Vietnam

Question 1

Why did the US become involved in vietnam?

Answer 1

• Domino theory - Eisenhower
• Containment
• Unpopularity of US backed leader Diem
• Gulf of tonkin incident 1964

Question 2

Why did the US want to stop communism spreading?

Answer 2

Because of their “Domino theory” - that countries would become communist if their neighbour also did.

Question 3

What were some surrounding countries of Vietnam?

Answer 3

• Laos

- Cambodia

Question 4

Who were the USA’s enemies in the Vietnam war?

Answer 4

The Vietcong - backed by the USSR and China

Question 5

What were the tactics of the two sides?

Answer 5

USA - Military action (Bombings, fire, guns and grenades)

Vietcong - Guerilla warfare (Traps, ambushes etc.)

Question 6

Why were the USA’s tactics not successful?

Answer 6

• They were outsmarted by the Vietcong
• Their tactics didn’t suit the jungle environment
• The brutality of the soldiers angered civilians in Vietnam and back home in America
• Their soldiers were demotivated

Question 7

Why were the VC’s tactics so successful?

Answer 7

• They were well suited to their jungle environment
• Their traps scared US troops,and made them feel dishartened
• The local Vietnamese people helped and hid VC members

Question 8

Why did the US withdraw from Vietnam?

Why did the war recieve backlash from US citizens?

Answer 8

• 58,000 Americans died
• Incidents such as the My Lai massacre
• The costs were large > $400,000 per VC soldier killed

Question 9

What was the gulf of Tonkin incident and why did it happen?

Answer 9

• 1964
• North Vietnamese “allegedly” fired on US ship.
• President Johnson used it as an excuse to increase involvement.

Question 10

Where did the VC come from?

Answer 10

South Vietnam

Question 11

Where did the VC get their supplies from?

Answer 11

The NV government, who were supplied by china and the USSR

Question 12

Why were the VC considered to be such a threat?

Answer 12

By 1963 the VC controlled 40% of the SV countryside

Question 13

How did JFK increase US involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 13

He sent 11,000 military “advisors”

Question 14

What happened at My Lai?

Answer 14

• March 1968
• 300-400 civilians massacred by US troops
• Lt. Calley found guilty

Question 15

What were some of the results of My Lai?

Answer 15

• Attracted large publicity in the US
• Shocked the public
• Convinced the US public that the war was going wrong.

Question 16

What were some of the costs of the war for the US?

Answer 16

• By 1938 costing $30 billion pa
• $400,000 per VC soldier killed
• 58,000 US soldiers killed

Question 17

What was the Tet Offensive?

Answer 17

Jan 1968 VC fighters launched major attack on cities and military targets in SV

Question 18

What happened at Kent state University in 1970?

Answer 18

• 1970
• 3,000 students
• National guard fired on crowd killing 4 students