Vietnam 2 Flashcards
Why did the US get involved in Vietnam
· The U.S. involvement in Vietnam began due to a combination of factors:
A) the U.S. war with Japan in the Pacific,
B) domestic pressure to act against communism after the communist victory in the Chinese Civil War,
C) Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong’s pledge in 1950 to support the Viet Minh guerrilla forces in the First Indochina War against France’s colonial rule,
D) the indecisive conclusion of the Korean War.
The fact that Vietnam was a useful satellite because of its resources of tungsten, tin & rubber were also a consideration.
Start of involvement & importance of Containment
· In September 1950, the U.S. started to supply the French. From 1950 until 1954, the United States poured more than $3 billion into the war, bankrolling “more than 80 percent of its material costs” over the four-year period.
· From the 1950s the Domino theory of geopolitics was prominent in U.S. foreign policy thinking. Thus it was feared that communism would spread to neighbouring countries unless checked, the overall aim being to prevent communist domination in South-East Asia
· All three US presidents from 1954 until 1965 (Eisenhower, Kennedy and
Johnson) supported the Truman Doctrine as a centre piece of foreign
policy. They believed that the spread of Communism had to be contained.
They believed in the Domino Theory and saw Asia as the area where
Communism aimed to expand. The loss of China to Communism in 1949
strengthened this belief. In 1956 Eisenhower said that Vietnam was “the
cornerstone of the free world in South East Asia”
· Vietnam had been controlled by France before 1940 and taken over by Japan from 1940 until 1945. Ho Chi Minh led the Viet Minh against France’s attempts to regain control after 1945. Ho Chi Minh was a Communist and this turned his struggle into part of the Cold War. As part of the Truman Doctrine, the USA gave France $1.4 billion to help defeat the Viet Minh. France was defeated at the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and in a peace settlement Vietnam was divided on Cold War lines along the 17th Parallel
· From 1954 the non Communist South Vietnam government faced a
guerilla war against the Viet Cong led by Ho Chi Minh, now leader of
Communist North Vietnam. The US leaders were determined to save
South Vietnam.
· From 1954 to 1964 the USA sent increasing amounts of
indirect help-money, military equipment and advisers to help the
government of South Vietnam. By 1960 there were 16 000 American
advisers in South Vietnam. President Diem, a Catholic, sided with the
landlords against the mainly Buddhist peasants. In November 1963,
President Diem was assassinated and the Viet Cong controlled over 60% of South Vietnam
Involvement escalates
The immediate cause of direct US involvement was the Gulf of Tonkin
incident in August 1964. A North Vietnamese gun boat fi red at a US warship. There was anger in the USA and Congress gave President Johnson the right to use “all necessary measures” in the Tonkin Resolution. This was termed “Grandma’s nightshirt” as it covered everything!
President Johnson ordered direct air strikes against North Vietnam in Operation Rolling Thunder and sent US troops to South Vietnam to prevent a Communist victory
Events of the war
The Viet Cong guerilla tactics were very effective. Their constant
ambushes frustrated the USA army who were unable to use their
superiority in weapons in the jungle where the Viet Cong guerillas hid.
The Americans used intensive bombing and chemical defoliants which
failed to defeat the Viet Cong
• The Viet Cong were directly helped by North Vietnam and indirectly by
the USSR and China. The Ho Chi Minh Trail was an effective way to
keep the Viet Cong supplied. The USA used Search and Destroy missions
in a desperate attempt to capture Viet Cong suspects. Often their
missions resulted in atrocities, for example, the My Lai Massacre in 1968
when over 400 civilians were killed
• The media coverage of the war shocked the American public and led to a
fall in support for the war. There was an increase in anti-war protests and
draft dodging. Over 58 000 American soldiers were killed. The war was
costing the USA $28 billion a year and was disrupting social and welfare
Reforms
• Phoenix Programme – identifying members/supporters of VC, collecting
information from them, torture etc
Before Tet offensive what was the situation for the USA both in war & at home
• The media coverage of the war shocked the American public and led to a
fall in support for the war. There was an increase in anti-war protests and
draft dodging. Over 58 000 American soldiers were killed. The war was
costing the USA $28 billion a year and was disrupting social and welfare
Reforms
· Johnston very unpopular at home media showing war, draft cards burned
· The USA used Search and Destroy missions in a desperate attempt to capture Viet Cong suspects. Often their missions resulted in atrocities, for example, the My Lai Massacre in 1968 when over 400 civilians were killed but USA not winning
How the Tet offensive changed the course of the war
• From 1968 to 1973 American involvement changed. Some candidates
may refer to the Tet Offensive of January 1968 as a turning point. It
showed how strong the Viet Cong were as even the American Embassy
in Saigon was attacked
•Aim of Nixon- In 1969 President Nixon began a policy of Vietnamisation.
