Flashpoints Outside of Europe (Korea and Vietnam) Flashcards
Reasons for USA involvement in Korea
China and the USSR had just signed a treaty of friendship and Truman had to adopt the policy of containment in Asia aligning with the Truman Doctrine.
Domino theory as Truman though that if Korea fell to communism then others in Asia would to.
Truman was advised to abandon containment and roll back communism.
Reasons for USSR & China involvement in Korea
Stalin allowed Kim il Sung to invade South Korea to spread communism and increase his sphere of influence without directly confronting the Americans.
China was concerned about UN/USA army being close to China in case they invaded China.
Chronology of Korean War (Invasion)
1950, North Korea sent an invasion across the 38th parallel into South Korea in a surprise attack.
The United Nations condemned this attack and the Soviets were unable to veto it as they were boycotting the UN.
Chronology of Korean War (Counterattack)
UN forces under MacArthur landed near Seoul on Sep 1950 and cut off much of the North Korean Army.
They would push the North Koreans back across the 38th parallel and up near the border of China.
This deeply worried China who thought the UN would invade them as well.
Chronology of Korean War (Chinese advance)
Nov 1950 - MacArthur announced what he believed would be the final offensive of the war and restore peace.
A Chinese force called ‘volunteers’ attacked UN forces and quickly pushed the UN forces southward in a disorderly retreat.
Chronology of Korean War (Armistice)
Jan 1951 - Jul 1953- UN forces would lose then retake Seoul and after a costly number of offensives the situation seemed at a stalemate at the 38th parallel and a truce would happen in 1953.
The death of Stalin and replacement of Truman helped the peace talks.
What did USSR and China do in the Korean War?
USSR used Chinese planes and dressed in Chinese uniforms.
China successfully saved North Korea from roll back and increased their reputation as a leading communist power in Asia.
Truman returned to the policy of containment and gave up rollback.
Consequences of the Korean War
Millions dead in Korea and much industry destroyed and agriculture ruined.
USA saved South Korea from communism and prevent the domino effect but used billions of dollars to do so.
Background to Vietnam
Group called the Vietminh wanted independence from the French colony in Vietnamese and the French tried to take it back with the help of America but suffered defeat to the Vietminh and Vietnam was divided across the 17th parallel and America didn’t encourage elections in the south and instead supported an anti-communist government under Dinh Diem.
Why did USA get involved in Vietnam?
Domino theory applied to SE Asia and saw the influence of China and the. USSR in N. Vietnam.
S. Vietnam was rich in tungsten, tin and rubber.
They would become fully involved after the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964
What was the Tonkin resolution?
In the Gulf of Tonkin, N. Vietnamese gunboats fired on a US Destroyer the Maddox. Americans claimed this was a hostile attack and the US Congress passed the Tonkin resolution giving the president the right to use all necessary measures in the war.
US tactics in Vietnam
Bombing - Johnson ordered bombing of strategic military targets in N. Vietnam including air raids on the capital, this was called Operation Rolling Thunder and would drop more bombs in Vietnam than in WW2.
Escalation - US increased the number of American troops on ground and this represented a shift away from military advisors to combat troops
Search and destroy - from 1965 US began the policy of take the war to the enemy and often meant soldiers were easy targets for Vietcong guerrilla attacks and led to My Lai Massacre.
What was the My Lai Massacre?
Jan 1968 - the Tet Offensive was launched and the TET was a 2 week holiday but not for the Vietcong who attacked 100 towns in South Vietnam and although they were defeated militarily they had political success, the scale of the attacks had a high impact on US forces and civilians who saw the true horror of the war and then pressure at home increased.
Role of USSR and China in Vietnam
China sent troops and equipment to N. Vietnam but after 1069 (after the fallout of China and USSR) the USSR became the main supplier for N. Vietnam and supplied resources and soldiers as military advisors.
US actions at the end of the war in Vietnam 1969 - 73
Nixon came in and had the policy of Vietnamisation which aimed at getting USA out whilst saving face but still had attacks while withdrawing.
Peace negotiations carried out and a ceasefire was agreed and USA withdrew. Nixon felt it was peace with honour and by 1975 N. Vietnam invaded the Soutg gaining control of it and all Vietnam was now in communist hands.
Consequences of Vietnam
Thousands of soldiers and civilians died.
Draft dodging increased.
War cost $28 billion each year and affected social and welfare reforms in USA.
Domino Theory partly occurred - Cambodia and Laos did fall to communism but others did not.
Importance of Vietnam on international relations
USA’s attitude towards communist states changed and the road to détente was helped by China.
The relationships between China, USSR and Vietnam would worsen and this fallout within communism would allow the US to improve relation up with everyone through détente.
