Vietnam War

Question 1

What were the long-term causes of the Vietnam War/how did Vietnam become divided?

Answer 1

French controlled Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh led Viet Minh to expel colonizers, defeated French at Dien Bien Phu, declared Vietnamese independence Sept. 2, 1945 in Hanoi (modeled declaration after US) (Smith) peace talks in Geneva agreed to let French occupy South Vietnam, Vietnam divided at 17th parallel. French had Bao Dai as puppet governor of South, replaced by Ngo Diem. Geneva peace talks stated election would be held to reunify country.

Question 2

Why didn’t Vietnam reunify according to Geneva Accords?

Answer 2

Diem was afraid Ho Chi Minh would be elected over him, refused to hold proper election, then committed fraud and had fake election results electing himself.

Question 3

What was Diem’s government like and why did the US support him?

Answer 3

He was a Catholic anti-communist who persecuted the Buddhists in S. Vietnam. Eisenhower would not aid French militarily but supported Diem because he was anti-communist with money, even though he was corrupt. US was fully committed to Vietnam by end of Eisenhower’s 2nd term.

Question 4

How did JFK approach the war?

Answer 4

Promised more aggression than Eisenhower/Truman, increased troops, Diem was murdered 1963 so US supported new government under Duong Van Minh. Martin

Question 5

What two main developments in the Vietnam War happened under Eisenhower? When was his term?

Answer 5

Eisenhower- president 1953-1961, Dien Bien Phu happened 1954, Ho Chi Minh Trail started to develop 1959.

Question 6

What two main developments in Vietnam happened under Kennedy? When was his term?

Answer 6

JFK president 1961-1963. Sent military advisors to S. Vietnam 1961 and promised more action. 1962, Operation Ranchland begins- using Agent Orange to clear vegetation.

Question 7

How did LBJ approach the war?

Answer 7

Was good legislator, little foreign experience, believed in domino theory, declared he wouldn’t lose Vietnam, used Gulf of Tonkin incident as an excuse to get Congress to give him more control over the war (Gulf of Tonkin Resolution), made the war “his” war, US citizens still not very aware of conflict. LBJ increased aggression w/ Rolling Thunder- extended bombing campaign, unsuccessful, by 1968, 536,000 US troops in Vietnam.

Question 8

What was the Gulf of Tonkin incident?

Answer 8

USS Maddox was in Gulf of Tonkin, believed attack was coming, thought N. Vietnam ships had attacked Maddox, caused LBJ to escalate war.

Question 9

What was the VC?

Answer 9

Viet Cong: resistance group in the South who opposed Diem, aided by North Vietnam.

Question 10

What was ARVN?

Answer 10

South Vietnam army, Army of the Republic of Vietnam.

Question 11

What was DRV?

Answer 11

North, Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Question 12

Where were the two Vietnamese capitals?

Answer 12

Saigon (South), Hanoi (North)

Question 13

What developments in Vietnam occurred under LBJ? When was his term?

Answer 13

LBJ 1963-1969. Gulf of Tonkin incident/resolution 1964, LBJ authorized Rolling Thunder 1965, 385K US soldiers in Vietnam 1966, VC launched Tet Offensive 1968, My Lai massacre 1968, Rolling Thunder ends 1968.

Question 14

What was the Tet Offensive and how did it contribute to LBJ losing support? Martin

Answer 14

1968, VC and North Vietnam organized surprise Tet Offensive for the Tet Holiday for Lunar New Year. US repelled it, but it was a psychological victory for N. Vietnam and proved the US govt/LBJ had lied about US being close to victory. Media turned against LBJ, didn’t run again; peace became US goal.

Question 15

How did the Tet Offensive affect the US socially/politically? Martin

Answer 15

Soldiers’ morale decreased, college students protested, Nixon promised to end war and was elected.

Question 16

What were Nixon and his administration like? Martin

Answer 16

Nixon was Republican candidate, former VP to Eisenhower, relied heavily on national security advisor Henry Kissinger for foreign affairs, both wanted to alter US foreign relations.

Question 17

What was Nixon’s Vietnamization plan? Martin

Answer 17

Nixon wanted N. Vietnam to believe he was willing to do anything to end the war, went from peaceful conclusion to violent expansion, but he wanted domestic tranquility: Vietnamization was increasing S. Vietnam responsibility for war and decreasing US responsibility.

Question 18

What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail?

Answer 18

A supply line from N to S Vietnam to get supplies to the VC. Went through Laos and Cambodia.

Question 19

Why was Vietnamization a failure?

