Vietnam

Question 1

1950s onward

Answer 1

CCP support of North Vietnam
Provided North Vietnam with assistance and supports
Demonstrates the ideological aspect to the Vietnam conflict; evidence of patron-client relationship within the Communist bloc
(from 1950 to 1970, Chinese aid to Vietnam was estimated to be 20 billion)

Question 2

April 1954

Answer 2

Eisenhower’s policy of the Domino Theory
In a speech, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower said the fall of French Indochina to communists could create a “domino” effect in Southeast Asia. (that the fall of a state would lead to fall in nearby states)
This so-called domino theory guides US policymaking towards Vietnam for the next decade.

Question 3

7 May 1954

Answer 3

French defeat at Dien Bien Phu
French troops are humiliated in defeat by Viet Minh forces at Dien Bien Phu. → Resulted in the complete withdrawal of French forces from Indochina and the definite end of French rule
Power vacuum after French exit, which was filled by the US due to the fear of Communist influence according to the Domino Theory → characterised by increased direct US military involvement in Vietnam.
Strategic importance of Indochina-> competition for influence

Question 4

July 1954

Answer 4

Geneva Accords
The Geneva Accords establish North and South Vietnam with the 17th parallel as the dividing line.
The agreement also stipulates that elections are to be held within two years to unify Vietnam under a single democratic government. However, these elections never happen.

Question 5

Oct 1955

Answer 5

Diem becomes leader of South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh becomes leader of North Vietnam

Question 6

1957

Answer 6

Vietcong begins program of terrorism
Vietcong (Communist insurgents in the South) begins program of terrorism and assasination against the south vietnamese government officials.

Question 7

Dec 1960

Answer 7

Formation of National Liberation Front (NLF) (Dec 1960)
Communists in the South announced the formation of the National Liberation Front (NLF), which was designed to serve as the political arm of the Viet Cong and also as a broad-based organization for all those who desired an end to the Diem regime.

Question 8

1961 (-1963)

Answer 8

Kennedy becomes President of US
Kennedy believed that Vietnam was an opportunity for the US to counter the communist insurgency in the third world. (Kennedy was a fervent believer in containing communism (as seen in CMC 1962 too) , he made it clear that he will continue the policy of Eisenhower “domino theory” and support the govt of Diem in South Vietnam)
A successful effort would prove to US’s allies and enemies that US is determined to resolve communist expansion in third world (a failure would prove the opposite)
Hence, there is increased involvement in Vietnam (increased US military presence in Vietnam)

In some SBQ sources, eg. Kennedy’s letter to SV Diem, [on the surface] would frame/portray US intervention as helping SV uphold sovereignty and independence from the threat of the north and not because of fear of communism. [actual] However, deep down, it was ultimately still because of the fear of spread of communism in Asia that prompted US involvment. (Can use for EV to say that the source is unreliable and does not provide strong evidence to counter the assertion)

Question 9

May-Jun 1963

Answer 9

Buddhist Crisis
South Vietnamese government opens fire on a crowd of Buddhist protestors in the central Vietnam city of Hue. Eight people, including children, are killed.
Monks protesting the persecution of Buddhists by Diệm. A 73-year-old monk immolates himself while sitting at a major city intersection in protest, leading other Buddhists to follow suit in coming weeks.
Significance: The United States’ already declining confidence in Diem’s leadership continues to slide.

Question 10

1 Nov 1963

Answer 10

CIA sponsored military coup overthrowing Diem
The United States backs a South Vietnam military coup against the unpopular Diem, which ends in the brutal killing of Diem and his brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu.
Significance: Sparked a tumultuous period in SV politics with many leaders taking over and then quickly losing power. Between 1963 and 1965, 12 different governments took the lead in South Vietnam as military coups replaced one government after another. Such Political unrest allowed the north to establish ideological strongholds in the south.

Question 11

22 Nov 1963

Answer 11

Assasination of Kennedy/Johnson becomes president of US
President Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Lyndon B. Johnson becomes president.
Significance: change in leadership
Johnson also saw vietnam as the key test of US credibility and ability to keep his commitments to its allies.
He doubled down on US commitment in South Vietnam (increased military personnel)

Question 12

August 1964

Answer 12

Gulf of Tonkin Incident/ US Maddox Incident
It involved both a proven confrontation on August 2, 1964, carried out by North Vietnamese forces in response to covert operations in the coastal region of the gulf, and a second, claimed confrontation on August 4, 1964, between ships of North Vietnam and the United States in the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.
Led President Johnson to call for air strikes on North Vietnamese patrol boat bases. → Legal justification for the US to deploy conventional forces to South Vietnam and the commencement of open warfare against North Vietnam. (Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which authorises the president to “take all necessary measures, including the use of armed force” against any aggressor in the conflict.)
Significance: Sparked the beginning of major US involvment

Question 13

Nov 1964

Answer 13

Re-election of Johnson as president
With 61.1% of the popular vote, Johnson won the largest share of the popular vote of any candidate since the largely uncontested 1820 election.

