Vietnam Background

Question 1

What political group ruled the south of Vietnam?

Answer 1

Capitalist South

Question 2

Who was leader of the communist North?

Answer 2

Ho Chi Minh

Question 3

Who was leader of the capitalist South?

Answer 3

Ngo Dinh Diem

Question 4

Who supported the North?

Answer 4

Russia

Question 5

Who supported the south?

Answer 5

USA

Question 6

Who was Ho Chi Minh popular with?

Answer 6

The lower class people

Question 7

What type of leader was Diem?

Answer 7

A corrupt dictator

Question 8

Why did USA support the south even though they were corrupt?

Answer 8

To contain communism and stop it from spreading. By helping Diem, Vietnam wouldn’t turn to communism so the dominoes wouldn’t fall

Question 9

What religion was Diem?

Answer 9

Catholic

Question 10

What did Diem do to Buddhists?

Answer 10

Persecuted them

Question 11

Why did many monks commit suicide?

Answer 11

In protest against Diem

Question 12

Why didn’t USA want to be known for supporting Diem?

Answer 12

Diem had a very bad reputation for being corrupt

Question 13

What was the domino theory?

Answer 13

If one country fell into communism, it would have a knock on effect and other countries will fall under communism and it will grow stronger

Question 14

When was the domino theory introduced?

Answer 14

The 1950’s

Question 15

What were the countries that USA feared would fall into the domino theory and join communism?

Answer 15

Vietnam –> Laos –> Cambodia –> Thailand –> Burma –> India –> Bangladesh

Question 16

When did USA help Diem set up his government?

Answer 16

1954

Question 17

How did USA help Diem set up his government?

Answer 17

They eradicated the election

Question 18

When did USA give Diem a sum of money to set up the Republic of South Vietnam and how much money?

Answer 18

$1.6 billion to set up his regime in 1955

Question 19

What was the national front for the liberation of South Vietnam?

Answer 19

A communist group set up by the communists in South Vietnam

Question 20

When was the national front for the liberation of South Vietnam set up?

Answer 20

December 1960

Question 21

What did Kennedy do against the Viet cong?

Answer 21

He sent in military personnel in 1962 to fight the viet cong

Question 22

Who were the Vietcong?

Answer 22

A Vietnamese guerrilla group who didn’t like USA in South Vietnam

Question 23

What happened to Diem and Kennedy in 1963?

Answer 23

Kennedy was assassinated and Diem was overthrown

Question 24

When and why did USA pass the Tonkin gulf resolution?

Answer 24

Passed the Tonkin gulf resolution in 1964 when North Vietnam opened fire on USA ships in the gulf of Tonkin

Question 25

When was USA officially at war with vietnam?

Answer 25

8th March 1965

Question 26

What caused USA to be officially at war with Vietnam?

Answer 26

3500 marines and combat troops came aboard USA ships

Question 27

Name and explain 3 reasons USA went to war with Vietnam

Answer 27

• ho chi Minh was communist and popular in Vietnam so USA needed to stop him
• diem’s government was corrupt and people in Vietnam didn’t like USA getting involved
• the domino theory meant that if Vietnam became communist then it would lead to communism elsewhere and USA needed to contain communism

Question 28

Describe involvement in Vietnam under the 3 presidents: Kennedy, Eisenhower and Johnson

Answer 28

Kennedy: gradual involvement using military advisors and money
Eisenhower: some troops but mostly the same as Kennedy
Johnson: sent in many troops in 1964, sent in a total of over 500,000 combine with Nixon

Question 29

What was Johnson’s reaction to the gulf of Tonkin incident?

Answer 29

He told the US Air Force to bomb North Vietnam

Question 30

What political group ruled the north of Vietnam?

Answer 30

Communist North