THE BACKGROUND TO THE VIETNAM WAR (PRE-1965)

Question 1

Who ruled Vietnam before the Second World War (before 1939)?

Answer 1

France

Question 2

What was the name of the region that Vietnam was a part of (along with other countries such as Cambodia and Laos) before the Second World War?

Answer 2

Indochina

Question 3

Who conquered Vietnam during the Second World War, and how would you describe their rule?

Answer 3

Japan - their rule was harsh and brutal

Question 4

What group was formed in Vietnam during the Second World War, in response to Japanese occupation?

Answer 4

The Viet Minh

Question 5

Was the Viet Minh communist or capitalist?

Answer 5

Communist

Question 6

Who was the leader of the communist Viet Minh?

Answer 6

Ho Chi Minh

Question 7

What area of Vietnam did the Viet Minh control by 1945?

Answer 7

The North

Question 8

What did the Viet Minh declare in 1945 in the city of Hanoi?

Answer 8

They declared Vietnamese independence

Question 9

What broke out in Vietnam between 1945 and 1954 (the 9 years after WWII)?

Answer 9

A civil war between France and the Viet Minh

Question 10

Who did the Viet Minh fight in the civil war between 1945 and 1954?

Answer 10

France

Question 11

Who supported the Viet Minh during the civil war with France (1945-1954)?

Answer 11

China

Question 12

How did America get involved in the civil war between France and the Viet Minh (1945-1954)?

Answer 12

They gave $500 million each year to France to help their war effort (this was approximately 80% of the cost of the war).

Question 13

What happened at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954?

Answer 13

After 55 days of fighting, France experienced a major defeat against the Viet Minh. 8,000 French troops were killed (this was in addition to the 73,000 losses France had suffered in since the start of the civil war).

Question 14

What battle took place between France and the Viet Minh in 1954?

Answer 14

Dien Bien Phu

Question 15

How many French soldiers were killed during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?

Answer 15

8,000 (this was on top of the 73,000 French soldiers who had died whilst fighting the Viet Minh since 1945).

Question 16

Why were the French defeated at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954)?

Answer 16

The French did not have easy access to war supplies. They were also fighting in the jungle inhabited by Viet Minh, who knew the land well and fought using guerrilla warfare.

Question 17

What happened in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1954 after the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?

Answer 17

A Peace Agreement was signed.

Question 18

What was agreed at Geneva?

Answer 18

1. To withdraw French troops.
2. To temporarily divide Vietnam into North and South along the 17th parallel (the North would remain communist under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh). Elections would be held in 1956.
3. To create new countries, Cambodia and Laos.

Question 19

Who was appointed leader of South Vietnam, and supported by the USA?

Answer 19

President Ngo Dinh Diem

Question 20

Describe President Diem’s rule.

Answer 20

Hard, corrupt, intolerant and unpopular – enemies were imprisoned; money was wasted; and the majority Buddhist population were persecuted.

Question 21

What communist group was formed in the South?

Answer 21

Viet Cong.

Question 22

What was the aim of the Viet Cong?

Answer 22

To oppose the government of Diem using guerrilla warfare, and to defeat the government, as well as its allies (i.e. the USA).

Question 23

When was the Ho Chi Minh trail created to supply the Viet Cong?

Answer 23

1959

Question 24

How many troops fought for the Viet Cong by the early-1960s?

Answer 24

How many troops fought for the Viet Cong by the early-1960s?

Question 25

What proportion of the countryside did the Viet Cong control in South Vietnam by 1963?

Answer 25

40%

Question 26

What happened to President Diem in 1963?

Answer 26

He was overthrown and killed by his own troops (this was supported by the USA).

Question 27

How many governments did South Vietnam have between 1963 and 196%?

Answer 27

10 governments

Question 28

How did President Eisenhower get involved in Vietnam between 1954 and 1960?

Answer 28

Sent equipment and military advisors to South Vietnam.

Prevented elections from taking place in South Vietnam, as he feared the Communists might win.

Supported Diem with about $1.6 billion.

Question 29

How did President Kennedy get involved in Vietnam between 1961 and 1963?

Answer 29

Increased the number of military advisers to more than 11,000 by 1962.

Allowed Diem to be assassinated and supported his replacement by anti-communist army generals.

Question 30

Describe the Gulf of Tonkin incident (1964), and its results.

Answer 30

North Vietnamese boats opened fire on US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin. In response, Johnson passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave him power to ‘take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression and achieve peace and security’ in Vietnam (i.e. declare war).

Question 31

How did President Johnson get involved in Vietnam between 1963 and 1965?

Answer 31

Passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

Began Operation Rolling Thunder (mass bombing campaign) in February 1965 in response to further Viet Cong attacks.

By July 1965, 180,000 US troops were sent to Vietnam (the number of troops had reached 500,000 by 1968).

Question 32

Identify four reasons which explain why the USA became increasingly involved in Vietnam before 1965.

Answer 32

1. Their policy of containment
2. McCarthyism and the fear of communism
3. Change in presidency (and committing to stand up to communism even more than presidents before)
4. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964)