Question 14

1965- 1968

Answer 14

Operation Rolling Thunder
Johnson’s three-year campaign of sustained bombing of targets in North Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Trail (supply line) in Operation Rolling Thunder. (Carefully avoided provoking the Chinese/Soviets by not attacking Soviet ships and bombing near Chinese borders)
Bombing was kept a secret from the american public (to avoid public dispute)
Unsuccessful → North Vietnamese burrowed underground to keep supply lines open. It soon became clear that airstrikes alone were insufficient (ground troops would be necessary for victory)
The same month, March 1965, U.S. Marines landed on beaches near Da Nang, South Vietnam as the first American combat troops to enter Vietnam.

Question 15

1965- 1970s

Answer 15

Continued increase in US involvement in Vietnam
Significant increase in troops with NO CLEAR OBJECTIVES
July 1965: President Johnson calls for 50,000 more ground troops to be sent to Vietnam, increasing the draft to 35,000 each month.
1966: U.S. troop numbers in Vietnam rise to 400,000.
1967: U.S. troop numbers stationed in Vietnam increase to 500,000.
Casualties steadily increased.

Question 16

Oct 1967

Answer 16

March on the Pentagon
35000 demonstrators protest the conduct of war.
Demonstrated increasing anti-war sentiments (due to severe casualties) and domestic pressures at home.

Question 17

Jan 1968

Answer 17

Tet Offensive
A coordinated series of North Vietnamese (Viet Minh and Viet Cong) attacks on more than 100 cities and outposts across South Vietnam, including Hue and Saigon, and the U.S. Embassy is invaded.
While most of the offensives failed, the effect was amplified by the US media, for the first time broadcasting the horrors of war → Completely turned US domestic sentiment against the war.
Marked a turning point in the war and the beginning of a gradual U.S. withdrawal from the region. → US public opinion shifted dramatically and increased domestic pressures to end the Vietnam War. (Half of the population opposed to escalation)
The Tet offensive led many americans to question the administrations veracity in reporting war progress (as Johnson assured that war is going to end very soon) and contributed to Johnson’s decision to retire.

Question 18

Mar 16 1968

Answer 18

My Lai Massacre
More than 500 civilians are murdered by US forces amid a campaign of US search-and-destroy operations that were intended to kill Vietcong operatives in South Vietnam.
Greatly impacted US domestic opinion when news surfaced in Oct 1969.

Question 19

1968- 1969

Answer 19

Stalled negotiations under Johnson
31 March 1968: President Johnson announced that he was “taking the first step to de-escalate the conflict” through a televised speech, halting bombing in North Vietnam (except in areas near the DMZ) and called for negotiations to end the war.
Hanoi(NV) agreed to negotiate , but had conditions before serious negotiations could start. Hanoi insisted that US halt its bombing entirely and also expressed willingness to halt their attacks.
31 Oct 1968: To further negotiations, Johnson announced to stop the bombing
However, the negotiations achieved no breakthrough, but instead led to internal disagreement between US and SV as the then-candidate Nixon promised better terms than Johnson
Facing backlash about the war, Johnson announces he will not run for re-election.

Question 20

Jan 1969

Answer 20

Nixon becomes US President
One of his campaign promises is that he had “a secret plan to end the war” (a welcome contrast to the directionless leadership of Johnson (increasing involvement with no clear objectives)

Question 21

1969 onwards

Answer 21

Nixon proposes Honourable Exit
Nixon knew that the US could not win, but insisted that the war could be ended with an honorable exit to save face (A hasty withdrawal would undermine US’s credibility to its other allies, and lose prestige as the most powerful country of the world）
Vietnamisation (honorable exit): a response to domestic pressure; providing military equipment for SV so that they can defend themselves while prepared to leave. (A face saving measure)
Process:
The Nixon administration gradually reduces the number of U.S. forces in South Vietnam, placing more burden on the ground forces of South Vietnam’s ARVN (increasing economic and military aid)
U.S. troops in Vietnam were reduced from a peak of 549,000 in 1969 to 69,000 in 1972.
Withdrawals were domestically popular but hurt the morale of troops in Vietnam.

Question 22

1969- 1972

Answer 22

Infighting between Nixon and Thieu stalling negotiations
1969-1972: US insisted that a condition for ceasefire would be the withdrawal of DRV(NV) forces from RVN. The DRV in turn indicated their terms was the removal of Thieu (President of SV)
Talks were stalemated
February 1970: U.S. National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger begins secret peace negotiations with Hanoi(NV) politburo member Le Duc Tho in Paris.They secretly signed the Peace Accord without Thieu.
Talks collapse again as Nixon dropped bombs in NV

Question 23

27 Jan 1973

Answer 23

Signing of ceasefire on Vietnam War - Paris Peace Accords
Negotiations resumed in 1973
27 Jan 1973 President Nixon signs the Paris Peace Accords, ending direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War + US need to remove all its military forces within 60 days
The North Vietnamese accept a ceasefire.
But as U.S. troops leave Vietnam, North Vietnamese military officials continue plotting to overtake South Vietnam.

Question 24

30 Apr 1975

Answer 24

Fall of Saigon to North Vietnam; reunification of Vietnam
April 1975: In the Fall of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam is seized by communist forces and the government of South Vietnam surrenders. U.S. Marine and Air Force helicopters transport more than 1,000 American civilians and nearly 7,000 South Vietnamese refugees out of Saigon in an 18-hour mass evacuation effort.
July 1979: North and South Vietnam are formally unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under hardline communist rule.