Lesson 21 + 22: The Vietnam War 1965-73 Flashcards
What was the cause of the vietnam war?
Communists led by Ho Chi Minh forced France out of Vietnam in 1954 and created a north south split
Ho Chi Minh was willing to go to war with South Vietnam
Why did USA get involved?
- Policy of Containment
- Russia supported north
- Prevent Domino effect
What did Kennedy do?
- Sent advisors to the South to advise on tactics and defense
- Sent weapons
- Move farmers to villages defended by US military
Who became president in 1964?
Lyndon B. Johnson
Why did Johnson become more involved? (3)
- Vietcong used Gorilla tactics
- Vietcong had taken over 40% of rural south
- 1964: north attacked US warship ‘The maddox’ stationed in Gulf of Tonkin
What opperation did Johnson introduce and what did it do?
Introduced operation rolling thunder
- bomb vietcongs supply routes
- sent 540,000 US soldiers to fight Vietcong
why was Johnson criticized by Americans?
58,000 US soldiers were killed
civil war not USA’s concern
Soldiers were young
Used chemicals that received huge opposition from Americans
What tactics were used by Vietcong?
- Ho Chi Minh trails
- landmines
- guerilla tactics
- 48,000 km of underground tunnels
What tactics were used by the USA?
- 540,000 soldiers
- B52 bomber planes and rockets
- chemicals: Agent Orange (melt leaves) Napalm (burnt skin)
- Zippo attacks “search and destroy” vietcongs in southern villages (killed innocent civilians)
When did America start to pull out of Vietnam?
1969
Why did America start to pull out?
- By 1969= 36,000 killed
- Nixon became president (promised to remove soldiers)
- 1973- peace discussions held on both sides
What was Nixon‘s Vietnamisation policy?
Trainer south vietnam to defend itself
What were the impacts of the Vietnam war on America?
- $30 billion spent every year
- Destroyed USA’s reputation as defender of freedom
- 58,000 killed 150,000 wounded
