KQ5: How effectively did the USA contain the spread of Communism?

Question 1

What was the significance of the Korean War 1950-53?

Answer 1

-First hotspot of Cold War
-First real test for UN. Determined to show itself stronger then LoN
-First time Cold War had spread out of Europe. Previous conflicts in Berlin and EE

Question 2

What was the 38th Parallel in relation to the Korean War?

Answer 2

-Line of latitude separating NK and SK.
-Boundary of Communist North and Capitalist South
-Chosen as frontier between American and Soviet sectors of Korea in 1945. Intended as temporary dividing line.
-Marks approximate start of the two sides in KW - crossing of this boundary resulted in UN action
-Finishing position of the two sides at end of KW

Question 3

Why did North Korea invade South Korea in June 1950?

Answer 3

-South- Democratic, Syngman Rhee
-North- Communist, Kim Il Sung
-1949- USA/USSR pull out troops creating instability. China falls to communists under Mao Zedong
-Kim Il Sung wanted to unite Korea under Communist rule. Thought this possible due to support of Stalin and Mao Zedong and thought it unlikely that the USA would respond
-NK thought it was legitimate government of K
-NK armed forces stronger than SK
-1950- Syngman Rhee threatens NK. N invades S

Question 4

Why did the UN become involved in Korean War?

Answer 4

-UN involved in establishing anti-Communist SK government
-Both Communist NK and anti-Communist SK claimed to be legitimate K government
-If UN failed to oppose NK actions, USA would have
-Truman put enormous pressure on UN Security Council to condemn NK actions
-When resolution passed, USSR not represented at meeting to use its veto, so UN committed itself to using members armies

Question 5

What was the response of UN to events in Korea in June 1950?

Answer 5

-Meeting of Security Council called immediately. Decided that NK had broken world peace, so passed a resolution calling on NK to withdraw their armed forces
-UN called on NK to withdraw to 38th Parallel
-Second resolution called in June- asked UN members to help SK. US asked to take command of operation. UN organised troops from US and 15 other countries

Question 6

Why did USA oppose North Korean invasion of South Korea?

Answer 6

-Believed successful conquest would encourage Chinese attack on Formosa. If both SK and F fall to communists, Japan could be threatened. This could mean major shift in power balance between Communist and Capitalist world
-Truman concerned about Domino Effect in Far East
-Undermine Communism - in Apr 1950 the American National Security Council issued a report (NSC 68) recommending America abandon ‘containment’ and start ‘rolling back’ Communism
-Cold War - Truman realised USA and USSR were competing for world domination. By supporting SK, USA were able to fight Communism without directly attacking USSR

Question 7

How was the USSR involved?

Answer 7

-Stalin also involved in the Far East
-In 1949, Kim Il Sung convinced Stalin he could conquer SK. Stalin didn’t think America would get involved so he agreed
-Stalin saw this as a chance to continue Cold War, and discomfort America but ‘at arms length’ without directly confronting Americans.

Question 8

What was the trigger for war?

Answer 8

-1950- Syngman Rhee boasted that he was going to attack NK.
-Good enough excuse- NK invades SK

Question 9

Why did the US provide most of the forces resisting NK invasion?

Answer 9

-Containment- wanted to stop further Communist expansion
-Domino effect spreading to Far East
-US’s internationally accepted position as SK protector (after involvement in establishing Republic of Korea) was challenged.
-Thought NK actions part of Soviet plan to test US
-US appealed to UN for use of military force, so felt they should provide so the numbers of forces to help

Question 10

How did the Korean war unfold?

