US Involvement In Vietnam (1954-1965) Flashcards
Which country ruled Vietnam (then called Indochina) during the 1800’s
France
Which country successfully invaded and controlled Vietnam during WW2
Japan
Who founded the Vietminh and fought against Japan and France (after they retook control of Vietnam after WW2)
Ho Chi Minh
How much money did USA pour into the First Indochina War (1946-54) and what percentage of French Equipment was supplied by the USA
-$500 million
-80%
What were the tactics the Vietminh used to defeat France
guerilla warfare
How many French were killed
80,000 out of 190,000
What was the name of the decisive battle in 1954 where 50,000 vietminh soldiers surrounded 10,000 french and forced them to surrender after 57 days.
Dien Bien Phu
After the defeat at Dien Bien Phu, what vote did French Parliament vote to end the war
471-14
what was the total cost of human cost of the First Indochina War
400,000
Which line was used at the geneva agreements in 1954, to divide Vietnam
17th Parallel
(1) who became leader of communist North Vietnam
(2) who became leader of capitalist South Vietnam
(1) Ho Chi Minh
(2) Ngo Dinh Diem
why was diem (puppet leader of the USA) so unpopular (4 reasons)
(1) Buddhist Persecution
-Anti buddhist polices
-In 1963, Thich Quang Duc set him self on fire as a protest
(2) Violence
-By 1958, he had imprisoned 40,000 and killed 12,000 that opposed him
-10,000 Vietminh stayed in Vietnam to spread propaganda that N.Vietnam was more acceptable for peasants
(3) Fixed Elections
-Didn’t follow the geneva agreement - to give people free elections
-Diem put his name on the red side, red was a lucky colour
-USA tried to convince him to say he won by 70% but he ignored and said 98.2%
(4) Madame Nhu (Diem’s sister)
-opposed buddhists
-celebrated Thich Quang Duc’s death calling it a BBQ
When did JFK approve the assassination of Diem
1963
How did Eisenhower increase US involvement in Vietnam
-Invited S.Vietnam to join SEATO, an organisation to try and stop the spread of communism in Asia
-Supplied S.Vietnamese government with supplies
-Started a propaganda campaign
-Eisenhower wasn’t able to control Diem and he became more unpopular
What was the name of Eisenhower’s theory that communism would spread from one country to another
Domino Theory
How did JFK increase US involvement in Vietnam
-Increased amount of money and size of the ARVN (s.vietnamese army) by 20,000
-sent 300 helicopters, told them not to get involved
-sent 16,000 military experts to train ARVN fighters
-supported the strategic hamlet programme (1962), this forced peasants to leave Vietcong-controlled areas. This was very unpopular and by 1963, 2/3 of population forced to move which increased support for the Vietcong by 300%
-Kept US involvement secret from the press
What was the red scare (led by US politician Senator Joseph McCarthy)
A time in the 1950’s when the USA became paranoid with the idea that communists spies were working all overt the US to try and overthrow the government
Which event in 1964 led to USA sending soldiers to Vietnam
Gulf of Tonkin incident
What were the causes of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident
LBJ agreed to stop the spread of communism and agreed to operation plan 34A (ARVN attacking N.Vietnam). This involved sending US warships into the Gulf of Tonkin to monitor communication from N.vietnam
What were the events of the Gulf of Tonkin
-On 3rd August 1964, the USS Maddox fired at 3 N.Vietnamese torpedo boats heading towards the ship. It called in an air strike and all 3 were hit.
-A day later on the 4th, the USS Maddox sent a reports of another attack from N.Vietnam. However, the Maddox then sent another report that there were no signs of an attack.
-Johnson ordered air attacks on the targets in N.Vietnam
-On the same day, Johnson made a TV and Radio Broadcast saying the repeated attacks were an act of aggression
What were the consequences of the Gulf of Tonkin
-7th August 1964, US congress passed the gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave the president the ability to use any amount of military power to defend S.Vietnam
-In February 1965, Vietcong attacked a US helicopter base in S.Vietnam - Camp Holloway - killing 8 and wounding 100
-13th February 1965, USA launched Operation Rolling Thunder. which lasted 3 years instead of 8 weeks.
-By the end of 1965, 200,000 US soldiers were in Vietnam and the war had begun
When did Thich Quang Duc set himself on fire
1963
how many people had been imprisoned and killed by diem by 1958
-imprisoned 40,000
-killed 12,000
how many vietminh stayed in S.Vietnam, after the 17th parallel, to spread propaganda
10,000
What percentage did Diem say he won election by after USA said to say 70%
98.2%
What was SEATO
South-East Asia Treaty Organisation: trying to stop the spread of communism in Asia, included countries such as USA, UK, Australia, etc.
How many more soldiers did JFK supply the ARVN
20,000
How many helicopters did JFK send diem
300
How many military experts did JFK send S.Vietnam to train ARVN fighters
16,000
When was the strategic hamlet programme and what was it
1962, forced peasants to leave Vietcong-controlled areas.
By 1963, what fraction of the population were forced to move in alignment with the strategic hamlet programme
2/3
What percentage did the support of Vietcong increase after the strategic hamlet programme
300%
What plan did LBJ agree to to stop the spread of communism and what did it consist of
plan 34A. Sending US warships into the gulf of Tonkin to monitor communication from N.Vietnam
When did the USS Maddox destroy the 3 N.Vietnamese torpedo boats
3rd August 1964
When did the USS Maddox send a report of an attack and then a second report saying there were no signs of attack
4th August 1964
When did the USS Maddox send a report of an attack and then a second report saying there were no signs of attack
4th August 1964
When did Johnson order air attacks on targets in N.Vietnam and, on the same day, broadcasted on TV and radio that the repeated attacks were an act of aggression
4th August 1964
When did US congress pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and what was it
7th August - allowed LBJ to use any amount of military power to defend S.Vietnam
When did Vietcong attack Camp Holloway, killing 8 and wounding 100
February 1965
What day did USA launch Operation Rolling Thunder
13th February 1965
How long did Operation Rolling Thunder last compared to how long it was meant to last
it was meant to last 8 weeks but instead lasted 3 years
By the end of 1965, how many US soldiers were deployed in Vietnam, which meant that the war had begun
200,000
