FURTHER AMERICAN PROBLEMS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR Flashcards
Identify three further problems America faced during the war
- North Vietnam’s support from Cambodia and Laos
- The weakness of the US army
- Failure to win support from the Vietnamese people
Which countries supported North Vietnam and the Viet Cong?
Cambodia and Laos
How did North Vietnam and the Viet Cong use Cambodia and Laos during the war?
The North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong retreated to these countries to get new equipment, ammunition and troops.
The Ho Chi Minh trail ran through these countries, supplying Viet Cong fighters in the South.
Why did this cause problems for America?
This helped to strengthen the Viet Cong forces. America could not send troops into North Vietnam or its neighboring countries.
Why did the USA army become weaker after 1967?
Increasing numbers of troops were conscripted and were not professional soldiers. Many were very young, and often did not care about defeating communism.
The army also struggled to recruit soldiers. There were widespread attempts to dodge conscription and of desertion during the war. E.g. There were over 500,000 incidents of desertion.
The morale of the US army was very low. Many soldiers were not committed to fighting in Vietnam.
How many US soldiers deserted their positions during the war?
500,000 soldiers
How many American soldiers died during the Vietnam War?
56,000 soldiers
What proportion of soldiers killed in the Vietnam War were aged 17-21 years?
60%
Why were there tensions between officers and troops?
Many officers were professional soldiers who wanted to be promoted. They therefore wanted to get as many kills as possible, sending their soldiers on patrols. Most soldiers wanted to stay alive. There was some evidence of “fragging” during the war – troops killing their own officers.
What did President Johnson believe was important during the war?
Winning over the hearts and minds of the people in Vietnam. This was emphasised in 28 speeches between 1964 and 1968.
Why did the Americans fail to win the support of the Vietnamese people?
American tactics, as well as the poor-quality and low morale of American troops, often led to large numbers of civilian casualties.
Identify three reasons which explain why American tactics were unsuccessful during the war.
- Guerrilla tactics of the Viet Cong
- Weaknesses of the American army
- Failure to win over the ‘hearts and minds’ of the Vietnamese people
