Vietnam Flashcards
Who was fighting for Vietnam after WW2?
France and the Vietminh lead by Ho Chi Minh.
What was the Vietminh fighting for?
Independence. They decleared the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Where was th Vietminh in control?
In the North of Vietnam. (French controlled the South. Fighting broke out between the 2 sides).
What was the impact of china becoming communist on Vietnam?
Became communist in 1949. China supported Vietminh in supplies, advisers and troops.
How did the USA support the French?
Gave French supplies, military advisers and soldiers. Soldiers wern’t ordered to fight because USA was reluctant to get openly involved in war. By 1954 USA paid 80% of cost of France’s war against Vietminh.
What were the impacts of Dien Bien Phu?
Fought battle in Dien Bien Phu in 1954. After 55 days of fighting, French surrendered to Vietminh. Defeat was significance in leading France out of Vietnam.
What happened in the Geneva conference in 1954?
Attempted to restore peace. Geneva accords divided Vietnam in 2 along 17th parallel, seperated by demilitarised zone.
Who were the 2 Vietnams led by?
Democratic Republic of Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh.
State of Vietnam: Bao Dai(until 1955)-backed by USA. After 1955 led by Ngo Dinh Diem.
What was Eisenhower’s domino theory?
USA in fear of spread of communism. Worried if Vietnam became communist, others would. Set up Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) in September 1954-aimed to stop spread of communism in Southeast Asia. SEATO included UK France and 5 other countries-all agreed to stop spread of communism collectively.
What were the impacts of Diem’s weak government?
Was corrupt, had little respect for rural population and Buddhists (main religion in South Vietnam). Different revelutionary groups developed in South to fight Diem’s government. Collectively called Vietcong (or VC- Vietnamese Communists). North backed VC and was civil war. Eisenhower supported Diem by sending advisers to train South Vietnamese army (ARVN) to fight VC. Eisenhower didn’t want to risk nuclear with China and USSR by sending US troops.
How did Kennedy impact the Vietnam was?
Became president in 1961-agreed with domino theory. Wanted to avoid direct military action in Vietnam. Recognised VC were gaining ground. Sent military advisors to South(around 16,000 by late 1963). Authorised use of chemical sprays e.g. Agent Orange, to kill crops and jungle areas VC were hiding in from 1961-operation Ranch Hand. Changed tactics to searching for VC, not just trying to draw them to battle. 1961 requested report on feasibility of sending US soldiers for active service in vietnam.
What were the US concerns leading to Diem’s overthrow?
Kennedy believed VC being beaten, in January 1963, ARVN lost Battle of Ap Bac even though had US air support and 5 times as many soldiers as VC. US media reported battle as defeat, despite government attempt to present is positibely. Kennedy worried about negative publicity of Diem’s leadership.
What happened on 6th May 1963?
Diem’s troops fierd on Buddhist procession, killin 9, added to Diem’s unpopularity among Vietnamese.
What happened on 11th May 1963?
Buddhist monk burnt himself to death in protest about Diem’s government. Protest generated worldwide publicity.
What were te outcomes of the 6/11th May 1963?
Kennedy put pressure on Diem’s government to make peace with Buddhists, Diem contined to persecute them. Kennedy didn’t want publicly depose Diem, despite knowing he was unpopular, made obvious he had withdawn all support for his leadership. He know knew Diem’s government would never be domocratic.
What happened in November 1963?
ARVN generals overthrew and assassinated Diem, USA didn’t intervene to prevent this.
Why didn’t Kennedy put more troops in Vietnam/
Was his duty to pretect South from communism. Wanted to build democratic country. Wanted new government to persuade population to support aims, rather than use repression.
What were teh strategic Hamlet Program in 1962?
Diem and USA built new villages to house local away from VC, so VC couldn’t recruit them to fight. Aim to provide security for villagers and create support for government. Hamlets also sopposed to have schools nad medical centres.
What was the impact of the Strategic Hamlets?
