Conflict and Tension in Asia Pack 2: The Conflict in Vietnam Flashcards
Learn the conflict and tension in Vietnam
When was the Vietnam war?
1965-1973
Who fought against each other in the Vietnam war?
America and South Vietnam VERSUS communist Vietcong and North Vietnam
Who ruled Vietnam before the Second World War(before 1939)?
France
What was the name of the region that Vietnam was a apart of (along with other countries such as Cambodia and Laos) before the Second World War?
Indochina
Who conquered Vietnam during the second world war, and how would you describe their rule?
Japan - their rule was harsh and brutal
What group was formed in Vietnam during the second world war, in response to Japanese occupation?
The Viet Minh
Was the Viet Minh communist or capitalist?
communist
Who was the leader of the communist Viet Minh?
Ho Chi Minh
What area of Vietnam did the Viet Minh control by 1945?
The north
What did the Viet Minh declare in 1945 in the city of Hanoi?
They declared Vietnamese independence
What broke out in Vietnam between 1945 and 1954 (the 9 years after ww2)?
A civil war between France and the viet minh
Who supported the viet minh during the civil war with france 1945-54?
China
How did America get involved in the civil war with France and the viet minh
They gave $500 million each year to France to help their war effort (this was approximately 80% of the cost of the war).
What happened at the battle of dien bien phu in 1954
55 days of fighting, france lost against viet minh. 8000 french troops killed, addition to 73,000 france lost in civil war
What battle took place between france and viet minh 1954
battle of Dien Bien Phu
Why were the french defeated? dien bien phu
Did not easy access to war supplies, fighting in jungle inhabitated by vietcong who used guerilla tactics
What happened in Geneva, in 1954 after the battle of dien bien phu?
Peace agreement signed
What was agreed at geneva?
withdraw french troops
temporarily divide north and south vietnam alongside 17th parallel(north remain communist under leadership of ho chi minh) elections to be held in 1956
To create new countries cambodia and laos
Who was appointed leader of South Vietnam, and supported by the USA?
President Ngo Dinh Diem
Describe president diems rule
hard, corrupt, intolerant and unpopular
What communisr group formed in the south?
The National Liberation Front (NFL), also know as viet cong
What was aim of viet cong?
to oppose government of diem
When was ho chi minh trail created to supply viet cong?
1959
How many troops fought for viet cong early 1960’s?
over 100,000
What proportion of the countryside did the viet cong control in south vietnam by 1963?
40%
what happened to president diem in 1963?
he was overthrown and killed by his own troops
