history conflict and tension in Asia

Question 1

what happened to Korea after the war

Answer 1

After World War Two, Korea had been divided at the 38th parallel into the Soviet-backed communist North Korea, and non-communist, South Korea

Question 2

who was the leader of north Korea

Answer 2

Kim Il Sung

Question 3

who was the leader of south Korea

Answer 3

Syngman Rhee

Question 4

why and when did the Korean war start

Answer 4

In June 1950, with the support of China and the Soviet Union, North Korea launched an attack on South Korea across the 38th parallel.

Question 5

why did the USA get involved in the Korean war

Answer 5

The USA believed it could win and that China would not intervene.

they also wanted to prevent the
domino effect

The Truman Doctrine had promised to help countries who were threatened by communism.

Question 6

Why did the USSR get involved in the Korean war?

Answer 6

It was part of Soviet ideology to spread
communism which is what Kim Il Sung was trying to do.

Question 7

why did china get involved in the Korean war

Answer 7

MacArthur and the UN forces
crossing the 38th parallel worried China. China feared an American invasion.

Question 8

why was mac MacArthur sacked

Answer 8

General MacArthur called for the use of
atomic weapons to defend Korea but this was denied by President Truman and MacArthur was sacked.

Question 9

what where the consequences of the Korean war for Korea

Answer 9

3-4 million Koreans died
The relationship between North and South Korea was bitter and tense.

Question 10

what where the consequences of the Korean war for the US

Answer 10

containment of communism had worked so America increased her commitment to the
Truman Doctrine

The war led to massive American
rearmament.

US-Chinese relations worsened.

Question 11

give background to the war in vietnam

Answer 11

Vietnam had been a French
colony before it was occupied by the Japanese during World War Two. After World War Two it was returned to French control but many Vietnamese people wanted independence. As a result, in the 1950s the French found themselves fighting a war against the Viet Minh

Question 12

what was the Viet Minh

Answer 12

an organisation dedicated to getting rid of foreign imperialist

Question 13

when where the French defeated and taken out of Vietnam

Answer 13

In 1954, the French were finally defeated by the Viet Minh at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. This defeat was formalised in the Geneva Agreement

Question 14

what happened after the French where defeated

Answer 14

Vietnam was split into two zones at the 17th parallel a northern zone to be governed by Ho Chi Minh and a southern zone to be governed by an anti-communist government led by Diem.

Question 15

how and why did the USA support Diem

Answer 15

The USA sent military advisors to support Diem, because they believed that if Vietnam reunified under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh and fell to communism, all the surrounding countries would become communist too

Question 16

talk about Diem

Answer 16

Diem was an unpopular leader with the majority of the South Vietnamese people.

He was a Catholic and openly discriminated against Buddhists (the majority religion in Vietnam at the time). Some Buddhists, for example the Buddhist monk Quang Duc, burnt themselves to death in protest at Diem’s government.

Question 17

what happened as a result of diems unpopular government

Answer 17

people in South Vietnam began to give their support to an opposition organisation - the National Liberation Front, also known as the Vietcong.

Question 18

who was the vietcong suported by

Answer 18

The Vietcong was aided and supplied by
communist, North Vietnam and its leader Ho Chi Minh.

Question 19

what was the strategic hamlets policy

Answer 19

Strategic Hamlets policy had been introduced in 1962. It was meant to create ‘safe villages’, and was supposed to stop the Vietcong from getting their supplies and soldiers from villages.

Question 20

why was the strategic hamlets unpopular with south Vietnamese people

Answer 20

it meant destroying peasant villages near areas held by the Vietcong and forcefully relocating the people.

Question 21

why did the USA get involved in the Vietnam war

Answer 21

The non-communist
government of South Vietnam looked in danger of being overthrown by the communist-backed Vietcong

Question 22

what was the us tactic of search and destroy

Answer 22

From 1965, the American military began a policy of sending soldiers into the jungle and villages of Vietnam. This tactic also led to a high number of civilian casualties, destruction of villages and atrocities like the My Lai Massacre all of which damaged the USA’s reputation.

Question 23

what was operation rolling thunder

Answer 23

American bombing campaign during the Vietnam War

Question 24

why was operation rolling thunder a failure

Answer 24

The bombing campaign failed because the bombs often fell into empty jungle, missing their targets. The Vietcong knew the jungle and made use of elaborate underground bases and tunnels to shelter from US bombs

Question 25

what was the My Lai massacre

Answer 25

In 1968 US soldiers, searching for Vietcong, raided the village of My Lai, killing around 300 civilians, including children.

Question 26

what was the roll of the media in the Vietnam war

Answer 26

Events like the My Lai Massacre were reported in the US press leading many ordinary Americans to question the war. Film footage of US soldiers burning homes and of the effects of napalm all turned public opinion against the war.

Question 27

what was the Kent state shooting

Answer 27

In 1970, officers from the National Guard shot at anti-war protestors at
Kent State University, killing four students.

Question 28

what was the Ho Chi Minh trail

Answer 28

a secrete trail that meant Vietcong members were kept well supplied by a constant stream of food and arms from the North.

Question 29

what was the Tet offensive

Answer 29

In 1968, the Vietcong used the cover of the Buddhist New Year (Tet) to launch a massive attack on US-held areas across South Vietnam, including the US Embassy in Saigon.

Question 30

why was the Tet offensive a success for the Vietcong

Answer 30

although ultimately they were driven back by the US Army, it showed the Americans that despite all the soldiers, bombs, and money spent in Vietnam, they were not making progress against the Vietcong or communism.