Vietnam Flashcards
Classify the north communists and south anti-communists
North
- Ho Chi Minh
- Vietminh
- Giap
- North Vietnamese Army
- Vietcong
South
- French (general navarre)
- Diem
- US army
- ARVN
1st Indochina war
Date: 46 to 54
Cause:
The Vietminh (communists) sought independence from Vietnam however the French wanted independence too which caused tensions to build up between them hence, leading to an open fire between them.
Consequence:
Significant human casualties of Vietnamese civilians ranging from 400,000 to 800,000+ and had a devastating impact on Vietnam
The war led to food shortages and the destruction of infrastructure
Refugee crisis - 360,000 workers fled the country for safety and the economic consequences lingered for many years after the war ended
Dien Bien Phu
Date: March - May 54
Cause: north communists wanting to take control of the french base on top of plateau in Dien Bien Phu and defeating the french at Dien Bien Phu meant they could win the Vietnam war in the following year
Consequence: General Navarre (anti communist - French) tempted Giap (communist) to attack them and Giap thought they weren’t equipped hence, he attacked and the Vietminh were able to counter the French air attack and so Giap responded w Guerrilla warfare resulting in Vietminh defeating the French.
- 23k Vietminh soldiers died, 2 american pilots died as they airlifted supplies to the french
- 2000+ French soldiers killed, nearly 11k captured
Guerrilla tactics
Date: 55 - 75 (throughout the Vietnam War)
Cause: Giap (north - communist) ambushed isolated French outposts in the jungle as the North Vietnamese knew how to use it to their advantage by countering military technology from the US (anti-communists)
Consequence:
Political consequences as it made it difficult for the US and South Vietnam to justify their actions to the public resulting in less support for the conflict
Geneva Conference
Date: May - July 54
Cause:
They aimed to end the 1st Indochina War and to unite the country of Vietnam
Consequence:
- Vietnam was divided along the 17th parallel which meant it could achieve independence
- Vietnam was forced to have elections
- Indochina consisted of only Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos considering the French agreed to leave.
Elections in Vietnam
Cause:
- Diem had no intention of taking the risk meaning he went against the Geneva Peace and didn’t participate in elections
Consequence:
- Considering the French had to leave Indochina, this meant that there was a rise of Vietnam being taken over by Ho Chi Minh (north - communist) resulting in Vietnam becoming communist.
Why was US (anti communists - south) involved in Vietnam
US Motives
- they believed communism threatened the international trade which was important to the Americans
- Truman wanted to appear tough and only relied on Acheson who stood up to communists and lead to the American commitment
US wanted to protect allies
- South Korea and Taiwan signed treaties with the US to provide military assistance if they were ever attacked
- the US had 50k troops in South Korea
- the US provided aid to countries like the French (anti communists) to contain communism
Gulf Of Tonkin
Date: Aug 64
Cause:
Golf of Tonkin resolution was passed by the US (anti-communists south) congress which allowed President Johnson to “take all necessary measures to repel any army attack against the US army by communists” in North Vietnam
Consequence:
North Vietnamese Army (anti-communists) fired on the USS Maddox of which reported 4 hits but noticed no bullets hit the ship although the Maddox fired back and they withdrew
Tet Offensive
Date: Jan 31st 68
Cause:
- North Vietnam (communists) was worried about losses and wanted to fight back hence, there were desperate measures to stay in the war
- Next, the city of Hanoi lured US troops into the countryside with diversionary attacks against outposts to exploit their usage of guerrilla tactics (Vietcong had more knowledge of the jungle). The US responded as General Westmoreland sent troops into the countryside, driving back the NVA attack.
Consequence:
- To antagonize the Saigon government, in December Hanoi was prepared to negotiate with the US if it stopped bombing the North, then the Vietcong and the NVA (communists - north) attacked South Vietnam’s major cities hoping their actions caused a popular uprising. The Tet Offensive caused HEAVY LOSSES and so it was a disaster for the Vietcong considering 4500 soldiers were killed.
The Secret War
Date: 62
What: Occurred in Cambodia and Laos and it was unknown to the US public and the US congress which involved US dropping 2 mill+ bombs on communist Vietcong and NVA
pros:
- The US army (south - anti-communists) and the ARVN gained an advantage
- Communists were destroyed and more pressure was on them to surrender
cons:
- There were over 25,000 casualties of innocent civilians which was bad as it caused negative reactions from the whole world
Battle Of Khe Sanh
Date: Jan 21st 68 (BEFORE TET)
Cause:
-North Vietnamese Army (communists) began large artillery bombardement of Khe Sanh hitting the base’s main store of weapons and destroying 90% of artillery.
-For the next 77 days, the US and the South Vietnamese (anti-communists) fought a siege called Operation Pegasus
Consequence:
- US (anti-communists) won and the North Vietnamese army withdrew however this was a propaganda victory for the North as they used television to promote their own narrative of the war and portrayed the US as aggressors which shaped the opposition of public opinion to the US involvement
Vietnamisation
Date: Nov 69
Cause:
- Vietnamisation was Nixon’s policy; it was done to build a strong democratic South Vietnam by withdrawing approx. 500k US troops transferring all of the responsibility of the war to South Vietnam which wasn’t achieved considering President Thieu (of South) ruled as a dictator and imprisoned political opponents to be victorious
Consequence:
- Due to the slow withdrawal of US troops, had a terrible effect on the South Vietnamese army morale as 209 officers were threatened and 45 were murdered
Paris Peace Talks
Date: Oct 72
Causes:
- Kissinger negotiated a treaty to end the Vietnam war between the US (anti-communists) and North Vietnam (communists).
- President Thieu of South Vietnam refused to sign the treaty as he feared loss of US troops from his own country
Consequences:
- because of the Case Church Amendment of 73, the US couldn’t engage in combat in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam hence, they couldn’t help South Vietnam and, ultimately, led to their loss in the war
Fall of Saigon
Date: March - April 75
Cause:
- In March, Quang Tri City and Da Nang became communist due to the North Vietnamese army taking over and Hue was abandoned. While in control of Hue, communists executed nearly 3,000 civilians.
-The VPA (chinese communists in north) and Vietcong attacked Saigon
Consequence:
- In April, the VPA and Vietcong captured areas in the South and so they suffered artillery bombardement
- North Vietnam raised their flag (they won) and Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City
Phoenix Program
Date: 67 to 75
Cause:
- South Vietnamese (anti-communist) forces had search and destroy missions on the Vietcong via interrogation and assassination.
- Many were tortured to gain intelligence
Consequence:
- Many innocent civilians had died as they were suspected members of the Vietcong
- 81k suspects were neutralised
- 26k to 41k were killed due to the interrogation methods such as rape or electric chairs
