history conflict and tension in Asia Flashcards
what happened to Korea after the war
After World War Two, Korea had been divided at the 38th parallel into the Soviet-backed communist North Korea, and non-communist, South Korea
who was the leader of north Korea
Kim Il Sung
who was the leader of south Korea
Syngman Rhee
why and when did the Korean war start
In June 1950, with the support of China and the Soviet Union, North Korea launched an attack on South Korea across the 38th parallel.
why did the USA get involved in the Korean war
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.
Why did the USSR get involved in the Korean war?
It was part of Soviet ideology to spread
communism which is what Kim Il Sung was trying to do.
why did china get involved in the Korean war
MacArthur and the UN forces
crossing the 38th parallel worried China. China feared an American invasion.
why was mac MacArthur sacked
General MacArthur called for the use of
atomic weapons to defend Korea but this was denied by President Truman and MacArthur was sacked.
what where the consequences of the Korean war for Korea
3-4 million Koreans died
The relationship between North and South Korea was bitter and tense.
what where the consequences of the Korean war for the US
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.
give background to the war in vietnam
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
what was the Viet Minh
an organisation dedicated to getting rid of foreign imperialist
when where the French defeated and taken out of Vietnam
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
what happened after the French where defeated
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.
how and why did the USA support Diem
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
talk about Diem
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.
what happened as a result of diems unpopular government
people in South Vietnam began to give their support to an opposition organisation - the National Liberation Front, also known as the Vietcong.
who was the vietcong suported by
The Vietcong was aided and supplied by
communist, North Vietnam and its leader Ho Chi Minh.
what was the strategic hamlets policy
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.
why was the strategic hamlets unpopular with south Vietnamese people
it meant destroying peasant villages near areas held by the Vietcong and forcefully relocating the people.
why did the USA get involved in the Vietnam war
The non-communist
government of South Vietnam looked in danger of being overthrown by the communist-backed Vietcong
what was the us tactic of search and destroy
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.
what was operation rolling thunder
American bombing campaign during the Vietnam War
why was operation rolling thunder a failure
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
what was the My Lai massacre
In 1968 US soldiers, searching for Vietcong, raided the village of My Lai, killing around 300 civilians, including children.
what was the roll of the media in the Vietnam war
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.
what was the Kent state shooting
In 1970, officers from the National Guard shot at anti-war protestors at
Kent State University, killing four students.
what was the Ho Chi Minh trail
a secrete trail that meant Vietcong members were kept well supplied by a constant stream of food and arms from the North.
what was the Tet offensive
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.
why was the Tet offensive a success for the Vietcong
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.
