Containment Flashcards by Margarida Neves

Why did N.Korea invade S.Korea on 25th June 1950?

China has just turned communist in 1949
They were supported by Stalin and Mao Zedong
Tanks, weaponry and aircraft were provided by the Soviet Union
Kim II-Sung believed the USA didnt consider Korea important enough to intervene
The Soviet Union has tested their first successful atomic bomb in 1949
South Korea had a disliked leader

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How did the UNO respond to the events in Korea?

The UN met on the day of the invasion and demanded North Korea cease its invasion
On 27th of June at passed a resolution that UN member should help South Korea
On seventh of July at stated that member states providing military forces would come under the command of the USA
In reality it was USA that would lead device in Korea. The US provided 302,483 of the 341,828 troops , 93% of the air forces were American and 86% of the ships were American.

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How was the Korean War a success?

SUCCESS
- South Korea was liberated from communist North Korea.
- The USA and the UN both proved they were prepared to use military sanctions to counter aggression
- Truman prevented a nuclear war by denying general MacArthur use of the atomic bomb
- South Korea became a powerful economy

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Why were the people of Cuba unhappy?

Huge American influence in Cuba allowed by their leader Batista, who was very unpopular.
Cuba served an economic purpose to America -> forcing Cuba to sell raw materials for low prices, 3/4 of Cuban imports came from the USA, USA invested heavily in Cuba and the railway, telephone system and tobacco plantation were owned by the USA. Furthermore 2/3 of all able land was under American control and Guantanamo Bay was made into an important US military base.

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Why did Khrushchev put nuclear missiles on Cuba?

To make the missile gap smaller
To test JFK
To use it as leverage
To keep Castro ( a beacon of communism) in power

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Was Cuba a success for containment?

When placing sanctions on Cuba they didn’t stop Cuba from trading but rather pushed them towards USSR who were willing trading partners
Bay of pigs was humiliating and Castro stayed in power and Cuba stayed Communist

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What is the History of Vietnam before during and after the war?

Before WWII, Vietnam was part of Indo-China controlled by France but during WWII Japan took control of Vietnam and when they were defeated, France attempted to get it back.
The Vietminh (a communist organisation committed to removing foreign imperialists from Vietnam) fought against France until its defeat in 1954, at the battle of Bien Dien Phu
While the countries were at war, Truman supported the War economically as he was concerned about the spread of communism.
Outcome in this agreement was formalised at the Geneva conference in 1954 which temporarily separated Vietnam into the north lead by the Vietminh’s leader, Ho Chi Minh and the south lead by capitalist Ngo Dinh Diem

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Why did the USA get involved in Vietnam in the 1950s?

Containment
Domino effect -> was scared countries surrounding Vietnam like Laos, Thailand and Cambodia would also turn to communism
Truman Doctrine

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Involvement in Vietnam under the control of Eisenhower…

Saw Vietnam as a crucial part of his domino theory
Eisenhower sent American air force pilots to support French military operations to keep Vietnam .
Began offering military and economic aid to the new nation of South Vietnam when the French war effort failed.
Increased the number of American military advisors to 900 men.

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Involvement in Vietnam under the control of JFK?

JFK wanted to appear strong after the failure at the bay of pig.
1961 JFK arranged for the south to receive the money necessary to increase the size of their army from 150,000 to 170,000 and sent another 100 military advisers to Vietnam to help train the South a Vietnamese army.
1962 the Strategic Hamlet program was introduced. The USA wanted to limit the influence of the Vietcong on peasant and so they were moved to new villages in areas protected by the South Vietnamese army however this was a failure.
JFK increased military advisers to 12000 by end of 1962 and provided 300 helicopters but American pilots were told not to engage in combat.

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Involvement in Vietnam under the control of Johnson?

Once in office immediately asked his military chiefs to make plans should a full-scale war break out.
1964 The Tonkin Gulf incident took place and the result was the start of real warfare between America and North Vietnam
Bombing of Vietnam started in February 1965 and March 1965 the first American Ground troops landed in South Vietnam
By December 1965 there were 150,000 stationed in the country
Number of men conscripted into the army was increasing through the draft, a lottery-style system where young men physically capable of fighting were called up to the army as needed.

