Vietnam Flashcards
when was the civil war in Vietnam?
with the French
1945 - 1954
in the Civil War, how much money did America pour in for the French?
$500million a year
when and what was Dien Bien Phu?
1954
The Vietminh defeated the French. They agreed to withdraw their troops, leaving Vietminh in charge of the North
when was the Geneva Peace Conference?
1954
what percentage of the population was Buddhist?
70%
what two things did Eisenhower’s America help South Korea with?
(1954 - 1960)
supported Diem’s regime with $1.6billion in the 50s
sent equipment and military advisors
when did the Vietcong start?
Dec 1960
when was Operation Rolling Thunder?
1965
what was Operation Rolling Thunder?
a mass bombing attack on North Vietnam but turned out to be very unsuccessful.
how many US marines were there in 1965?
3,500
why did America become increasingly involved in Vietnam?
To contain the spread of communism
the initial reaction: US army treated the war as a success. They were treated as hereos because all recorded dead were Vietcong
the court proceedings: Lieutenant William was trailer for mass murder of 109 people on September 1969, sentenced for 20 years. But in November 1974 he was released
when was the Tet Offensive?
1968
what happened in the Tet Offensive?
4500 Vietcong fighters attacked 100 cities and other military targets including the American and Southern army in Saigon for two days
when was the Vietnam war?
1965-73
how many Viet Cong fighters were killed?
500,000 compared to 6,000 Americans
how did the media coverage change after the Tet Offensive?
beforehand it was positive but now began to question America’s involvement in the war
who reported negatively of the Tet Offensive?
Walter Cronkite
how did the Tet Offensive affect Johnson?
didn’t stand for re-election as found the war unwinnable
when was the My Lai Massacre?
March 1968
how many civilians died in the My Lai Massacre?
300
why did America withdraw from Vietnam?
America’s military failure
The success of the Viet Cong
The Tet Offensive
Human and economic cost of the war
anti-war protests
Vietnamisation
how many US soldiers died during the war?
58,000
who began the protest against the war?
Civil Rights campaigners like Martin Luther King
Students
People angry at Johnson was funding an expensive war and not his Great Society
what percentage of African Americans were drafted to fight?
30% comapered to 19% white Americans
which famous boxer refused to fight?
Muhammad Ali
how many anti-war protests were there in 1968?
over 100
when and why did the Kent State protest happen?
1970 because Nixon invaded Cambodia
how many students were killed at Kent State?
4
how many protestors demonstrated in Washington in November 1969?
700,000
why did the media and protests encourage America to withdraw?
Anti-war feeling rose and put pressure on the government to end America’s involvement to appeal to the public
what evidence is there that protests didn’t actually encourage American withdrawal?
Most protests happened after Nixon decided to withdraw. They sped it up rather than causing the decision to withdraw
what was Vietnamisation?
handing over the fighting to ARVN (the South’s army) to. protect themselves and America to withdraw
why did Vietnamisation allow America to withdraw?
America could leave without looking like they lost the war
what was the result of the peace talks in Paris, May 1968
no outcomes agreed
who lead America’s negotiations?
Henry Kissinger
what countries did Nixon decide to invade?
Cambodia and Laos
why did Nixon invade Cambodia and Laos?
to destroy VC bases show America’s strength and force Vietnam go be more willing to negotiate
what were the consequences of Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia and Laos?
N. Vietnam withdrew from peace talks and protests began in America
when did Nixon restart bombing against North Vietnam? and why?
April 1972 because in March, the North invaded the South
why did relations between the countries change? (USSR, China and America)
there was a breakdown in relations between the Soviet Union and China this made it easier for the US to negotiate with both counties as they were keen to have America on their sides
what impact did improved relations with China and the USSR have on ending the war in Vietnam?
more negotiations with North Vietnam easier as America could pressure the USSR to help with people talks
what did the peace agreement state?
Immediate ceasefire Withdrawal of US forces Release of prisoners of war South Vietnam would remain independent
why did it take America so long to withdraw from Vietnam?
Policy of Vietnamisation took time Invasions of Cambodia and Laos delayed peace negotiations Nixon was preoccupied with the Watergate scandal The US wanted peace with honour
when and what was the Watergate scandal?
June 1972. police working for Democrats caught men trying to bug their building (these men were working for Nixon). The Republicans denied this, consequently Nixon was re-elected. Later, evidence emerged that implicated Nixon to the bugging. Nixon was threatened with impeachment and resigned in August 1974
why did America’s policy of Vietnamisation fail?
the South’s army was no match for the North
how many people died in the war? (civilians, communist fighters and US soldiers)
civilians - 2 million communist fighters - 1.1 million US soldiers - 58,000
how much land was destroyed?
5.4 million
how many South Vietnamese people were displaced?
5 million
why did the Vietnamese have to leave their homes?
bombing and fighting had destroyed their homes and land
how was the US army affected by the war?
Increases in deserters in the final stage of war Widespread drug addiction (30% of US troops were addicted to heroin) Many soldiers suffered from PTSD
what were the long term effects of the Vietnam war?
Took 20 years to recover from the war Thousands of people fled the country when it became Communist to live in Hong Kong and Malaysia Around 1 million Vietnamese people escaped to the West (mainly America)
