USA: Vietnam - What and When Flashcards
French-Indochina War
-Date
-Who fought and why
-Who won
1946-1954 -
After Japanese occupation during WWII, France wanted to regain control of their colony that was Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
They fought against the Vietminh who wanted independence.
The French surrendered after the Vietnamese victory in Dien Bien Phu.
New Government of Vietnam after Dien Bien Phu
-What happened to the country
-What governments were set up
Vietnam was split along the 17th parallel
Ho Chi Minh ran a communist government in the north
Ngo Dinh Diem was made prime minister of the south running a Catholic government. Supposedly democratic but no elections were ran in 1956.
Eisenhower’s involvement
-What did he do in Vietnam and why
He committed more aid to South Vietnam even after their ally, France, left. He also sent advisers to train ARVN troops to gain control of South.
He did this due to fear of communism spreading to the South and then in south asia (domino effect)
Start of the civil war in Vietnam
-Why and who rebelled
-When did the North get involved
In the South, Diem sent ARVN to capture and kill suspected communists. They fought back in various revolutionary groups; they began to be known as the Vietcong or VC, supported by the North Vietnamese.
1959 - North Vietnamese troops and supplies were sent into the South along the Ho Chi Minh trail with China’s support, starting the war.
Kennedy’s involvement
-When did he become president
-What did he do in Vietnam
Kennedy became president in 1961
He continued the idea of a limited war, but increased aid and sent more advisers into the South. He encouraged counter-insurgency tactics to hunt out the VC and introduced a pacification policy to win over villagers in South Vietnam.
Overthrow of Diem
-How, why and when did it happen
-What did America do
1963 - Diem remained undemocratic and increased persecution of Buddhists in the South. Diem was overthrown by ARVN generals and assassinated.
The USA accepted that Diem was never gonna work. They knew of the assassination plot and let it go ahead, starting a generals power struggle.
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
-When
-What president was in power here and what did they want for Vietnam
-What allegedly happened
1964-
Eisenhower wanted the same goals as previous presidents for Vietnam but the South was getting weaker and more US involvement was needed to survive.
-US Navy ships the Maddox and C. Turner Joy were patrolling the gulf
-Secretly small US boats were transporting ARVN troops for raids on the North
-Eventually the North Vietnamese struck and it was reported from the ships that they sunk two enemy boats.
-Jets were ordered to strike enemy targets in retaliation, two US jets were shot down.
-The Gulf of Tonkin resolution was passed giving Johnson all the powers to defend US forces without consulting congress or declaring war,
Operation Rolling Thunder
-When
-Situation with US troops
-What was it and what was used
-What tactics was it
Early 1965-
There were still no real ground US troops in Vietnam
Was a bombing campaign over North with carefully selected targets (such as the Ho Chi Minh trail and industry) to not escalate too quickly and not anger China. Was bombing and chemical weaponry involving napalm too.
Sending in of US ground troops into Vietnam
-When
-Why
March 1965 - Ground troops were sent to protect airbases
Operation Cedar Falls
-When
-Where
-What happened
-What tactic is this
1967 -
Happened in ‘the iron triangle’ where VC were strongest.
ARVN and US troops evacuated villages in the area and burned and destroyed them as well as killing any VC found. Many US and ARVN died and huge amounts of refugees came from the area.
This is an example of search and destroy tactics.
Operation Ranch Hand
-When
-What happened and what was its intention
-What tactic was this
1964-70 -
Huge amounts of Vietnam were sprayed with herbicides to clear jungle to find VC and kill crops so the enemy cannot be fed. The poor quality of the herbicide meant it lingered in water and soil affecting crops for many decades and harming US and ARVN soldiers through the water supply and lack of food too.
The Tet Offensive
-When and its significance
-What happened
1968 -
The Tet Offensive from the VC took place during the Tet holiday when many ARVN troops were away on holiday as there was usually a ceasefire. North Vietnamese started teasing peace and launching attacks along the border to lure troops away to lower their guard.
The offensive’s attacks started successfully with VC breaking into the US embassy and controlling other vital places and even cities. This was a massive shock to the US but they and ARVN captured VC and lost areas quickly.
The Nixon Doctrine and Vietnamisation
-When
-What did it outline
-What were the effects of Vietnamisation
1969 and onwards-
It laid down what the role of the USA was to be in Southeast Asia in the future.
The USA would help any ally against a nuclear threat.
It would honour any treaties.
It would provide training and aid against non nuclear threats but not ground troops.
US troops to withdraw.
ARVN to provide its own officers.
Withdrawal would be done with honour to not leave South Vietnam to the communists.
Aid would continue.
Invasion of Cambodia
-When?
-What president?
-How and why?
1970-
A pro American general took over in Cambodia and told the VC to leave. VC joined with Khmer Rouge to fight. Nixon decides to send 70,000 total troops to save Cambodia from communism.
Invasion of Laos
-When?
-How and why?
1971-
US provided air support for invasion of ARVN troops. This is in order to squash communist groups in Laos.
Easter Offensive
-When?
-What is the circumstance with US troops?
-What happened?
1972 -
US troops are still gradually withdrawing when VC launch a huge attack on South Vietnam with 120,000 troops. It was successful at first but were pushed back
Operation Linebacker
-When?
-What happened and why?
1972 -
Done in response to the Easter Offensive. US heavily bombed North Vietnam with no restrictions on targets. This almost wiped out the VC war industry and blocked disrupted supply routes from USSR and China, urging the VC to reach a peace settlement.
End of the War
-When did the last US troops leave?
-What was this process called?
-When did the war end and what happened?
1973 - Last US troops left. The last step in Nixon’s peace with honour.
1975 - VC rolled into Saigon and took the city, South Vietnamese and US officials were evacuated and Vietnam united under a communist government.
The My Lai Massacre
-When?
-What happened?
-What was the public response to this in the US?
-What is this an example of?
1968 -
Troops were breifed that they would come under VC fire. They didn’t and were actually met by a peaceful village with only old men, women and children.
Despite this, the troops led by Lt. Calley, killed all the people and animals.
This was photographed and the public were horrified. Inquires were launched and discovered a cover up of the massacre. Calley was sentenced to life in prison but higher ranking officers went free despite giving the order.
This is an example of media allowing the public to see footage and documentaries of the war.
The Kent State Shootings
-When?
-What happened?
-What does this show among the public?
-What was the reaction?
1970 -
After the invasion of Cambodia was announced, students protested at Kent State University. National guard tried to break it up with tear gas but protesters then threw bricks and canisters, leading the guard to shooting into the crowd. This killed 4.
This shows discontent among young people in the USA towards the war. Potentially many because of the draft and many wanted social change.
This caused public outrage as it mainly involved white middle class deaths.
The Hard Hat Riot
-When?
-What happened and why?
1970 -
Construction workers rushed an anti war protest beating protestors up in New York. They were pro war and felt the government wasn’t tough enough on protestors and communists.
The Silent Majority Speech
-When
-What was this and who said it?
-What was the message?
1969 -
President Nixon made this speech to the US public.
He highlighted the ‘great silent majority’. Meaning that he asked for the support of the majority that did support him but didn’t actively campaign for and protest against. He needed support to negotiate with the VC for a honourable peace.
