Vietnam Flashcards
Why did America get involved with Vietnam?
Anti-Communism Domino theory Electoral considerations Quagmire theory Containment Military industrial complex
Origins of conflict
1946: France trying to reimpose colonial rule after WW2. Conflict with Vietnam. French withdrew 1954 after crushing defeat at Dien Bien Phu.
1954: gene a conference splits Vietnam into communist north and supposedly democratic south.
Elections were mean to be held but South Vietnam refused fearing communist victory.
North Vietnamese tactics
Guerrilla warfare Booby traps Help from China and USSR Firefights Viet cong mindset Tunnel system Ho Chi Minh trail
American and South Vietnamese tactics.
Relied on bad technology (helicopters)
Politically restricted
Hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people
Ho Chi Minh
leader of Vietnamise revolutionaries, helped create Indochinese Communist Party. Manipulated Vietnams independence movement from exile in Soviet Union and China.
Viet Minh
organization whose goal was to win Vietnams independence from foreign rule
Viet Cong
communist oposition group in South Vietnam
Why did America withdraw from Vietnam?
Failure of tactics Cost Demoralised troops My Lai Massacre Opposition at home, Kent state university Vietcong's determination South Vietnamese government was rubbish! Vietnam neighbours were sympathetic to north Hearts and minds
What was the Ho Chi Minh trail
From the democratic republic of Vietnam (North) to south Through Laos and Cambodia Transported 60 tons a day Six months in beginning Six weeks 20,000 soldiers a month at times
My Lai Massacre
March 1968 Charlie company Search & destroy mission 300-400 civilians killed No Viet Cong killed Only 3 weapons died Army said success then media found out so disaster
Kent state university
4 the May 1970 peace protest
Police fired on them
4 killed, 11 injured