Answer 10

-June-Sept 1950: NK attacked 25th June, and were very successful. North Korean Peoples Army easily beat Republic of Koreas army, capturing most of SK. This worried USA, so June 27th they persuaded UN to pass resolution supporting SK. US then sent troops to support SK at Pusan
-Sept-Nov 1950: 15th Sept, Gen. MacArthur led UN landing at Inchon behind NKPA. (260,000/300,000 of the troops were American). NKPA forced to retreat - UN drove them back and recaptured SK. 7th Oct, MacArthur invaded NK, getting as far as the Chinese border
-Nov 1950-Feb 1951: Chinese alarmed- 25th Nov 200,000 Chinese troops attack MacArthur. Had modern weapons from USSR and hatred of USA. 31st Dec 500,000 more Chinese troops enter war. Drive Americans back, recapturing NK and advancing into SK
-Feb-Mar 1951: America lands more troops, pushing back the Chinese. MacArthur reaches 38th Parallel
-Mar 1951-1953: Truman told MacArthur to stop. MacArthur sacked when he publicly criticised this. 1953, Eisenhower becomes president. Americans threaten atomic bomb if China doesn’t stop fighting. Chinese agree to truce, signed 27th Jul 1953

Question 11

Why did the Korean War end in stalemate?

Answer 11

-Fighting in war had been fierce. MacArthur shocked at strength of Chinese forces. If USA were unwilling to use atomic bomb, there was likely to be very heavy casualties to defeat NK and C
-UN had shown it could reverse an act of aggression. However, concerned that by the time of ceasefire, 4 million Koreans were dead and 5 million homeless. Time to end fighting and create 2 Koreas

Question 12

How successful was the USA’s policy of containment in Korea?

Answer 12

-Showed USA had will and means to contain Communism. USA contributed 50% of ground forces, 90% of air force and 85% of naval forces
-USA used UN to reinforce foreign policy of containment. USA determined to end NK aggression. But didn’t unite K under Syngman Rhee, pushed back Communists to 38th P
-Containment policy had limitations: highlighted tensions between American leaders- hardliners (like MA) wanted to go beyond and push back Communism- thought Truman showed weakness not going for outright victory
-Unified, independent Korea not achieved. ~4 million Koreans killed
-US needed to use UN to reinforce containment
-America accused of being expansionist (going into NK) and missing an opportunity to destroy communism in China

Question 13

Did events in Korea demonstrate that the UN was effective in peacekeeping?

Answer 13

-UN took decisive action to stop attack on SK. After bitter fighting, UN able to preserve frontier between the two
-But, UN’s policy was that K should become one country with free elections supervised by UN. War did not achieve this as K remained divided. Peace achieved by both sides still hostile towards each other

Question 14

How great a threat was the Korean War to world peace?

Answer 14

-Some American units reached Yalu River on China-Korea border. Chinese launched large scale counter offensive. If war moved to mainland China, Sino-Soviet Mutual Alliance would mean that Soviets would enter war, threatening world peace
-USSR gave arms to NK and Gen. MA thought nuclear weapons should be used
-But, UN stood up to NK act of aggression that was supported by two major nations. UN moved quickly to respond and many member nations offered troops and military and Elric’s equipment in assistance.
-Invasion ultimately unsuccessful
-Truman did not want war to move to mainland China and MA dismissed
-1951, US, USSR and C started negotiations to end war

Question 15

What was the background to the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 15

-Cuba large island 160km from Florida
-Ally of the USA for a long time
-Americans owned most Cuban businesses
-USA had large naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
-Pre-1959, Cuba governed by President Batista, an American backed dictator
-In 1959, after 3 year guerrilla campaign, Fidel Castro overthrew Batista and set up a pro-communist government

Question 16

How successful was US containment in Cuba 1959-1961?

Answer 16

-Frosty relationship, but no direct confrontation. Castro nationalised US businesses but allowed USA to keep its naval base and assured Americans living in Cuba that they were safe
-BUT Cuba importing arms from USSR - American spies knew this
-Jan 1961: US broke off diplomatic relations. Signal that it wouldn’t tolerate a Soviet satellite in US sphere of influence
-Apr 1961: Bay of Pigs disaster

Question 17

What happened at the Bay of Pigs, April 1961?

Answer 17

-Kennedy supplied arms, equipment and transport for 1400 Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro
-Invasion was a disaster, Castro and Khrushchev scornful of this pathetic attempt to remove Communism
-C and K took this as evidence that USA wouldn’t get directly involved in Cuba

Question 18

What interest did the USSR take in Cuba after the Bay of Pigs?

