Catholic, was named PM and succeeded with American support in stabilising the anti communist regime He eliminated pro-French elements in the military Diem then achieved full power removing Dai

Answer 14

Diem’s early success in consolidating power did not result in concrete political and economic achievements Plans for land reform were sabotaged With the financial backing of the US, the regime’s chief energies were directed toward building up the military to counter the still influential Viet Minh Totalitarian methods were directed against all who were regarded as opponents, and the favouritism shown to Roman Catholics alienated the majority Buddhist population Loyalty to the president and his family made a paramount duty, and Diem’s brother, NGO Dinh Nhu, founded an elitist underground organisation to spy on officials, army officers, and prominent local citizens

Answer 15

With support from the north, communist-led-forces- popularly called the Viet Cong - launched an insurgency movement to seize power and reunify the country The government that seized power after diem’s ouster, however, was no more effective than its predecessor

Answer 16

No less than the oppressive nature of the Saigon regime was its inability to cope with the Viet Cong The insurgent movement, aided by a steady infiltration of weapons and advisors from north, steadily built its fighting strength from about 30,000 men in 1963 to about 150,000 in 1965 when, in the opinion of many American intelligence analysts, the survival of the Saigon regime was seriously threatened

Answer 17

In addition The political opp in the south to Saigon become much more organised The national front for the liberation of the south, popularly called NLF had been organised in late 1960 and within 4 years had a huge following

Answer 18

Until 1960 US supported Saigon regime and its army only with military equipment, financial aid, and as permitted by Geneva Accords, 700 advisors for training the army The number of advisors had increased to 17,000 by the end of 1963, and they were joined by an increasing number of American helicopter pilots. All of this assistance, however, proved insufficient to halt the advance of of the Viet Cong

Answer 19

Need to protect economic interests in Asia Desire to appear credible after the challenge to Cuba Desire to demonstrate us power and knowledge that greater nuclear balance restricted direct action

Answer 20

To create a more flexible policy using economic aid, encouraging nation building and backing this up with counter insurgency forces by using the Green Berets against guerilla tactics Continue to support Diem and South Vietnam army by dollar and air Send more military advisors and equipped under Project ‘Beef up’

Answer 21

The Diem regime continued to be very corrupt and unpopular amongst landless peasants in particular The Vietcong (a group of guerilla fighters continued to pursue their independence campaign, creating the national liberation front in south Vietnam m The 15,000 advisors failed to improve the ARVN The CIA have covert encouragement to the ARVN to get rid of Diem

Answer 22

1963 Diem assassinated JFK assassinated 3 weeks later

Answer 23

Situation after assassination was 16,000 advisors (inc soldiers) but none on active service By end of his presidency in 1968, there was 500,000 soldiers and 6 months earlier he had turned down a request for 200,000 more His choices were limited. He was inexperienced in foreign policy and relied on McNamara, his secretary of defence and George bundy his national security advisor He was being urged that only full scale military force could stop the collapse of south Vietnamese government

Answer 24

1964, American patrols in the Gulf of Tonkin off the Vietnamese coast claimed to have been fired on LBJ went to Congress and they passed a resolution called the Gulf of Tonkin resolution This gave President all necessary means to repel any armed attack and prevent further aggression It meant that the president did not need further permission from congress This was not revoked till 1970

Answer 25

1965 the joint chief of staffs asked for 100,000 soldiers to be sent to vietnam They argued their attacks had been limited and force was needed McNamara argued US credibility was at stake and said was committed to support South Vietnam Protests came from politicians who questioned US motives The presidents greatest interest was to work on great society But in the end johnson thought if no alternative so be it Escalation meant US was determined to contain communism 3 years that followed described as Americanisation of Vietnam

Answer 26

Direct bombing: operation rolling thunder 1968 AIM- damage North Vietnam so much eco- negotiate peace -attack Ho Chi Minh Trail of paths and tunnels and waterways used by Vietcong to move soldiers and equip and supplies Method: Million of tons of bombs dropped B52s at cost of $30,000 a sortie -use of defolition to drop leaves - agent orange -use of napalm to flush out Vietcong supporters and minimise support from villages Result Defolition using toxic chemicals such as Agent Orange caused long term sickness amongst civilians and soldiers and destruction of Vietnam’s agriculture and towns -north Vietnamese rebuilt roads and bridges quicker than imagined -intensified will to fight -bombing continued- sig

Answer 27

Aim: support bombing by capturing Vietnamese soldiers and damaging their support in countryside Method:continued to inc number of troops 1956-68 almost doubled Result:Tet offensive by north Vietnamese over vietnam new year proved neither bombing or ground troops ended ability or desire of Vietcong to continue war - Vietcong attacked 5/6bmain cities and 3/4 provincial cities. Quickly pushed back from most, but the ancient and beautiful city of Hie was badly damaged. The Vietcong had successfully disproved American claims war nearly over - anti war movement spurred by celebriti w like Muhammad Ali and MLK

Answer 28

68 Nixon power Nixon Doctrine: USA help nations willing to help selves - began vietnamization of war By reducing troop numbers- 543,000 1969; reduced it by 20,000 1970, and reduced it to 24,000 1972 Bombing raids in Cambodia - destroy Ho chin Minh trail - failed - 73- Nixon sent ground troops into Cambodia - protests —> (w o congress) Repeal of Gulf of Tonkin by congress Paris peace talk - stalled since 1968 because of south vietnamise military weakness, restarted after more successful attacks on north. Ceasefire agreed 1972 but fighting restarted with south Vietnamese Christmas bombing campaign 27 Jan 1973- ceasefire Vietnamese war lasted 2cmore years - 75- united

Answer 29

US soldiers served 1 year tour inexperienced and young men - frightened and victim of vicious fighting and unpredictable behaviour Full scare invasion on Vietnam was never possible because of threat of nuclear action Determination and courage of Vietnamese

Answer 30

UEA never committed to total victory as might lead to soviet or Chinese’s intervention and nuclear war American public opp Mcarthyisn removed many Far East specialists

Answer 31

1959 Student for a democratic society is found 1965 First draft riots occur on college campuses 1970-National guard kills 4 protestors at Kent state uni

Answer 32

USA gave Jap $500m to rebuikd Other asian countries who faced Jap in WW2 we’re angry at US policy By 1960, Jap was eco competitive w US

Answer 33

USA worried that association with the undemocratic and corrupt methods of Chiang Kai Shek would tarnish them Chiang Wouldn’t modernise or support reform Aid from USA had little effect General Wesemeyer argued to send more troops to help Chiang Kai Shek. Truman refuses. Secretary of State said it would involve tgemcin war

Answer 34

China Affected Truman at hone Mao tried to build relationship US- failed - soviet puppet state US blocked China entry to UN Continued to finance nationalists Japan major ally

Answer 35

Soviet backed North Korean people’s army invades South Korea UN and US rush to South Korea’s defence China, in support of communist north, retaliated when US UN and south Korean troops approach Chinese border 4 mill die in 3 year conflict until North Korea UN China blah sign armistice agreement 1953

Answer 36

Eisenhower lifted US navy blockade of Taiwan 1953 leading Chiang Kai Shek to deploy thousands of troops to the Quemoy and Matsu islands in the Taiwan Strait in Aug 1954 Mainland china’s People’s Liberation Army responded by shelling the islands. The USA signed a mutual defence treaty with Chiang’s Natiobalists In spring 1955, US threatened nuclear attack China China agreed to negotiate claiming a limited victory after nationalists withdrawal from Dachen island Crisis erupted again in 1956