US involvement in vietnam

Question 1

When and what was the Geneva Accord? did the US accept geneva accord?

Answer 1

1954: between France and the Vietnam Minh → France would get out of Indochina, communism would rule in north of Vietnam, capitalism in the south, neither were to make military alliances with foreign powers, democratic elections for a single government for a unified Vietnam would occur in 1956.

rejected by new premier of south Vietnam and US → no communism.

elections in 1956 never happened bc they need HoChi Minh would win

Question 2

How did Eisenhower start “nation building in south Vietnam” from 1954-1961(the years of Eisenhower’s presidency)?

Answer 2

Eisenhower introduced two new elements: SEATO (defensive military alliance) + engaged in “nation building” → supporting + encouraging Diem to create a new independent southern state.

Eisenhower gave Diem money, military equipment

Question 3

What was Eisenhower’s approach to south vietnam?

Answer 3

eisenhower emphasised on military solutions rather than social and economic change

Question 4

How did nation building and the Diem regime progress?

Answer 4

Nation building not going well
1960: Ho’s southern supporters + some opposition from Diem’s army (ARVN) rebelled against him

Question 5

How did US involvement in Vietnam change when Kennedy became president?

Answer 5

1961-63: US provided even more money, weaponry, 20’000 advisers.

Ap Bac in 1963: 2000 ARVN troops accompanied by 133 personal carries, bombers, etc, refused to attack 350 Viet Cong. 5 helicopters were lost with 3 pilots and ARVN troops refused to do a rescue mission
Shows ineffectiveness of ARVN troops + tensions with US troops.

Question 6

How and why was Diem removed from power?

Answer 6

1963: 10’000 Buddhist protested against their ban on religion → Diem sent soldiers killing 7 Buddhist and prompting others to burn themselves in protest.

Kennedy was very surprised → maybe he really didn’t know or maybe he was trying to deflect the blame off of him.

Dem rejected reform option + military option did not work → USA supported ARVN coup → Diem was killed by his generals.

Question 7

Give two examples of how the nature of the war was changed when Johnson became president (1963-69)

Answer 7

1965: air strikes knows as “rolling thunder” → bombing routes taking men/materials to south Vietnam → decrease inflation in the north.
+ first American ground troops to Vietnam. 200’000 men by the end of 65 and over 500’000 by early 68.

Question 9

Why did Truman get involved in vietnam?

Answer 9

Truman administration considered the French to be invaluable allies against communism in Europe and indochina → French confirmed that Ho was part of world wide communist theory → Truman responded positively to their request for aid.

Question 10

What other reasons did Truman have to get involved in vietnam?

Answer 10

believed that what was at stake in Vietnam is the spread of communism rather than a Vietnamese war of independence. Communism expanding in Asia.
Truman also faced domestic political pressure for having lost China to communism according to republicans. The Truman state Department was more vulnerable after 1950 where McCarthy had convinced Americans that there were traitors in the truman Departement.

Question 11

List 3 reasons why Eisenhower continued the US’s commitment to vietnam?

Answer 11

helped the French for same reasons as Truman but also bc the French were threatening to stop fighting in Vietnam without US aid and he did not want to “loose” Vietnam like Truman had “lost” china.
Eisenhower promoted the “roll back” of communism but failed to do so, so he better at least keep up with the “containment” policy of Truman.
1954: declared his domino theory

Question 12

Why did Kennedy follow in Eisenhower’s footsteps?

Answer 12

also believed that communism searched for world domination and quoted the domino theory.

Greatly influenced by secretaries, such as McNamara, who believed in the US involvement in Vietnam → explained to him that the US had already committed to Vietnam before his presidency.

JCS warned Kennedy that any reversal of US policy would have disastrous effects with all relations in Asia.

He criticised Eisenhower for allowing the rise of communism in Asia → therefore he can’t have another defeat in Vietnam.

Question 13

Why did Johnson continue with Kennedy’s foreign policies on vietnam?