Answer 18

-Soviet arms flooded into Cuba
-May 1962: USSR announced publicly this was going on
-Jul 1962: Cuba had best-equipped army in Latin America
-Sep 1962: Cubans had Soviet missiles, patrol boats, tanks, radar vans, missile erectors, jet bombers and fighters, and help of 5000 Soviet technicians

Question 19

How did USA respond to Soviet military assistance for Cuba?

Answer 19

-Alarmed, especially by possibility of Soviet nuclear weapons on Cuba
-Sep 1962: CIA told Kennedy that USSR would not send nuclear weapons to Cuba - too risky and had not done this with other satellite states
-Kennedy warned USSR that he would prevent ‘by whatever means necessary’ Cuba becoming a nuclear missile base
-USSR assured USA they would not put nuclear missiles on Cuba

Question 20

What did U2 photographs show in Oct 1962?

Answer 20

-U2 spy plane photographed Cuban missile bases, showing that USSR was building nuclear missile sites
-Some sites nearly finished, others being built
-Some sites already had missiles, others awaiting delivery
-Experts said most developed sites could be ready to launch in 7 days
-Also showed 20 Soviet ships on the way to Cuba with missiles
-Kennedy informed on 16th Oct. Formed a special team of advisers called Ex. Comm

Question 21

Why did USSR place nuclear missiles on Cuba?

Answer 21

-Risky strategy as they did not disguise what they were doing - transported on open deck and sites not camouflaged
-Several ideas about what he was trying to do:
1. Bargain with USA? Could agree to remove in return for concessions from USA
2. Test USA? Wanted to see how determined US was - would Kennedy back down or face up to USSR?
3. Trap USA? Wanted USA to find them and get drawn into nuclear war?
4. Get upper hand in arms race? Wanted to close missile gap - missiles on Cuba made it unlikely USA would launch first strike
5. Defend Cuba? Missiles genuinely there to defend Cuba?

Question 22

What were Kennedy’s options on Oct 1962?

Answer 22

-Ex. Comm presented Kennedy with several options:
1. Do nothing - USA still had vastly greater nuclear arsenal than USSR, so Soviet’s would not dare use their missiles as they knew they’d be destroyed. BUT, USSR lied about missiles and Kennedy had warned them. Doing nothing looked weak
2. ‘Surgical’ Air Strike to destroy missile bases - get rid of them before they’re ready. BUT, destruction of all sites could not be guaranteed, even one undestroyed site could launch counter-attack; Soviet soldiers might be killed and USSR might retaliate; to attack without warning might be seen as immoral by international community
3. Invade Cuba by land and sea - could get rid of Castro aswell as missiles. BUT, Soviets would probably respond, to protect Cuba or taking equivalent action in their own sphere of influence (e.g: taking over West Berlin)
4. Apply diplomatic pressure - get UN to intervene. Avoids conflict, but USA would look weak if forced to back down
5. Impose naval blockade of Cuba - stop Soviet ships bringing any more military supplies into Cuba and call for them to withdraw what was already there. Not a direct act of war but shows the US is serious and puts onus on Khrushchev to make the next move. BUT, didn’t solve the problem as there were already missiles on Cuba that could be used within a week, and also USSR could respond by blockading Berlin

Question 23

What did Kennedy decide to do in response to Soviet missiles on Cuba?

Answer 23

Blockade of Cuba

Question 24

How was Cuban Missile Crisis resolved?

Answer 24

-22 Oct 1962: Kennedy announced blockade. Called on USSR to withdraw missiles
-23: Khrushchev sent Kennedy a letter, saying he did not admit to presence of nuclear missiles on Cuba and wouldn’t observe the blockade
-24: first Soviet ships approached blockade but turned back
-25: work on Cuban missile bases continues rapidly
-26: Khrushchev sent another letter to Kennedy saying missile bases were purely defensive (first time admitting to them), but if USA lift blockade and do not attack Cuba, missiles could be removed or destroyed
-27: Khrushchev sent another letter with revised proposals: missiles would be removed from Cuba if USA remove missiles from Turkey. Kennedy does not accept
-27: US pilot killed when U2 plane shot down over Cuba. Kennedy advised to launch immediate attack on Cuba, but delayed. Told Khrushchev he would accept his original terms but if USSR did not withdraw, an attack would follow
-28: Khrushchev agrees to withdraw