This signified that a military victory over the Viet Cong was no longer
possible. Nixon pursued a policy of slowly handing over responsibility
for the war to the South Vietnam army. The USA would withdraw
but provide air and naval support.
Consequences of the Tet offensive
• In 1970 the USA bombed North Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in an
attempt to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This prolonged the war and a
cease fi re was not agreed until January 1973
• In 1973 the USA agreed to withdraw totally from Vietnam and stopped
all aid to the demoralized South Vietnam army. Fighting between North
and South Vietnam continued
• In 1975 communist North Vietnam defeated South Vietnam. Vietnam
was reunited as a communist country led by Ho Chi Minh. Some
candidates may include the fact that Cambodia and Laos became
communist in 1975 but USA’s fears in the Domino Theory that all of
South East Asia would fall under communism did not happen. However
communism had spread to three countries in South East Asia
Why were the US at a disadvantage
• The Viet Cong were expert guerilla fi ghters who were familiar with the
jungle terrain and very committed to their cause. They ambushed the
Americans and disappeared into the jungle. Their punji traps and land
mines caused mounting casualties and wore down the Americans. They
were frustrated that they couldn’t use their superiority in weapons or face
their enemy in open combat. The Americans used intensive bombings
and chemical defoliants, e.g. Agent Orange but these failed to defeat the
Viet Cong
• The Viet Cong had the support of most of the South Vietnamese
peasants. They were able to move around freely and were sheltered by
the villagers. They spoke the same language and were indistinguishable.
One Viet Cong leader stated that “the people are the water and our
armies are the fish”. The US used Search and Destroy missions in a
desperate attempt to capture Viet Cong suspects. Often these tactics
alienated the South Vietnamese through atrocities like the My Lai
Massacre of 1968 when over 300 civilians were killed
• The Viet Cong received vital help from North Vietnam along the Ho Chi
Minh Trail along the western border with Cambodia and Laos. This was
used to smuggle weapons, and supplies from North Vietnam. The Viet
Cong received indirect help, e.g. raw materials and vehicles from the
USSR and China
· The Viet Cong were very committed and thousands of North Vietnamese
women and children helped keep the supply routes open in spite of
intensive US bombing of North Vietnam. The US soldiers were sent on
one year tours of duty and most were inexperienced in handling the
climate and guerilla war. The morale of the soldiers declined and drug
abuse was a major problem among the American soldiers
How did US policies change as a result of this
· President Nixon introduced a policy of Vietnamisation which
involved transferring responsibility to the South Vietnamese Army. The
USA began peace talks but negotiations with North Vietnam dragged on
until January 1973 when a cease fi re was agreed. The US bombing of
Cambodia and Laos to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh Trail led to international
condemnation and prolonged the war
• In April 1975 the South Vietnamese army was defeated and Saigon was
captured by the Viet Cong. Vietnam was reunited in 1975 as a communist
country led by Ho Chi Minh. Cambodia and Laos also became
Communist but the USA’s fears in the Domino Theory did not happen.
The American policy of containment, however, was a failure. The war
had shown that the USA’s vast superiority in military strength could not
stop the spread of communism in Vietnam and South East Asia
