Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975, Part three: The ending of conflict in Vietnam

Question 1

Who was elected in 1968 US presidential elections?

Answer 1

Richard Nixon

Question 2

What was Nixon’s problem in Vietnam?

Answer 2

• He could not win the war
• If he withdrew, communism would spread and people would question the object of the war.

Question 3

When did Nixon announce Vietnamisation?

Answer 3

3rd November 1969

Question 4

What was Vietnamisation?

Answer 4

The ARVN would be trained to a high level and given high-tech equipment and the US forces would gradually come home.

Question 5

By the end of 1969, what proportion of soldiers came home from Vietnam?

Answer 5

Only 85k of the 540k.

Question 6

Why did Nixon give permission for Cambodia and Laos to be targeted?

Answer 6

Some of the main Vietcong bases were there.

Question 7

Why did opposition to the war grow?

Answer 7

• More media coverage of the war
• Too much money spent
• USA not winning
• The ‘draft’ system

Question 8

How many men were drafted?

Answer 8

2 million between ‘64 and ‘72

Question 9

What group was particularly involved in the anti-war movement?

Answer 9

College students.

Question 10

What happened at Kent State Universty?

Answer 10

Four students were shot dead by police during a anti-war protest.

Question 11

What day was the Kent State University events?

Answer 11

Monday 4th May 1970

Question 12

What event sparked the Kent State protests?

Answer 12

Nixon announced the US invasion of Cambodia on 30th April 1970.

Question 13

What day did Nixon order the invasion of Cambodia?

Answer 13

30th April 1970

Question 14

How many people were gathered at the Kent State protests?

Answer 14

3000: 1500 protesters and 1500 bystanders, watching.

Question 15

What did the Mayor of Kent do before the Kent State University protests?

Answer 15

He ordered 1000 National Guardsmen to keep order at the protest.

Question 16

What led to the National Guard firing bullets?

Answer 16

The protest turned violent – protesters throwing rocks and the National Guardsmen firing tear gas.

Question 17

How many bullets were fired by the National Guard at Kent State?

Answer 17

Between 61 and 67 bullets.

Question 18

What happened on the 15th November 1969?

Answer 18

The largest anti-war protest in history: 500,000 people marched in Washington DC

Question 19

What was the most notable anti-war protest and when did it happen?

Answer 19

Washington DC 15th November 1969. 500,000 people present.

Question 20

How many people died at the Kent State University shootings?

Answer 20

4 people killed, 9 injured.

Question 21

What was the outcome of the Kent State shootings?

Answer 21

• Colleges closed as two million students refused to show up.
• The media reported it, and the people were shocked.

Question 22

What did a government report conclude on the Kent State University shootings?

Answer 22

That it was ‘unnecessary, unwarranted, and inexcusable’.

Question 23

What state is Kent in?

Answer 23

Ohio

Question 24

What proportion of Americans had a TV during the Korean War?

Answer 24

Only 9%

Question 25

What proportion of Americans had a TV in 1961?

Answer 25

93%

Question 26

What technology made news reporting easier in the Vietnam War than it had been in the Korean War?

Answer 26

Lightweight portable cameras, voice recorders.

Question 27

Why was the Tet Offensive a turning point in news reporting in the Vietnam war?

Answer 27

Before it, the government had been saying the war was being won. The first-hand reporting showed this was not true.

Question 28

Who was Walter Cronkite?

Answer 28

The most famous newsreader at the time of the Vietnam war.

Question 29

What was Walter Cronkite called?

Answer 29

'The most trusted man in America'

Question 30

What shocking report did Walter Cronkite make? When?

Answer 30

February 1968, he said 'the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate'. He exposed the war for what it was to the American public.

Question 31

What was the Watergate scandal?

Answer 31

Nixon was linked to a burglary at the Democrats' offices. He took steps to cover it up.

Question 32

What did Nixon do when the scandal came to light?

Answer 32

He resigned.

Question 33

What day did Nixon announce his resignation?

Answer 33

8th August 1974

Question 34

Why did the US public oppose the war more and more as media reported on it?

Answer 34

It turned out the government were lying about involvement in the war. (My Lai, Operation Rolling Thunder, Napalm use)

Question 35

What day were the Democrats' headquarters broken into?

Answer 35

17th June 1972

Question 36

What did the *Life* Magazine report on that shocked Americans?

Answer 36

It published the names and faces of 242 US troops killed in one week of fighting in June 1969.

Question 37

What did the *New York Times* publish that shocked Americans?

Answer 37

Published leaked secret reports on the war in June 1971. It confirmed the public's suspicion that the government were lying.

Question 38

What was Nixon guilty of during Watergate?

Answer 38

He was guilty of taking steps to cover up the burglary.

Question 39

What were Nixon's three strategies to bring about peace in Vietnam?

Answer 39

* Vietnamisation * Pressure/Negotiation * Bombing

Question 40

Who was Henry Kissinger?

Answer 40

He was Nixon's National Security Adviser. He led the peace negotiations with North Vietnam.

Question 41

How long did the Paris Peace talks last?

Answer 41

The secret and public meetings took place over a period of four years.

Question 42

Who led the US delegation at the Paris Peace talks?

Answer 42

Henry Kissinger

Question 43

When do the peace talks begin?

Answer 43

January 1969

Question 44

What does North Vietnam propose to end the war?

Answer 44

An 'in place' ceasefire, where North Vietnam can keep all the land it currently occupied.

Question 45

When does North Vietnam propose the 'in place' ceasefire?

Answer 45

October 1972

Question 46

What does Nixon agree to?

Answer 46

He agrees to the ceasefire, and promises $1 billion worth of military aid to South Vietnam.

Question 47

When is the Paris Peace Accord signed?

Answer 47

27 Jan 1973

Question 48

When do the last US troops leave Vietnam?

Answer 48

March 1973

Question 49

Why does the promised $1 billion military aid never get paid?

Answer 49

Nixon resigns, his successor never pays the promised sum.

Question 50

When does the US start bombing the Ho Chi Minh trail in Cambodia?

Answer 50

March 1969

Question 51

When does the US invade Cambodia?

Answer 51

April 1970

Question 52

How many more soldiers does Nixon call for as US invade Cambodia?

Answer 52

Another 150,000 are needed.

Question 53

When does Saigon fall?

Answer 53

Saigon is taken over by the communists in April 1975.

Question 54

Why did the Americans lose the war?

Answer 54

* The soldiers were demoralised * Soldiers' tour of duty was only a year long - they couldn't gain enough experience. * Vietcong more experienced * Media coverage led to large anti-war demonstrations.

Question 55

How many American soldiers were killed in the war?

Answer 55

58,000

Question 56

What was the average age of US casualties?

Answer 56

23yo

Question 57

How many American soldiers were wounded?

Answer 57

300,000

Question 58

How many Vietnamese soldiers were killed during the war?

Answer 58

1 million

Question 59

How many Vietnamese civilians were killed during the war?

Answer 59

2 million

Question 60

How many Vietnamese soldiers were wounded during the war?

Answer 60

2 million

Question 61

How many Vietnamese civilians were wounded during the war?

Answer 61

5 million

Question 62

How many Vietnamese people became refugees?

Answer 62

11 million; their homes were destroyed as a result of raids and bombing.