Question 25

What was the result of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 25

-Soviet nuclear missiles withdrawn
-Cuba remained Communist, but this was contained and didn’t spread
-Cuba continued to be armed by USSR with conventional weapons
-Kennedy enhanced reputation - made Khrushchev back down
-Khrushchev also benefitted - USSR highlighted his role as a responsible peace-maker
-Successful resolution of crisis helped start a thaw in the Cold War. Both sides now prepared to take further steps to prevent nuclear war having come so close to it
-Permanent hotline set up between Kremlin and White House
-1963 USSR and USA sign Nuclear Test Ban Treaty - important step forwards
-Kennedys success strengthened the belief in the USA that containment was a good strategy, better than a more direct approach

Question 26

What are the origins of the Vietnam War?

Answer 26

-Ruled by France since 19th Century
-Taken over by Japanese during WW2
-After WW2, the Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh (leader of NV) declared Vietnam as independent and aimed to take the whole country, starting war with Fr
-After 1949, communist China assisted VM
-USA saw VM as puppets of communist China, and feared Chinese domination of south-east Asia. Poured $500 million a year into helping Fr
-Fr set up non-com gov. in SV
-War lasted until 1954, but Fr unable to deal with VM’s guerrilla tactics

Question 27

What happened at Dien Bien Phu and what was the significance?

Answer 27

-Large force of French paratroopers defeated - 3000 died in battle and 8000 in captivity
-Small Asian state has defeated a rich European country through leadership, tactics and determination
-French pull out of Vietnam
-At a 1954 Geneva peace conference, it was decided to divide the country it into NV and SV, until elections could decide its future

Question 28

Why and how did USA become increasingly involved in Vietnam?

Answer 28

-Domino Theory: Eisenhower and Secretary of State J.F Dulles believed that if Vietnam fell to Com., then Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma and maybe India would follow
-In 1955 USA helped Diem set up Republic of SV, and supplied his corrupt regime with $1.6 billion. After his overthrow, other corrup regimes continued to receive American aid
-Led to an increase in public support for com. Viet Cong set up in 1960
-VC attacked US bases, and SV government forces, officials and buildings, making countryside unsafe for government bases
-By 1962 Kennedy was sending military ‘advisers’ to fight VC
-As tension between N and S increased in 1963 and 1964, so did numbers of US soldiers - 11,500 in 1962, 23,000 in 1964
-After JFK’s assassination in 1963, Lyndon Johnson was more prepared to commit USA to full scale conflict to prevent spread of communism
-Aug 1964: NV boats fired on US ships in Gulf of Tonkin. As a result, US congress passed Tonkin Gulf resolution which gave Johnson green light to take USA into full scale war

Question 29

What were the tactics of the Viet Cong?

Answer 29

-USA and SV had more men and better equipment, but VC used guerrilla tactics (Ho Chi Minh saw these used effectively by Mao Zedong in China)
-VC ruthless: campaign of terror against employees of SV government (approx. 27,000 civilians killed 1966-1971)
-VC determined and persistent: would not give in despite losing a million men (far more than USA)

Question 30

What were Guerrilla tactics?

Answer 30

-Retreat when enemy attacks
-Raid when enemy camps
-Attack when enemy tires
-Pursue when enemy retreats
-Wear down morale

Question 31

What were problems faced by US forces in Vietnam?

Answer 31

-Difficult to distinguish VC from local peasants - no uniform
-Difficult to catch VC when they disappear into jungle
-Constant fear of ambush and booby traps

Question 32

What were the tactics of US forces?

Answer 32

-Bombing: Operation Rolling Thunder continued until 1972, and USA dropped more bombs on Vietnam than they did in the whole of WW2
-Chemical weapons: Agent Orange (toxic weed killer to destroy jungle where VC hid), and Napalm
-Search and Destroy: heavily defended bases in SV, from which S-a-D helicopter raids were launched. Caused destruction of innocent villages and high civilian casualties. Caused many SV peasants to support VC

Question 33

What was the Tet Offensive of 1968, and what was it’s significance?