Answer 19

Nixon worked from questionable assumption that S. Vietnam was stable enough to take on more responsibility. Nixon gave peace talks and bombed the Ho Chi Minh Trail as Kissinger gave peace talks, then sent American troops to destroy Communist bases in Cambodia. The bombing and invasion of Cambodia sparked outrage in the US. S. Vietnam because more US-dependent.

Question 20

After the failure of Vietnamization, how did Nixon proceed to conduct the war in regards to China and the USSR’s involvement in Vietnam? (Martin)

Answer 20

Wanted to end it w/ as little embarrassment as possible. Both China and USSR advised N. Vietnam, Nixon wanted to capitalize on Sino-Soviet split to improve US relations w/ both countries; ping-pong diplomacy w/ China, Nixon took trip to China 1972 which improved relations, worried Soviet union. Nixon also signed Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty 1972 w/ Brezhnev which was not very effective but looked good to voters.

Question 21

What was the VC warfare like?

Answer 21

Guerrilla warfare; used land to their advantage, VC tunnels to hide during combat, act as supply lines, hospitals, weapons storage. Ho Chi Minh Trail. Women involved in fighting.

Question 22

How did the war end in terms of negotiations and final battle?(Martin/Smith)

Answer 22

US Secretary of State Kissinger negotiated w/ N. Vietnam representative Le Duc Tho. Negotiated until 1973. Negotiations left out S. Vietnam, who demanded a voice so the N. retaliated, US bombed N to force negotiations, N, S, VC, and US signed Agreement on Ending the War Jan 27, 1973, Ceasefire Jan 28, US withdrew troops by March, N captured Saigon and renamed it Ho Chi Minh City April 30, 1975.

Question 23

What was the legacy of the war for the US?

Answer 23

Controversy, veterans treated with hostility until late 70s, division and confusion in US, Vietnam undermined Nixon and Johnson’s presidencies, US influence in Indochina ended, War Powers Act from Congress 1973 required presidents to account for their actions within 2 days of committing troops in a foreign war to avoid lack of transparency.

Question 24

What was the Socialist Republic of Vietnam like politically?

Answer 24

Ruthless imposition of communism, single party state (Communist party), censorship, Central Committee made of Ho Chi Minh’s colleagues/advisors, 80% of Vietnamese were rural farmers and saw livelihoods threatened. (Smith)

Question 25

What was the economy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam like?

Answer 25

Centrally planned, government seized private businesses and forced peasants into government owned collectives, state had little money, joined COMECON to receive aid. 1986, Doi Moi renovation changed Vietnam policies due to stagnat economy and food shortages, more capitalist model w/ small businesses, GDP increased 8% from 1990-1997.

Question 26

What were the social policies in Vietnam post-war?

Answer 26

Secret police Cong An enforced will of state and monitored state-controlled churches. Government censored press, art, media, put religion under government control, class persecution, many Vietnamese fled.

Question 27

What were Vietnam’s foreign policies post-war?

Answer 27

Vietnam part of communist bloc during Cold War, strained relations w/ China when both wanted to influence Cambodia, good relations w/ USSR, US recognized Vietnam under Clinton (20 years later). Aggressive relations w/ Laos and Cambodia.

Question 28

What are the lasting implications for Vietnam post-war?

Answer 28

Stable government 60 years later, internationally recognized, capitalist economics w/ socialist government, one of the world’s longest lasting socialist regimes.

Question 29

What major events occurred under Nixon during Vietnam and when was his presidency?

Answer 29

1969-1974. Vietnamization 1969, bombing Cambodia 1969, Paris Peace Talks 1972, Cease fire 1973.

Question 30

Who was president when Saigon fell in 1975?

Answer 30

Gerald Ford.

Question 31

What are four historiography ideas of the Vietnam War?

Answer 31

Orthodox: blames US being blinded by anti-communism. Revisionist: US wasn’t “blinded” but was aware, emphasized Pentagon papers as proof of US manipulation.
Vietnamese role: N. Vietnam won because of integration of political/military strategy and nationalism.
Hearts-and-minds: Criticizes the US use of conventional warfare.

Question 32

What were the Pentagon Papers?

Answer 32

A group of documents leaked to the press in 1971 that proved the US had enlarged the war, demonstrating that the government had lied to the people.

Question 33

What did Bill McClanahan’s political cartoon from 1971 depict/suggest?

Answer 33

Showed a hippy bombing a police station; suggests that the anti-war movement was hypocritical.

Question 34

What were Ngo Diem’s strategic hamlets?

Answer 34

Concentrating peasant populations in specific areas to keep them away from VC influence.