ARVN forciably removed and relocated villagers .Were villagers who didn’t want to leave ancestral homes. Not enough food or basic previsions in some Hamlets, many villagers starved tot death. Program made Diem and USA morec umpopular in South.
What were Johnson’s aims of the Vietnam war?
Stop to spread communism, establish democratic government in South supported by people. Ensure situation didn’t deteriorate into nuclear war.
What were Johnson’s problems/
Communists in Vietnwm were getting stronger and horder to defeat. Government of South was very weak and unpopular. USSR was superpower with nuclear capability..
What was The Gulf of Tonkin incident of 1964?
In August 1964, 2 US naval ships reported attacks by North torpedo boats off North coast.
What were the causes of the Gulf of Tonkin?
Incerased build-up of US advisers in south under Johnson. Regular US patrols by ships e.g. Maddox and C. Turner Joy in Gulf of Tonkin. US involvement in ARVN raids on North.
What were the consequences of the Gulfof Tonkin?
Johnosn ordered air strikes against North. Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, allowing Johnson to use armed force to defend South and US troops already stationed there. In response, North expanded their involvement in South.
What were the increasing threats of the VC?
Became more organised and effective and numbers increased. Some of VC’s ideas were popular among ordinary Vietnamese, who smpathised with their view of Americans as imperialists wanting control of Vietnam for their own ends. Many South were angry with government for its daling s with USA and policies e.g. Stragetic Hamlet Program. Recieved support from North, sent supplies and weapons. Many rural South supported VC. Increased civilian VC support made VC threat larger.
What was teh Ho Chi Minh Trail?
North Vietnamese with China’s help supported VC in South by sending troops weapons via Ho Chi Minh trail. Trail was network of paths and smaller trails, connected North and South (passed through Laos and Cambodia). Took about a month to get from 1 end to other. Over time paths on trail becam wider and easier to use to send more support. By 1974 some parts of trail properly paved and dotted along route that were underground hospitals and fueland weapons stores.
What were the VC’s range of methods?
Planned ambushes, set simple, but deadly traps, didn’t wear military uniform so intergrated with rural peasants, stayed close to US deployments of soldiers so couldn’t be bombed easily, sabotaged roads and bridges to make it difficult for enemy to move around, avoided open battle, blended in with local population so was hard for members to be identified could be male, female, young or old.
What caused operation rolling thunder in early 1965?
Were still no US soldiers in Vietnam. Johnson wanted to force North to negotiate a settlemes.
What happened in operatin rolling thunder in 1965?
Feburary 1965, USA started bombing campaign in North called Operation Rolling Thunder. Johnson resisted calls from military to bomb extensively. So Rolling Thunder began gradually, near South.
Where did operatin rolling thunder target, and why?
Targeted Ho Chi Minh Trail to stop suplies being taken South, and North’s small industrial base.
Where did operation rolling thunder avoid and why?
Hanoi and port of Haiphong and border with China to avoid war escalating and China and USSR becoming envolved.
What was the US tactic serch and destroy?
Small groups of VC tracked down VC camps then called helicopters to spray chemicals/bombs on them, VC often left traps on ground to kill/injure US soldiers.
How did the VC use tactics against search and destroy?
If any VC in area, used ‘hit and run’ attacls on US troops instead of fighting and battles.
How did the Americans use tactics to ensure search and destroy was a success?
US troops destroyed VC tunnels, weapons and supplies they found. After US troops left area, VC returned-sent out message that US search and destroy was failing. Use of chemical sprays, and bombing of crops and homes made US umpopular with locals.
Who led the Tet Offensive in 1968 and when?
By North and VC in January-Febuary 1968. Over 100 cities and US bases in South were attacked.
What was the start of the Tet Offensive?
Initially North and VC drew US and ARVN troops away from cities and military bases by attacking demilitarised zone. North also suggested negatiated settlement, made US think communists were losing.
What were some individual attacksin the Tet Offensive?
On 30th January, North troops and VC attacked high-profile places in saigon, e.g. US embassy, airport and radio statoin. Attack in Saigon was defeated, but US citizens were shocked by events.