Answer 33

-Major communist takeover on over 100 cities and other targets
-Ultimately failed
-VC lost 10,000 fighters and were severely weakened
-Hoped SV people would rise up and join them, but they didn’t
-Offensive raised questions in US - why were US forces taken by surprise? Was it worth great loss of life that was sustained in retaking towns?

Question 34

What did the American public think about the Vietnam War?

Answer 34

-Public opinion against war - even more so after Tet Offensive
-Disturbed by TV, radio and newspaper reports - including pictures of torture, executions, and children being burned by napalm
-Anti-war protests all over USA
-Demonstrations in US universities - Kent State in Ohio National Guard killed 4 students protesting
-Many young men dodged draft (refused to fight)

Question 35

What was the My Lai Massacre and what was its impact?

Answer 35

-Massacre of 300-400 innocent civilians by US troops in SV village of My Lai
-Details leaked and US congress asked to investigate
-Lieutenant William Calley used by army as scapegoat - blamed and said to be exceeding his orders. Found guilty and sentenced to 20 years hard labour
-Life magazine published pictures of massacre. Shocked public
-700,000 anti-war protestors demonstrated in Washington DC in Nov 1969. Largest political protest in US history

Question 36

What was Nixon’s contribution to the Vietnam War?

Answer 36

-Elected in 1968, promised to work towards end of US involvement in Vietnam
-Peace Negotiations: National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger had regular meetings with NV chief peace negotiator Le Duc Tho
-Vietnamisation of war effort: SV forces built up and US troops withdrawn (400,000 left 1969-71)
-Bombing: increased bombing campaigns to show NV he wasn’t soft on Communism
-Cambodia: ordered invasion of VC bases in Cam., causing outrage across world
-Pressure on USSR: 1970, during Strategic Arms Limitations Talks, Nixon asked USSR to encourage NV to end war
-Pressure on China: as US relations with China improved, Nixon visited China 1972 and asked Chinese to put pressure on NV to end war
-Withdrawal of US forces: after failure of another NV offensive in 1972, peace agreement signed between N and S. Allows Nixon to pull out US troops; completed by March 1973

Question 37

Why did South Vietnam fall to the Communists after 1973?

Answer 37

-NV renewed their offensive and captured Saigon (capital of SV) in Apr 1975
-Without US military aid, SV government could not resist
-Nixon had promised to continue supplying financial and military aid, but congress refused: thought SV govt. corrupt and didn’t have support of majority of population

Question 38

How did the Vietnam War affect the policy of Containment?

Answer 38

-Severely damaged idea - USA failed to stop spread of Communism in V
-US involvement in V assisted spread of Communism, as it increased support for Com. in Laos and Cambodia (both of which had Com. govts. by 1975)
-Propaganda disaster - atrocities committed by US forces, chemical weapons, propping up corrupt regime
-USA entered into a period of greater understanding with USSR and China

Question 39

What were the consequences of the Vietnam war on Vietnamese citizens?

Answer 39

-Poisoned by dioxins from chemical warfare
-Continued injuries from unexploded mines and bombs
-Disfigurement caused by napalm

Question 40

What were the consequences of the Vietnam War on Vietnamese society?

Answer 40

-Around 5 million made homeless
-Thousands became ‘boat people’ and tried to sail to Malaysia and HK
-About a million refugees moved to the west (mainly USA)
-Thousands driven into shanty towns near US bases and resorted to prostitution and drug abuse
-Creation of a large black market to supply luxuries to US forces

Question 41

What were the consequences of the Vietnam War on the environment?

Answer 41

-Chemical warfare damaged crops leading to food shortages
-5.4 million acres of forest (and animals and plants living there) were destroyed
-Streams and rivers poisoned

Question 42

What were the consequences of the Vietnam War on US troops?

Answer 42

-Many became drug addicts (cheap heroine from Laos and Cambodia)
-Veterans not welcomed back as heroes
-Many found it difficult to adjust to civilian life
-PTSD
-Some who handled Agent Orange contracted cancer