Increasing Threat Of Vietcong

Question 1

What 3 things did Johnson want to do?

Answer 1

. Set up a popular S. Vietnamese government
. Stop communism
. Stop war escalating

Question 2

How was the situation bad for S. Vietnam in 1960?

Answer 2

Vietcong were stronger, S. Vietnam were weaker and USA were unpopular in S. Vietnam

Question 3

Was there a clear S. Vietnamese leader in 1960?

Answer 3

No

Question 4

How much of South Vietnam did the South Vietnamese government control in 1960?

Answer 4

Only around 30-40%

Question 5

How were ARVN in a difficult position?

Answer 5

In government struggles, didn’t focus on VC
Had 500,000 troops and VC had less than 100,000 but still put pressure on ARVN

Question 6

What did China do between 1955-63?

Answer 6

Sent aid worth $100 million down the Ho Chi Minh trail, most of it going South

Question 7

How did VC have advantages?

Answer 7

. Getting stronger , attacking US targets as well as roads and bridges
. VC’s NLF provided a political leadership structure as foreign aid came in from China and USSR
. had time on their side as it was their country

Question 8

Why weren’t south Vietnamese government focused on defeating VC?

Answer 8

Seen as a puppet of USA and government split by in-fighting

Question 9

What did VC propaganda stress and how did it help?

Answer 9

Stressed they were fighting to end poverty and injustice and to unite Vietnam with a fair government . This propaganda won local support as some VC lived in villages, sharing hardships

Question 10

How were VC organised?

Answer 10

In ‘cadres’ which were in 3-man ‘cells’ which could act quickly