Vietnam War Flashcards
Causes of the Vietnam War
1954: French lose control of Vietnam
1954: The Dividing of Vietnam
1954: The French lose control of Vietnam
- In the 1800s the French established themselves as a colonial power in Vietnam
- Vietnam continuously resisted French control
- Ho Chi Minh— Communiost sympathizer who fought for Vietnamese independence before after and during WWII, was the head of the Vietminh- the League of Independence for Vietnam, which defeated the French in May 1954.
Geneva Accords
1954
After the3 French were defeated in Vietnam, an international conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Representatives of ho hi chimn, bao dai, cambodia, Laos, France, the US, the Soviet Union, and Britain arranged a peace settlement.
Geneva Accords decision
- south and north Vietnam divided along the 17th parallel
- ho chi minh became president of the communist dominated north Vietnam with its capital in Hanoi.
- Ngo Dinh Diem, a former Vietnamese official who had been living in exile in the US, became president of anti-communist south vietnam, with its capital in Saigon.
- Elections were called to be held in 1956 to unify the country, but Ngo Dinh Diem and South Vietnam refused to hold the election because they said that communist North Vietnam wouldn’t hold fair elections.
- as a result, Vietnam stayed divided.
1954: President Eisenhower Pledges to Support South Vietnam
- After the dividing of Vietnam, Eisenhower pledged to support South Vietnam in attempt to enforce the containment policy.
- By 1960, about 675 U.S. military advisors were in South Vietnam to assist in south vietnams struggle against communist north viet.
- Thus, the US was involved
JFK in Vietnam
1960: President John F. Kennedy pledged American support to the South Vietnamese.
The assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem
- Diem, the leader of S. Vietnam, lacked support in his own country as he imprisoned people who criticized his government, filled many govt. positions with family members, and persecuted Buddhists.
- Diem was assassinated in 1963 as a result.
- The Vietcong, Communist guerilla fighters in the south gained control of more territory and earned the loyalty of more and more south Vietnamese people.
- Ho Chi Minh aided the Vietcong throughout.
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
- After Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, LBJ was determined to carry out containment.
- Gulf of Tonkin Incident — Statement issued by Johnson in 1964 which he said US destroyer ships had been sunk by the north Vietnamese in the
Gulf of Tonkin, located 30 miles off the coast of Vietnam - All made up, but deepened U.S. interest in the war.
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Gave Johnson the authority to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.”
1. The resolution basically gave Johnson complete control over what the U.S. did in Vietnam
President Johnson increases aid to south Vietnam
- After winning the election of 1964 Johnson began a gradual escalation of Vietnam war effort.
- Johnson provided more troops and money to South Vietnam
- At the beginning of 1965, american troops in South Vietnam were 25,000. Buy the end, 184,000.
- By the end of 1968, there were 536,000 american troops in Vietnam.
General Fighting Conditions in Vietnam
- Nearly 3 million US soldiers served in Vietnam
- Conditions were unlike any US soldiers had ever seen as they battled through elephant grass, rain storms, bugs, and constant guerilla warfare.
- The Vietcong were familiar with the surroundings and had support by the locals
Booby traps used on US soldiers by Vietcong
Land mines- explosive device in the ground
Punji trap- camouflaged pit filled with razor-sharp stakes that were sometimes poisoned
US vs Vietcong in the air
The US used b-52 bombers to drop explosives over Vietnam.
Saturation Bombing- the US practice of dropping massive amount of explosives over Vietnam to destroy key roads and bridges
Fragmentation bombs- bombs used in air raids that threw pieces of their metal casing all all directions when exploded
Napalm- jelly like substance that burned continually and uncontrollably
Agent orange
Herbicide dropped on dense jungle that killed jungle plants to expose Vietcong hiding. Killed crops and poisoned people with effects that lasted for generations.
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Supply route that passed through Laos and Cambodia
Allowed the Vietcong to gain strength by gaining troops and supplies form Vietcong
The Tet Offensive
Major offensive launched by N. Vietnamese and Vietcong in 1968
Included surprise attacks on major cities, towns, and military bases throughout s vietnamese— extremely6 brutal
Although turned back, was a major psychological victory for the N Vietnamese and setback for U.S.
Turning point in Vietnam war, because it illustrated n. Vietnam and Vietcong were capable of a major offensive
Images were shown on television and LBJs War Effort losing support
Background of Vietnam War Protest
Throughout the 1960s and 70s, many Americans protested the US involvement in the Vietnam war because they felt America had no business getting involved.
