Vietnam during USA involvement

Question 1

Who was Eisenhower and what were his feelings towards the conflict?

Answer 1

• President of the USA 1953-1960

- Convinced that China and USSR were trying to spread Communism throughout Asia through Domino Theory

Question 2

What was the Domino theory?

Answer 2

• The idea that as a country became Communist would set off a chain reaction of more countries becoming Communist (especially in Asia)

Question 3

How did Eisenhower try to stop Domino theory?

Answer 3

• Sent $1.6 billion to South Vietnamese government

Question 4

How did Kennedy increase US commitment in Vietnam?

Answer 4

• 11,000 military advisors were sent to Vietnam to provide training
• Began the Strategic Hamlet plan

Question 5

What was the Strategic Hamlet Plan?

Answer 5

• Whole villages were moved out of VC controlled areas
• This was to try and stop the VC from gaining support
• It was done by providing new materials and improving areas

Question 6

What were the problems with the Strategic Hamlet plan?

Answer 6

• Increased VC support as many peasants didn’t want to move and didn’t feel threatened by the VC
• Corrupt officials took the money meant for the vilagers for themselves

Question 7

What was the Gulf of Tonkin incident?

Answer 7

• North Vietnamese boats were said to have fired at a US ship USS Maddox
• The men on board saw this as an aggravated attack and the Maddox fired back
• Johnson used this to persuade congress to support him in taking action

Question 8

What did the Gulf of Tonkin resolution allow Johnson to do?

Answer 8

• To take all necessary measures to protect US interests in Vietnam
• War could now take place

Question 9

What was operation rolling thunder?

Answer 9

• A massive bombing campaign predominantly in North Vietnam (But also in Cambodia and Laos) meant to destroy infrastructure and the Hoi Chi Minh trail
• Done by bombing the rainforest blindly and usually resulted badly

Question 10

When did direct US military involvement begin in Vietnam?

Answer 10

-March 1965 when 3500 US marines landed at Da Nang

Question 11

What was Guerilla Warfare?

Answer 11

• Ambushing and booby traps instead of head on fighting

Question 12

How big was the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army?

Answer 12

• Consisted of 170,000 but were supplied by the USSR and China
• The US were far better equipped

Question 13

Why were the Viet Congs tactics so successful?

Answer 13

• They were hard to find as they did not wear a uniform
• Ambushes and booby traps sapped US morale as they were hard to fight back against
• They had peasant support
• They were supported by North Vietnam

Question 14

What were search and destroy missions?

Answer 14

• Missions that involved launching raids on Viet Cong villages by helicopter to destroy hideouts and discover weapon stores
• Were effective in locating VC villages but killed a lot of civillians

Question 15

What was the My Lai Massacre?

Answer 15

• Happened in 1968
• A search and destroy mission meant to discover VC hideouts
• Alleged warnings were sent for civilians to be out of the village but many ignored them
• The men were away so it was predominantly the elderly,women and children
• 400 civilians were killed and maybe one VC
• It was covered up for a year saying that there were minor civilian casualties and 100 VC killed
• All came out when opposition to the war in USA increased due to a soldier involved sending a letter to the press

Question 16

What was the financial cost?

Answer 16

• Huge.

- Estimated $400,000 to kill one VC fighter

Question 17

What other problems did the USA face?

Answer 17

• VC camped out in neighbouring countries
• Low Morale
• Losing support back home
• Tensions amongst ranks

Question 18

What was the Tet offensive?

Answer 18

• A major attack against US forces in 100 cities and military areas
• Took place on New Year which meant that many troops were off duty as no one expected an attack on a sacred day
• The government building in Saigon etc were attacked

Question 19

Was the Tet offensive successful?

Answer 19

-Not in usual terms
No:
-Hoped South Vietnamese would join the fight
- 10,000 VC were killed
-Areas were quickly recaptured
Yes:
-Spread doubt in the USA’s chances of winning
-Some began to see the war as unwinnable

Question 20

What were Nixon’s policies to try and end the war?

Answer 20

• ‘Peace with honour’
• That the USA would keep fighting until it no longer was surrendering
• Named it Vietnamisation which involved reducing US troops and give the South Vietnamese forces more responsibility

Question 21

Why was Vietnamisation expected to fail?

Answer 21

• The South Vietnamese army was weak and poorly lead

- The NVA and Viet Cong still had strong support from USSR and China

Question 22

When did troops withdraw?

Answer 22

-25,000 troops withdrew in June 1969 and 35,000 in September

Question 23

How did Nixon increase US involvement and why?

Answer 23

• Increased involvement as ti not look weak or the North to win too quickly
• Ordered troops to invade Cambodia and attack VC bases to try and force the NVA to attend peace talks
• Also invaded Laos which ended incredibly badly
• Bombing increased again in 1972 to put pressure on the North to make Peace

Question 24

What was Operation Linebacker?

Answer 24

• An operation done in April 1972 to increase pressure on the North
• Involved bombing roads,factories and supply lines

Question 25

What did Operation Linebacker lead to?

Answer 25

-More protests in the USA and across the world