The Vietnam War Flashcards
American Difficulties
K - Conditions. Terrain hot and muddy. Traps caused 11% of deaths.
K - Failure to win hearts and minds caused “fragging” 83 deaths
A+ America could’ve won the war if they deployed more troops and adapted but the economic factors caused them to pull out.
E - Most Important. Writer A. Krepinevich It was the failure to adapt to the guerrilla tactics that led to their defeat
Strengths of the North
K - Support from China and the Soviet Union.
K - Inspired by leaders such as Ho Chi Min
A+ The VC were only effective in their ideal conditions. In traditional combat they were not strong.
E - < American Difficulties as it was not the tactics themselves but the American failure to adapt to these tactics which led to their defeat.
Weaknesses of the South
K - The leaders of the South were indecisive and uninspiring dictators. General Thieu.
A+ Had 150,000 men (the SVA)
E - The weakness of South Vietnam was the least important reason as the South were very passive. Americans joked that they went on search and avoid missions. Improving the army would have little effect.
Public Opposition
K - They would burn their conscription papers.
K - They voted Nixon into office who started Vietnamisation
A+ There was still many people in the US who supported participation in Vietnam. The most popular song of the
E - American difficulties were more important. This is because people who opposed the war in South Vietnam could sabotage the army as opposed to the American public who were limited in what they could do.
Isolation of the US
K - Support from Australia was limited.
K - Internationally, the war effort was frowned upon.
