Topic 3: The Vietnam War Flashcards
Who was in control of Vietnam before the outbreak of the Second World War?
France. Vietnam was part of French Indochina, along with Cambodia and Laos.
Which country occupied Vietnam in 1941, during the Second World War?
Japan
What was the name of the strong anti-Japanese resistance group which was formed during the Second World War, and who led the group?
The Viet Minh led by Ho Chi Minh.
Who was in control of northern Vietnam at the end of World War Two?
The Viet Minh. In 1945, they entered the city of Hanoi and declared Vietnamese independence.
What war was fought in Vietnam between 1945 and 1954?
A civil war between France and the Viet Minh, as the French tried to regain their old territory following Japan’s defeat.
How did America support the French during the civil war in Vietnam (1945-1954)?
They poured $500 million a year into the French war effort.
What was the outcome of the civil war (1945-1954)?
- The French were unable to take back Vietnam, and they were defeated by the Viet Minh in 1954.
- A peace conference was held in Geneva and the country was divided into North and South Vietnam, until elections could be held to decide its future.
Who was in control of North and South Vietnam after 1954?
North Vietnam remained as a communist country under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh.
South Vietnam was anti-communist under the leadership of Ngo Dinh Diem.
Why was Ngo Dinh Diem unpopular amongst the South Vietnam people? (Three reasons)
- He was corrupt.
- He was from the landlord class and treated Vietnamese peasants very poorly.
- He was Catholic and showed little respect for the Buddhist faith (the religion of 70% of the population).
Identify three ways America was involved in Vietnam under the leadership of President Eisenhower (1954-1960).
- America prevented elections from taking place in the country, as it feared the communists would win.
- America supported Diem’s regime with around $1.6 billion in the 1950s.
- America sent equipment and military advisors into South Vietnam.
What was the name of the communist group which was set up by peasants in South Vietnam in December 1961?
The Communist National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, also known as the Vietcong.
Who provided the Vietcong with supplies and reinforcements?
The Viet Minh in North Vietnam, along the Ho Chi Minh trail.
What proportion (%) of the South Vietnamese countryside did the Vietcong control by 1963?
40%
Identify two ways America became increasingly involved in Vietnam under the leadership of President Kennedy (1961-1963).
- Kennedy increased the number of advisers in Vietnam to develop the South Vietnamese Army until there were more than 11,000.
- In 1963, Kennedy allowed Diem to be assassinated and supported his replacement by anti-communist army generals.
What event took place in Vietnam in August 1964?
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident - North Vietnamese boats opened fire on US ships.