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Details on Tonkin Golf Resolution

August 1964
Two American warships were attacked by North Vietnamese gunboats while they were in international waters
The American Senate gave Johnson the power to give armed support to south Vietnam.

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Details on Viet Cong tactics

Hit and run
Never attacked them head on
No uniform
Booby traps
Ho Chi Minh trail -> meant that Vietcong were provided with what they needed. It was only a trail so it couldn’t be destroyed.
Underground bases and tunnels -> meant they could disappear
Ambushes -> strike when the enemy is weak and vulnerable

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USA’s Tactics details

Agent Orange -> killed off vegetation so soldiers could move in and Vietcong wouldn’t be hidden
Operation Rolling Thunder -> carpet bombing in North Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh trail
Napalm -> flammable sticky substance that destroyed villages and could not be put out
Search and destroy -> while trying to find Vietcong they end up hurting the people they are trying to protect.

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What effect did the media have on Vietnam?

This was one of the first Wars where the Media was directly involved.
US tactics were observed by all back home and the impacts of Napalm, Agent Orange and Operation Rolling Thunder were seen my the public.
Fighting was indiscriminate and extreme and there was a lack of justice and too much casual violence.
The Mai Lai massacre was a notable situation where this extreme violence was demonstrated.
The average age for soldier were 19 and there were huge casualties and the media didn’t fail to mention this.
The coverage of the Media however was generally positive until the Tet offensive where America began to question if this war was worth being fought.
Americans felt closer to the War as they could see it through their own TVs and the War no longer was viewed as a crusade against communism.

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What was the public opinion about the Vietnam in the US and why?

By 1967, 160 US soldiers were being killed per week
The draft was also unpopular, especially when famous boxer Muhammad Ali refused to fight due to his religion. The draft was also racist and discriminatory.
The war came at a very high price
There was a protest against the war in Vietnam at Kent university and 4 students were killed.

What was the Tet Offensive and why did it contribute to the failure of the USA?

By 1968, there were half a million US soldiers in Vietnam
Despite the reassurance that America were winning the War, the Vietcong were still able to launch the Tet offensive
They attacked the US-held areas across Vietnam including the US embassy in Saigon.
They were driven back by the US but it showed that the US were no where near winning the War

What was Vietnamisation?

Nixon introduced the Vietmanisation ation policy which entailed building up to South Vietnamese army until they could take responsibility of the own defence.
This meant the USA with beginning the process of drawing troops
It’s failed and the South Vietnamese army were unable to survive without US support and by 1975 South Vietnam became communist.

What was the background of the Korea War?

Before 1945, Japan controlled Korea but after its defeat, Japanese forces surrender in the North to Soviet forces and surrendered in the South to the USA.
Korea was divided into two parts along the 38th parallel
UN attempted to hold nationwide elections for a New Democratic government for the whole of Korea but the North did not accept this decision
South Korea became the Republic of Korea -> its capital Seoul and its leader Synmann Rhee
North Korea became the Democratic People’s Republic -> its capital Pyongyang and its leader Kim II -Sung

Describe Ngo Dihn Diem

Rich landowner
Openly discriminate towards Buddhists
Cheated in elections
Dicator
Therefore unliked and made South Vietnam seem like the oppressor

Why were the Vietcong popular/ successful ?

They guaranteed freedom for the country
They were supported by the USSR
Guerrilla warfare
They had a more popular leader

Events of Korea invasion

Within two months the Communist attracts the South Korean and UN forces in a small area around Pusan
To escape their defeat, UN Seaborne forces landed at Inchon on and recaptured the capital Seoul
South Korean and UN troops at Pusan were able to counter attack and drive the Communist back to North Korea.
Although warned by China not too, UN forces advanced within 100 km of the Chinese border going way beyond the 38th parallel in North Korea.
The Chinese government sent 300,000 volunteer troops to support North Korea in response and drove back the UN troops and started advancing into South Korea.
In January 1951, UN forces halted the communists and in March push them back across the 38th parallel
General MacArthur wanted to continue north and attacked China directly, using nuclear weapons but Truman feared that this would bring the Soviet union into the war and sacked MacArthur.
War settled into a long stalemate in after two years they signed in Artemis at Panmunjom which left Korea separated into two separate countries.

