Unit 8: Topic 8 - The Cold War in Asia Flashcards
Describe the history/events in Vietnam that led to the emergence of the Vietnam War
After World War II, the Viet Minh under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh successfully fought against the French to free themselves from colonialism. This struggle is known as the First Indochina War, which ended with the Viet Minh’s Victory at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, ending French occupation in Vietnam.
To address the aftermath of the First Indochina war, the Geneva Conference was called in 1954. It produced the Geneva Accords, which temporarily divided Vietnam in half with a Communist North and a non-Communist south. Elections were supposed to be held in the future to unite the country.
The U.S. would help supply South Vietnam to defend against the North as part of the “containment” strategy and the elections were never held. This turned into a civil war (the Second Indochina War) and eventually what we know as the Vietnam War.
Who were the Vietcong and what was their role in the Vietnam war?
The Vietcong, also known as the National Liberation Front (NFL), was a communist guerrilla organization in South Vietnam that formed in 1960. The Vietcong, with the assistance of North Vietnam, received military aid and training from the communist country.
The Vietcong were known for their ability to blend in with the local jungles and tunnels of Vietnam that set up ambushes, booby traps, and other forms of surprise attacks against their enemies. The Vietcong were extremely important as a fighting power within the Vietnam war against the United States and South Vietnamese.
What were some civilian perspectives to the Vietnam war and how did it change over time?
At first many Americans supported U.S. intervention in Vietnam, believing it was necessary to prevent the spread of communism. However, public opinion on the Vietnam war began to shift in the mid 60’s as the lack of progress caused civilians to believe that the war was futile and costly. Additionally, the draft of thousands of young men was unpopular.
As the war went on, reports on atrocities in the media further diminished the amount of public support for the war. For example, the My Lai Massacre, in which U.S. Soldiers killed, mutilated, and raped hundreds of innocent civilians continued to fuel anti-war sentiments. By the 1970s, most Americans were opposed to the war and called for an end to the violence.
The Iranian government was overthrown when the CIA helped arrest Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh after he tried to nationalize the oil industry.
By doing this, the U.S. and Britain were securing their oil supply while at the same time politically destabilizing the middle east to serve their economic interests.
After the coup, the United States installed a leader called Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Shah Muhammad operated as a dictator of Iran, ruling for 25 years and acting as a puppet of the US government.
Domino Theory was a popular belief during the Cold War that if one country in a region fell to communism, then neighboring countries would fall, much like a row of dominos. The theory was used to justify the United State’s participation in proxy wars and other forms of intervention.
When the United States saw that North Vietnam was going to be a communist country, officials feared that once South Vietnam fell to communism, so would the countries of Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Laos, and Cambodia.
How did U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War progress over time?
Starting in the 1950s, the U.S. began its involvement in the Vietnam War with economic and military aid to colonial forces (France) fighting against the Viet Minh. In 1961, President JFK’s administration expanded support by sending military advisers, more military assistance, and authorized the use of napalm, herbicides, and defoliants.
In 1964, during LBJ’s presidency, the U.S. began to increase its involvement after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, authorizing U.S. military force in Vietnam. Until 1968, the U.S. continued with several campaigns in an attempt to defeat the Vietcong and North Vietnamese forces.
By 1969, President Richard Nixon aimed to gradually withdraw U.S. forces and shift responsibility of the war to the South Vietnamese government.
What was the Tet offensive and what was its significance?
The Tet Offensive was a major military campaign launched by the North Vietnamese and Vietcong against South Vietnam and the U.S. in 1968. The surprise offensive began on the Vietnamese New Year, aka Tet.
The North Vietnamese and Vietcong initially looked like they were winning and even captured the city of Hue while also launching attacks on key targets in Saigon. However, the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces were able to repel the attacks, and the communist forces were defeated.
Despite the offensive’s failure, the large scale attack demonstrated the capabilities of the North Vietnamese and caused many to reevaluate if the U.S. was truly winning the war. As the Tet Offensive played out in the media, anti-war sentiment grew within the U.S.
Why was the War Powers Act created in 1973?
The War Powers Act is a federal law that was enacted in 1973 to address concerns about the unchecked power of the President to engage the military in armed conflict without explicit approval from Congress. The act stipulates that the President must consult with Congress before committing US forces into areas that are deemed dangerous.
The Act came into fruition because the Presidents during the Vietnam War had unchecked power to use the military without Congressional approval. At the end of the Vietnam War, many civilians and members of Congress raised concerns over this power and worked to create this law.
Describe Vietnamization
Vietnamization was a policy initiated by President Richard Nixon in the late 1960s shifting the burden of the Vietnam War from the United States to the South Vietnamese. The policy involved the gradual withdrawal of U.S. soldiers while providing economic and military aid to South Vietnam to supplement this removal of troops. Vietnamization emerged as a response to growing public opposition to the Vietnam War and the realization that U.S. victory in Vietnam was becoming less likely.
While this policy did get the U.S. out of Vietnam, it also failed because North Vietnam successfully took over South Vietnam in 1975.
Describe Operation Rolling Thunder and discuss its significance.
Operation Rolling Thunder was a bombing campaign conducted by the U.S. military against North Vietnam between 1965 and October 1968. The series of bombings was intended to place pressure on the North Vietnamese government to negotiate with the South Vietnamese by decreasing their ability to wage war.
The campaign targeted North Vietnamese military bases, supply routes, and other resources. The campaign also included attacks on civilian infrastructure such as factories and bridges in an attempt to disrupt the Vietnamese economy. By the end of the Vietnam War, more bombs were dropped than in any other time in history.
Describe the Pentagon Papers and their significance
The Pentagon Papers were a collection of classified documents which detailed U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War from 1945 to 1967. In 1971, the documents were leaked to the media by ex-analyst Daniel Ellsberg. The papers showed that the U.S. Government lied to the American public about the lack of progress in Vietnam and the likelihood of success.
The release of the Pentagon Papers contributed to a growing disillusionment with the war amongst the American public and politicians. It also led to a reevaluation of the executive department and limits of its power.
Describe the significance of the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident
In 1964, North Vietnamese vessels allegedly attacked U.S. Navy ships in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam. This supposed aggression against the U.S. led to the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution by Congress, which authorized President Lyndon Johnson to take any necessary measures to protect U.S. interests in Vietnam, eventually leading to a full military intervention.