As american casualties rose, the demonstrations against war intensified.
Musical Protests
Musicians used their music as an avenue to express their anti-Vietnam war sentiments
Some of the most famous being The Beatles, Buffalo Springfield, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young.
Teach-Ins
Took place on college campuses throughout the US during thr 1960s as anti war activists met to discuss.
The people participating thought that the Vietnam should solve it themselves.
Buffalo Springfields “For What It’s Worth”
Draft Resistance
Conscientious Objectors— opposed fighting in the war on moral or religious grounds.
Deferments— an official postponement for their call to serve, typically given to students or the rich
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son”
Kent State Massacre
1970, 4 students killed, 9 wounded at Kent State university when US army soldiers fired at protesting students
Neil Young’s “Ohio”
Paris Peace Talks
Began in 1968 and were a part of a peace negotiation effort started by LBJ
In January 1963, us, soviets, n vietnamese and Vietcong met to decide 4 things
- US would withdraw forces form Vietnam writhing 60 days
- all POWs would be released
- military activity in Laos and Cambodia would end
- 17th parallel would continue to divide Vietnam until the country could be united
Vietnamization
Richard Nixon’s plan to withdraw american forces from Vietnam and replace them with South Vietnamese forces strong enough to defend themselves.
The fall of South Vietnam
1975
After Americas withdrawal, fighting continued.
North launches major campaign on south Vietnam
N Vietnam captures Saigon, officially uniting Vietnam as communist
Laos and Cambodia fell to communism shortly after.
American Losses in the Vietnam War
58,000 Americans Killed
300,000 Americans Wounded
2,500 American listed as either POWs or missing in action
Vietnam was the longest and most unsuccessful war in US history
Democratic National Convention
10,000 anti-war protesters clash with policemen and national guardsmen, broadcasted
August 1968
My Lai Massacre
Happened in March 1968, Americans didnt find out until November 1969, US troops brutally attack 300-500 vietnamese, mostly women and children.
Cambodia
April 1970
Nixon announces america has bombed parents of the Ho Chi Minh trail throughout Laos and Cambodia
Angers Americans becase Nixon campaigned on ending the war
Jackson State
May 1970
Student protest at an all-black college in Mississippi. National guardsmen shoot and kill 2 students and injure 12
Pentagon Papers
Top-secret military report leaked to the New York Times and revealed the US had drawn up plans to go to war with Vietnam even when president Johnson claimed he wouldn’t send troops
Why was Ho Chi Minh fighting?
He wanted to remove French control and influence from Vietnam, so the Vietnamese could rule themselves. His organization was called the Viet Minh.
What happened at Dien Bien Phu?
The French were defeated by Ho Chi Minh’s forces and forced to leave Vietnam
National Liberation Front
Consisted of communist Minh supporters in South Vietnam also known as the Viet Cong.
Why is the Gulf of Tonkin resolution significant
Allowed LBJ to escalate the war without oversight from congress
Operation Rolling Thunder (and did it work?)
Plan to bomb the north Vietnamese into submission and show the south Vietnamese we were serious in helping them. Didn’t work and increased Ho Chi Minh’ s supporters.
What strategies did the US use in Vietnam?
“Search and Destroy”— us troops go into the countryside to find and kill Vietcong members.
Attrition— extend combat to inflict the most amount of enemies casualties thus forcing surrender
Doves/Hawks
Anti-war protesters were doves and were typically students. Hawks were pro war.
Domino Theory
Eisenhower’s theory that if one country falls to communism, the surrounding countries will fall next.
Self-Immolation
The action of setting fire to oneself typically as a form of protest or sacrifice— Buddhists protesting Ngo Dinh Diem
Election of 1964
Johnson defeats Barry Johnson with 61% of the popular vote, larger than any others even today
Election of 1968
Nixon beats Humphrey and Wallace claiming he represents the “silent majority”.
Henry Kissinger
National security advisor under Nixon, approved Cambodia
William Westmoreland
Commanded US forces in the Vietnam war rom 1964-1968
Lt. William Calley
Former US army officer and convicted war criminal for the murder of 22 unarmed south Vietnamese civilians in My Lai
Fall of Saigon
South Vietnamese capital fell to the north Vietnamese army effectively ending the Vietnam war.
