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

1
Q

Who was elected in 1968 US presidential elections?

A

Richard Nixon

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2
Q

What was Nixon’s problem in Vietnam?

A
  • He could not win the war
  • If he withdrew, communism would spread and people would question the object of the war.
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3
Q

When did Nixon announce Vietnamisation?

A

3rd November 1969

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4
Q

What was Vietnamisation?

A

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

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5
Q

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

A

Only 85k of the 540k.

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6
Q

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

A

Some of the main Vietcong bases were there.

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7
Q

Why did opposition to the war grow?

A
  • More media coverage of the war
  • Too much money spent
  • USA not winning
  • The ‘draft’ system
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8
Q

How many men were drafted?

A

2 million between ‘64 and ‘72

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9
Q

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

A

College students.

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10
Q

What happened at Kent State Universty?

A

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

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11
Q

What day was the Kent State University events?

A

Monday 4th May 1970

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12
Q

What event sparked the Kent State protests?

A

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

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13
Q

What day did Nixon order the invasion of Cambodia?

A

30th April 1970

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14
Q

How many people were gathered at the Kent State protests?

A

3000: 1500 protesters and 1500 bystanders, watching.

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15
Q

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

A

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

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16
Q

What led to the National Guard firing bullets?

A

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

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17
Q

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

A

Between 61 and 67 bullets.

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18
Q

What happened on the 15th November 1969?

A

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

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19
Q

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

A

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

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20
Q

How many people died at the Kent State University shootings?

A

4 people killed, 9 injured.

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21
Q

What was the outcome of the Kent State shootings?

A
  • Colleges closed as two million students refused to show up.
  • The media reported it, and the people were shocked.
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22
Q

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

A

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

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23
Q

What state is Kent in?

A

Ohio

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24
Q

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

A

Only 9%

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25
Q

What proportion of Americans had a TV in 1961?

A

93%

26
Q

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

A

Lightweight portable cameras, voice recorders.

27
Q

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

A

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

28
Q

Who was Walter Cronkite?

A

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

29
Q

What was Walter Cronkite called?

A

‘The most trusted man in America’

30
Q

What shocking report did Walter Cronkite make? When?

A

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.

31
Q

What was the Watergate scandal?

A

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

32
Q

What did Nixon do when the scandal came to light?

A

He resigned.

33
Q

What day did Nixon announce his resignation?

A

8th August 1974

34
Q

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

A

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

35
Q

What day were the Democrats’ headquarters broken into?

A

17th June 1972

36
Q

What did the Life Magazine report on that shocked Americans?

A

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

37
Q

What did the New York Times publish that shocked Americans?

A

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

38
Q

What was Nixon guilty of during Watergate?

A

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

39
Q

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

A
  • Vietnamisation
  • Pressure/Negotiation
  • Bombing
40
Q

Who was Henry Kissinger?

A

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

41
Q

How long did the Paris Peace talks last?

A

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

42
Q

Who led the US delegation at the Paris Peace talks?

A

Henry Kissinger

43
Q

When do the peace talks begin?

A

January 1969

44
Q

What does North Vietnam propose to end the war?

A

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

45
Q

When does North Vietnam propose the ‘in place’ ceasefire?

A

October 1972

46
Q

What does Nixon agree to?

A

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

47
Q

When is the Paris Peace Accord signed?

A

27 Jan 1973

48
Q

When do the last US troops leave Vietnam?

A

March 1973

49
Q

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

A

Nixon resigns, his successor never pays the promised sum.

50
Q

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

A

March 1969

51
Q

When does the US invade Cambodia?

A

April 1970

52
Q

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

A

Another 150,000 are needed.

53
Q

When does Saigon fall?

A

Saigon is taken over by the communists in April 1975.

54
Q

Why did the Americans lose the war?

A
  • 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.
55
Q

How many American soldiers were killed in the war?

A

58,000

56
Q

What was the average age of US casualties?

A

23yo

57
Q

How many American soldiers were wounded?

A

300,000

58
Q

How many Vietnamese soldiers were killed during the war?

A

1 million

59
Q

How many Vietnamese civilians were killed during the war?

A

2 million

60
Q

How many Vietnamese soldiers were wounded during the war?

A

2 million

61
Q

How many Vietnamese civilians were wounded during the war?

A

5 million

62
Q

How many Vietnamese people became refugees?

A

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