How was the Korean War a failure?

FAILURE
- The UN failed to create a unified and democratic Korea
- No land was gained
- China have been drawn into the war and made China hostile towards the West
- Heavy casualties (4 million Korean civilian casualties)
- Soviet union claimed that UN intervention was capitalist aggression. It alleged that the UN was simply been used by the USA to enforce its aggressive foreign policy.
- The UN had only been able to take action because the Soviet union had not participated in discussions in protest at the refusal of the USA to admit Communist China into the UN.
- There had been 4 million deaths and millions were left homeless and starving. Huge areas of land lay wrecked and useless.
- Technically still at war.

What changes did Castro make to Cuba?

Telephone company was nationalised and became cheaper
Land was redistributed among the peasants
Rents were cut by up to 50% for low wage earners
Abolished segregation
Free education was made available to all
Doctors were redistributed throughout the country and build three new training schools for doctors
Free healthcare was introduced
Many Casinos and hotels used by American tourists weee shut down and the Mafia was kicked out of the country
Didn’t keep his promise of holding free elections
Those who publicly disagreed with Castro were imprisoned along with people he considered deviants such as homosexuals
-Castro negotiated trade agreement with USSR and other communist nations

How did the USA react to the Cuban revolution?

Eisenhower began economic sanctions, refusing to trade with Cuba and buy their raw materials and sugar, in order to undermine Castro’s regime
However, these were futile as the USSR traded with Cuba instead
17 March 1960, Eisenhower approved a plan to remove Castro and a budget of $13 million was agreed.

What was the Bay of Pigs?

Organised by the CIA
Training camps in Guatemala were set up to train Cuban exiles so they could take charge of Cuba again.
Two air strikes would attack Cuban airbases to protect the landing troops
1400 troops would land in the bay of pigs and at the same time paratroopers would be dried to disrupt transportation and occupy Cuban forces.
A smaller force Would land on the east coast of keyboard create confusion.
1400 troops with match on Havana Cuban exiles gaining support from the Cuban population before overthrowing Castro and his government

Why did the Bay of pigs fail?

Poor secrecy -> Castro became aware of the attack and was prepared for it
Failure to control the air -> The airstrikes missed many of the targets and photos of the repainted American planes became public and revealed American support of the invasion.
Failure to gain support -> And when Cuban exiles landed on the beaches they came under heavy fire. Some escape from the sea, others were killed or captured. Very few of the Cuban population joined the invaders.
response -> Castro ordered roughly 20,000 troops advance towards the beach and the Cuban air force continue to control the skies. The Cuban exiles were massively outnumbered leading to failure.

What were the consequences of the bay of pigs?

captured troops were paraded by Castro and used as propaganda and his popularity increased as he repelled an American invasion.
After 13 months in prison, the USA negotiated a deal to exchange the prisoners for goods scarce in Cuba, and Castro received baby food and medicine worth $15 million.
The USA with humiliated, they had not remove Castro nor have they been able to keep their evolvement a secret

What happened just before the Cuban missile crisis?

February 1962 the USA imposed an embargo against Cuba as Kennedy was worried Cuba was making money from exporting goods to the American market.
America place nuclear weapons in Turkey.
July 1962, America begins military training exercises in the Caribbean, seen by some as preparation for another attempted invasion.
Soviet advisers tell Castro the Americas playing another attempted invasion of Cuba and advise keeping nuclear weapons on the island to prevent an attack.
October 1962 secret U-2 spy planes takes photograph of the missile launchers in Cuba and President Kennedy is notified.

What were the results of the Korean War?

Around 4 million people were killed
Millions were homeless and starving
Containment was achieved
South Korea remained independent and became of the strongest economies in the region

Why did the USA oppose Castro’s rule?

land previously owned by USA given to the people
nationalises lots of USA industries
Casinos and hotels used by American visitors were shut down
Mafia forced to leave and go to the USA instead
Telephone company was nationalised
They were communist

How did JFK deal with the missile crisis?

