Vietnam war Flashcards
when did Kennedy become president
1960 - 1963
what did Kennedy do in 1962 regarding Vietnam
he sent military advisors to South Vietnam and continued the financial aid sent by Eisenhower
did Kennedy want to become very involved in the war, why
no because he had learnt from the Korean war
when was kennedy assasinated
1963
who became president after Kennedy
Johnson
Johnson was president from… to …
1963 to 1968
when did the vietnam war start
1954, when Vietnam was divided into 2
first phase of the Vietnam war : (years, what, why)
was between 1945 and 1954. The Vietminh fought to drive French imperial rule from Vietnam. This ended with the signing of the Geneva Accords and Vietnam being split into 2 countries. This period is called the First Indochina War.
2nd fase of the Vietnam war (what, when, why)
between 1957 and 1963, saw the leader of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem, fight a bitter civil war against the Vietcong which was supported by Ho Chi Minh’s government in the north. This ended with Diem being assassinated just weeks before the American president, John F Kennedy, was assassinated in November 1963.
3rd fase of the Vietnam war (what, when, why)
from 1964 to 1968, saw a huge escalation in the conflict between America - which before 1964 had no direct military presence in the region - and North Vietnam. America was fighting the Vietcong directly in order to stop a communist takeover in the south.
4th fase of the vietnam war (whay, when, why)
between 1969 and 1973, was defined by America’s desire to withdraw from Vietnam and its actions to bring US troops home. The last military personnel were withdrawn from the region in 1973.
who was involved in the Vietnam war ( )
France
Ho Chi Minh’s Vietnam
America and Diem
China and USSR
Cambodia and Laos were drawn in sometimes as they shared borders
why and how was France involved in the Vietnam war
From 1945, the French had fought to keep control of its colonies in Indochina. In Vietnam, over 50,000 French soldiers had been killed as France fought against the Vietminh for 8 years.
Why was Ho Chi Minh’s Vietminh involved in the vietnam war
which fought to remove all foreign influences from Vietnam. After the division of the country in 1954, under the Geneva Accords, Ho Chi Minh would become the leader of North Vietnam. Much of the war featured his battles with the Americans as he tried to take over South Vietnam and unite the two nations.
how was the USA involved in the Vietnam war
from July 1950, when it tried to assist the French against the Vietminh
when was South Vietnam created
in 1954 under the Geneva Accords, and America’s presence there was a bid to stop a communist takeover.
hoe were cambodia and laos involved
into the conflict on occasions, due to shared borders with Vietnam.
what was the backround to the Vietnam war
In 1954, a peace agreement was signed in Geneva between the French and the Vietnamese. Vietnam was divided into communist North Vietnam and US-backed South Vietnam. In 1960 a guerrilla organisation, the Vietcong, was formed in the south. Its aim was to overthrow Diem, the region’s leader, and unite the whole of Vietnam under communist rule.
Why did the USA get involved in the Vietnam War?
The USA was concerned about the Domino Theory and could not allow South Vietnam to become communist. It became increasingly involved in supporting South Vietnam as part of its containment policy.
How did the USA get involved in the Vietnam War? (3)
From 1950, the USA gave $1.6 billion dollars in aid to South Vietnam, and sent political advisers.
❖From 1960, it began to send military advisers to train the South Vietnamese Army.
❖From 1965, it sent American combat troops to Vietnam and became fully involved in the war.
Which US presidents got involved in the Vietnam War? (5)
President Truman, who started sending military aid to the French to fight the Vietminh.
❖President Eisenhower, who was the first to send military aid to the new South Vietnamese government in January 1955.
❖President Kennedy, who began increasing the number of US military advisors sent to Vietnam to train the ARVN - the South Vietnamese army.
❖President Johnson, who committed the first US boots on the ground to Vietnam in March 1965.
❖President Nixon, who led the withdrawal of all American troops from Vietnam.
Why did people protest against the Vietnam War?
One of the defining features of the Vietnam War was the anti-war movement that developed in the USA. Protesters objected to many aspects, including the cost, the rising number of deaths, atrocities committed by US soldiers, and the draft system.
How did people protest against the Vietnam War?
Protests included mass rallies, sit-ins, and the burning of draft cards.
How did the Vietnam affect the cold war (3)
- It was a humiliating defeat for the USA. The world’s greatest superpower had been beaten by a small, under-equipped, yet committed guerrilla army. It influenced US involvement in future conflicts.
❖It was a failure of the containment policy, as Vietnam was now united under communist leadership. Laos and Cambodia followed suit in 1975.
❖Ironically, it helped lead to greater cooperation between the superpowers, as the USA sought the Soviet Union’s help in ending the war.
