Vietnam Flashcards

1
Q

Before ww2 who was Vietnam ruled by

A

France

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2
Q

During the war who was Vietnam conquered by? How’d they treat Vietnamese

A

Invaded by Japanese

Treated Vietnamese savagely

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3
Q

Strong ant-jap resistance movement called what? Emerged under the leadership of who?

A

The viet minh

Under Ho Chi Minh

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4
Q

In 1930 what political party did Ho Chi Minh found a

A

The Indochinese Communist Party

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5
Q

When Second World War ended what did the Viet Minh do

A

Entered northern city Hanoi in 1945 and declared Vietnam independent

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6
Q

What did french do following the Vietnam delcreation of independence

A

Came back wanting to rule
9 years of war follow
Viet Minh had North
France had south

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7
Q

From 1949 who was Ho Chi Minh supported by?

A

China who had turned communism that same year

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8
Q

Who helped the south

A

USA

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9
Q

How much money did USA put into french war effort per year

A

$500 million

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10
Q

When did France pull out

A

1954

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11
Q

Why did America prevent elections from taking place

A

Cos they feared communists would win

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12
Q

Eisenhower and Dulles believed in what theory

A

Domino theory

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13
Q

To Eisenhower and Dulles who was te first domino

A

Vietnam

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14
Q

In 1955 who did America help set up a republic in the south

A

Ngo Dinh Diem

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15
Q

Why was ngo dinh diem unpopular

A

Belonged to landlord class which treated peasants badly
Was Christian n showed little respect for Buddhist religion of most Vietnamese
Corrupt regime, family in positions of power no elections not even for local councils

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16
Q

Did America like ngo dinh diem

A

No

Dulles said “we knew of no one better”

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17
Q

How much money did America endorse in ngo dinh diem in 50s

A

$1.6 billion

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18
Q

What followed diem being overthrown and when

A

Diem overthrown November 1963

Governments that followed equally corrupt nonetheless got supported by America

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19
Q

Viet cong set up in

A

December 1960

20
Q

Viet cong started attacking south gov and American air bases and supply bases what did Kennedy do

A

Sent in military personnel he called “advisers”

21
Q

What event began the Vietnam war

A

The gulf of Tonkin
In August 1964 north Vietnamese patrol boats opened fire on us ships there and us congress passed the Tonkin Gulf resolution

22
Q

When did operation rolling thunder begin

A

February 1965

23
Q

What was operation rolling thunder

A

A gigantic bombing campaign against North Vietnamese cities factories army bases and Ho Chi Minh trail
It continued for 3 years

24
Q

When was USA OFFICALLY at war with Vietnamese

A

On 8th of march when 3,500 us marines combat troops came ashore at Da Nang

25
Q

Why did us send troops to Vietnam

A

-containment
-domino theory
“Military-industrial complex”

26
Q

What was the “military-industrial complex”

A

Eisenhower warned of In 1961
Said America gained business from conflict and that groups of armed forces and business could become too influential in his last speech as president

27
Q

Who had superior technology and firepower

A

America

28
Q

In early 1965 how many soldiers did the Viet cong have

A

170,000

29
Q

Ho already had guerrilla success when beating the

A

French

30
Q

What uniform did the guerrillas wear

A

None

They were indistinguishable from the civilians

31
Q

Guerrilla attack wore down American

A

Morale

Made them scared

32
Q

What percent of us casualties were from booby traps. What was job for checking them killed

A

Going “on point”

11% Bcos of booby traps

33
Q

51% American casualties from

A

Hand to hand combat

34
Q

What was “hanging in to the American belts”

A

Close quarter fighting

Americans Cldnt use guns without hitting their own men

35
Q

How many VC worked on HCM trail to keep it going despite bombing

A

40,000

36
Q

Viet cong tactics

A

Guerrilla
Making civilians on their side or killing them
Supplies
Commitment

37
Q

Total vc and nV killed ?

A

Estimated at 1 million

This was more than America

38
Q

VC truly believed in their cause

They refused to give in and fought willingly

A

Unlike Americans

39
Q

Main us tactic

A

Bombing

40
Q

Could Air Force defeat VC

A

No just slow them down

41
Q

Who developed policy of search and destroy

A

General Westmorland

42
Q

How did searcha nd destroy work

A

Helicopters full of troops descended on village and would destroy VC found

43
Q

Problems with search and destroy

A

Raids based on inadequate info
Us troops à walked into traps
For every VC weapon found there was a body count of six
Lots of innocent villages mistaken for VC freshholds
Made American unpopular with peasants makin em support VC

44
Q

What chemical weapons were used

A

Agent orange ‘weedkiller’ to destroy jungle where VC HID

Napalm also used to destroy jungles but it burnt flesh down to the bone

45
Q

How many litres of agent orange used

A

82 million litres

46
Q

From 1967 what was the average age of American troops

A

19

47
Q

Morale amongst US conscripts was low. What did US do which foolishly put down war effort

A

Introduced policy of only giving troops one year of service which meant as soon as soldiers gained sufficient experience they were sent home