Answer 13

believed in containment and domino theory → inherited involvement in war.

Patriotic and felt it was of national honour for the USA to continue its commitment in south Vietnam and to stick by SEATO.

Emotionally and constitutionally he felt bound to continue with the policies of the assisted Kennedy.

No one wanted past mistakes to be debated and so Johnson kept Kennedy’s advisers. the administration believed that they would somehow triumph. Johnson did not want to be the fist one to lose a war.

Question 14

How did the war begin to escalate?

Answer 14

Johnson needed congressional support → real + imaginary attacks on US ships off the coast of North Vietnam led to the passing of the “Gulf of Tonkin Resolution”. → gave the power to do as he saw fit in Vietnam

American aircraft bombed north Vietnam for the first time. Escalation made Johnson look tough. → public approval rose from 42 to 72 percent helping him win the 1964 elections.

Diem’s successor was even less effective than diem in creating a viable south Vietnamese state. 1964: communist controlled half the country

Question 15

What were the working group recommendations?
What were their 5 recommendations?

Answer 15

1964: working group created by Johnson to study Vietnam and make suggestions for future policies. Made up of experts in the defence department, state Department, CIA and JCS
And independent and anti communist south Vietnam was vital to the U.S.
Reiterated the domino theory.
Said American national prestige, honour, etc. was at stake.
Emphasised that escalation was necessary due to the Saigon government.
Suggested heavier bombing.
(AKA they told Johnson what he wanted to hear)

Question 16

What is the quagmire theory?

Answer 16

US leaders became trapped in an expensive commitment unable to exit without losing credibility due to ignorance concerning Vietnam + overconfidence about US power + ideals.

Question 17

Which shift did J.Schell (1976) point out?

Answer 17

a change from Eisenhower to Kennedy: the territorial domino theory became the psychological domino theory or the doctrine of credibility. (It wasn’t so much that other countries would become communist if Vietnam did but the US would lose credibility.)

Question 18

How far do historians argue was Truman responsible for Vietnam involvement?

Answer 18

Vietnam war was not an American war during the Truman years according to David Anderson → argued that American dislike of French colonialism re +strained US involvement. However, Mark Byrnes (2000) argued it was the mindset of the Truman administration which ultimately led to the misguided war.

Question 19

How far do historians argue was Eisenhower responsible for Vietnam involvement?

Answer 19

Anthony Short (1989): blamed years of conflict in Vietnam on Eisenhower’s refusal to accept the Geneva Accords.

Loyd Gardner (1988): Eisenhower’s creation of a south Vietnamese state constituted a dramatic break with the past. The US became deeply involved in the war bc the Eisenhower administration set up south Vietnam during 1954-55. […] In that sense the main responsibility for US involvement and the failure to win the war lay not with JOhnson but with Eisenhower. […] It was Eisenhower’s actions and assumption that ensured it would never be a successful war.

Question 20

Why was the military emphasis enforced by Johnson ineffective?

Answer 20

Johnson’s methods → to advise, support, strengthen Saigon government → only alienated south Vietnamese.
Unable to win mind and hearts of Vietnamese people → why Saigon and Washington failed
Only used military force

Question 21

What were the communist strengths?

Answer 21

far better at winning hearts/ minds of people, whom they treated with respect (but were still ruthless when necessary).
Communist military performance was more impressive and determined than ARVN.

Question 22

Why was the Saigon regime generally unpopular even after Diem?

Answer 22

after “American Diem” → succession of military governments, especially those of Ky (1965-7) and Thieu (1967-75) were corrupt, averse to reform, too closely associated with the USA, generally unpopular,
1975: Thieu fled Vietnam carrying millions of dollars in gold, some of which from American aid that rarely reached the peasants.

Question 23

What did the support for the Vietnam war look like during Johnon’s presidential campaign?

Answer 23

anti-war feeling developed in the US but the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution + presidential election suggested that at this stage Johnson had near unanimous support for his Vietnam policy.