16th October 1962, JFK informed of missiles
20th October 1962, Blockade on Cuba
22nd October 1962, blockade announced and calls on Soviets to remove missiles
23rd October 1962, Kruschchev says Soviet ships will not observe the blockade
24th October 1962, blockade begins. Missile carrying ships approach the blockade and then turn around at 10.32am
25th October 1962, missile bases in Cuba continue to progress
26th October 1962, Kennedy received long personal letter from Krushchev, claiming that the missiles are purely defensive and he would remove them if the USA insured they wouldn’t attack Cuba.
27th October 1962, Krushchev sends a letter with demands for the USA to remove their missiles in Turkey. A U-2 plane is shot down and the pilot is killed and Kennedy’s advisers put pressure on him to attack Cuba but Kennedy delays the attack. He ignores the second letter from Khrushchev and accepts the terms of the first letter. He says that if the Soviet Union doesn’t remove the missiles, then an attack will follow.
28th October 1962, Khrushchev agrees.

The USA came out more successful in the Missile crisis because…

Soviets removed the missiles
Removal of US missiles from Turkey was kept secret (for 25 years)
War avoided
JFK resisted pressure from advisers to attack
JFK showed that he was a good leader
Khrushchev was removed from power a few years later, many saying he could have done more during the Cuban Missile crisis.

The Soviets came out more successful than the USA because…

Soviets negotiated the removal of US middle-range missiles from Turkey
Soviets gained a communist ally close to the USA
Beacon of communism to South America
US promised not to remove Castro
Khrushchev claimed moral high ground for removing the missiles
Claimed his original plan was to remove US missiles from Turkey.

What was the strategic Hamlet plan and why did it fail?

USA wanted to limit the influence of the Vietcong in peasants in the south. Peasants were moved to other villages controlled by the South Vietnamese army. This failed because:
1. The peasants didn’t want to move and were forced my the Vietnamese army
2. The peasants were angry at having it travel longer distances to reach their rice fields and simply moved back.
3. Some were upset for religious reasons as they believed that it was important to live where their ancestors were buried.
4. The membership of the Vietcong had grown to over 17000 which was 300% increase in two years. It was estimated they controlled 20% of the villages in the south.

Who was Thich Quang Duc and what effect did he have?

66 year old monk set himself on fire in protest at the South Vietnamese government. While he burned nuns and monks gave our leaflets calling for Diem’s government to show ‘charity and compassion’ to all religions.
The government’s reaction was to arrest thousands of Buddhist monks
At the beginning of November 1963, Diem was overthrown by a military coup and although the generals promised he could leave the country, they changed their minds and killed him.
It made public opinion against the war efforts as they were supporting a dictatorship.

What acts of opposition were there against the war in Vietnam?

Anti-war protests reached a high in 1968-70, led by students and civil rights campaigners.
In the first half of 1968 there were over 100 demonstrations involving 40,000 students.
Frequently these protests involved the burning of the American flag, a criminal offence and a symbol of the rejection of American values.
Mocking chants such as, ‘ Hey LBJ; how many kids did you kill today?’
In November 1969, almost 700,000 anti war protesters demonstrated in Washington. It was the largest political protest in American history.

What happened in the My Lai massacre?

March 1968, a unit of young American soldiers called Charlie Company started a search-and-destroy mission.
They were told that My Lai was a Vietcong headquarters, holding 2990 Viet Cong Guerillas.
They were ordered to destroy all houses, dwellings and livestock and were told all villagers had left for the market as it was a Saturday.
Most were under the impression they were meant to kill everyone in the village.
Early morning of 16th March, Charlie Company arrived in My Lai and in the next few hours, 300-400 civilians were killed.
Most were children, women and old men. Some were killed as they worked the fields while others in their homes.
No Viet Cong were found and only three weapons were recovered.
This operations was kept secret but was leaked to the press and was published in LIFE magazine.

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Containment Flashcards

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