Question 24

What event in 1965 grew anti-war feelings in the US?

Answer 24

Vietnam became the US’s first fully televised war.
1 congressman reported “widened unrest” in congress in January + thousands of citizens participated in protests
April: 25000 students marched on Washington + universities were restless

Question 25

How did Johnson’s popularity develop in 1966?

Answer 25

public + congressional support for war dropped dramatically → polls showed Johnson’s publicity proclaimed war aims, the defeat of communist aggression + building of a nation in Vietnam, failed to inspire.
He avoided the public eye due to chants of “hey hey LBJ how many boys have you killed today?”.
Relatively few protests (compared to previous year) and congress continued to fund the war??

Question 26

Which major event occurred in 1967 in the Johnon’s administration?

Answer 26

War was going badly → although public optimism, Johnson’s administration began to lose confidence→ Secretary of Defense McNamara, who was vital in the formulation of Kennedy and Johnson’s Vietnam policies, resigned in autumn.
He condemned the Air Force and its “goddamned bombing campaign that had dropped more bombs on Vietnam than on Europe in the whole of WW2 and we hadn’t gotten a goddamned thing for it.”
August → McNamara testified before the senate that bombing was not worth risking a clash with the Soviet’s + did not stop communist troops and supplies moving south on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
His replacement → Clark Clifford began doubting the domino theory + wisdom of US involvement → the Test Offensive finally made him conclude that he had to get the USA out.

Question 27

1967 is the turning point in the US for Vietnam, what are the two views on the war by then?

Answer 27

newspapers + TV stations switched from support to opposition + tens of thousands protests against tax rises for war began.
Although 46 % of Americans polled in October felt that Vietnam was a mistake, a big majority still wanted to stay there and have things escalate further.

Question 28

When was the Tet Offensive?
What was the Tet offensive?

Why was the Tet Offensive so significant?

Answer 28

1968
Hanoi launched an offensive against south Vietnamese cities and military installations.
The American ambassador had to feel the embassy in Hue in his Pyjamas??

Ordinary South Vietnamese had not rallied to the Saigon regime → Tet Offensive showed that while the USA could prevent the overthrow of the Saigon government + inflict damage and losses in communist troops → they could not defeat them.
Saigon, Washington + American public were shocked that the communists could move so freely throughout the south.
Tet was a psychological defeat rather than a military defeat → it shook the confidence of the American people and government.

Question 29

Did the Tet Offensive help grow more anti-war feeling in the US?

Answer 29

Media coverage of the Tet Offensive was the turning point in the American decision to exit. (They all thought they were winning but in truth they were loosing)
American reporters and journalist reported a soldier saying “We had to destroy the town to save it” → many Americans questioned what was being done in Vietnam

Question 30

How did the Tet Offensive help de-escalate the war?

Answer 30

Following the Tet Offensive, Johnson was led to reevaluate the US foreign policy due to these factors:
→ Johnson rejected JCS demands that more troops be sent to Vietnam + halted the escalation + began peace talks.

Question 31

What other factors help end the escalation of the war?

Answer 31

Loss of McNamara → loss of confidence in administration + congress
Polls were discouraging → 78% believed that US wasn’t making any progress in war + 74% believed Johnson wasn’t handling it well.
Taxpayers were increasingly resentful → increased inflation + weakened the dollar on international market.

Question 32

When did Nixon come into power and how many US soldiers were in Vietnam by then?

Answer 32

1969: when Nixon came into power → 1/2 soldiers in Vietnam.

Question 33

How did Nixon’s views change about vietnam?

Answer 33

First supported Vietnam war “We have an unparalleled opportunity to roll back the communist tide”

Reasons: the Tet Offensive, Sino-Soviet split (he could play Russia and China against each other), his desire to be a peacemaker: “The greatest honour history can bestow is the title of peacemaker” .

Anti protesters also put pressure

Question 34

What was Nixon’s approach to ending the vietnam war?

Answer 34

American forces should be withdrawn and ARVN built up (Vietnamization, Nixon’s policy under which south Vietnam’s government and forces took the main responsibility for the war)

Question 35

American forces should be withdrawn and ARVN built up (Vietnamization, Nixon’s policy under which south Vietnam’s government and forces took the main responsibility for the war)

Answer 35

a peace settlement that would allow President Thieu to remain in power in an independent south Vietnam + achieve this through vietnamization + improved relations with USSR, China + heavier bombing of North Vietnam.

Question 36

Why was 1969 not a successful year for Nixon?

Answer 36

Improved peace negotiations: Nixon still insisted that Thieu remain in power but he now did not expect North Vietnamese troops to get out before American troops did. → Hanoi not impressed with improved terms.
Nixon put pressure on the USSR, promising detente for their help in ending the Vietnam war → unsuccessful.
No better at home front. Although started to withdraw troops + adjust draft so students were less hit → could not stop protests.

Question 37

What major event occurred in 1970 under Nixon? explain the significance

Answer 37

The Cambodian offensive.
Nixon escalated air bombing, basically extending the war to Laos + Cambodia
North Vietnamese launched a great offensive in Laos.

Hanoi unable to launch another major offensive in south Vietnam for 2 years after capture + destruction of communist war material in Cambodian offensive.
Gave time to the ARVN to grow stronger and occupied north Vietnamese troops that would usually be killing US troops.

Cambodian offensive widened the war into cambodia

Question 38

When did the ARVN lose against the communist and how did Nixon react?

Answer 38

March 1972: ARVN crumbled to communist → Nixon reacted with “the bastards have never been bombed like they are going to be bombed this time”

Question 39

What helped drive Hanoi towards a peace settlement?

Answer 39

Soviet and Chinese pressure + failure of their offensive to take big cities + destruction of US bombing + Nixon’s probable re-election

Question 40

How did congress react to the troops withdrawal in 1972?

Answer 40

Nixon begged them not to damage his negotiating capabilities, pointing out that it would be immoral to walk away from Vietnam → most Americans agreed with him (74% thought it was important that south Vietnam did not become communist.)

Question 41

When did the North and south come to an agreement?

Answer 41

1972. Hanoi said Thieu could remain in power and the USA would let the north Vietnamese army stay in south Vietnam and not involve themselves in Cambodia and Laos where communist were winning.

Hanoi urged to have a voice in the Saigon government but this was rejected by Kissinger, Nixon’s national security advisor → instead offered communist representation on a Committee of National Reconciliation that would oversee Vietnamese constitution and elections.
However Nixon rejected the terms, fearing the accusation that he had given from the protesters. Some of his advisors feared that if peace came before the election people in the US might vote democrat as they were supposedly better at peace-time governing. Thieu and US soldiers opposed a National Committee containing Communists.

Question 42

Was Nixon re-elected and what did he do which makes absolutely no sense ?

Answer 42

1972: Nixon re-elected and bombed North Vietnam → thousand civilians died in Hanoi and its port Haiphong. No public explanation and several congressmen and newspapers questioned Nixon’s sanity. As they should

probably trying to reassure Thieu of American strength and support + to weaken Hanoi so that it could not speedily threaten south Vietnam after peace was concluded.

Question 43

When were the Paris Peace Accords and how do they differ from those made in 1972?

Answer 43

1973. Basically the same with a few tiny changes

Question 44

Declared ceasefire throughout vietnam (not in cambodia or laos)
US troops would leave the south but the north Vietnamese troops would not.
Hanoi had to promise to not take advantage of the ceasefire and increase in troops.
Thieu would remain in power but the Committee of National Reconciliation contained Communist representation + would sponsor free elections.
Nixon secretly promised billions of dollars worth of reconstruction aid to Hanoi.

Question 45

What is Nixon most criticised for.

Answer 45

His slowness in getting the US out of vietnam. From 1968 to 1972/3 20 ‘000 men died in vietnam.