Vietnam War 1954-75 Flashcards
(76 cards)
1
Q
who ruled south vietnam at the beginning
A
bao dai, anti-commie
- controlled by the France
then ngo dinh diem
2
Q
when did china become commie
A
1949
they started sending supplies, advisers and troops to vietminh
3
Q
how much of Frances war cost were US paying
A
80% by 1954
4
Q
what did the Geneva Accords of ‘54 state
A
-temp split in 17th parallel with a DMZ, that no troops could enter
- ho min would run the north from Hanoi
- bao dai would run south form Saigon
- no one could move to other side for 300 days
- no foreign troops could set base in either part of country
- in july 1956, elections to be held
5
Q
why was diem’s government weak
A
- still many commies in South
- other group ie. religious, political, criminal had own supporters and armies
- diem was a cath, religious clashes common
- diem was a nepotist, and favored catholics
- his gov was Saigon based, little respect for villagers
6
Q
what were South viet army called
A
ARVN
7
Q
why was Diem’s 1954 election seen as rigged
A
650,000 voted for him in Saigon, despite it only having a population of 450,000
8
Q
who was the strategic hamlet program under
A
president kennedy
9
Q
why did france want vietnam/indo-china
A
3rd largest producer of rice
-had materials like coal, rubber
-wanted the resources and wealth
10
Q
between 1969 and 1971 there was ….. cases of fragging
A
730
11
Q
1 in 10 american troops addicted to
A
heroin, 20% of the troops
12
Q
when was the Strategic Hamlet
A
Strat Ham was in 1962
13
Q
how many arrested and killed under Diem
A
65,000 arrests
2,000 killed
14
Q
How many corrupt officials did the VC kil?
A
400 +
15
Q
The VC joined w/ other opp groups to
A
form the NFL (National Liberation Front)
16
Q
When did Kennedy become President?
A
1961
-inc US advisors in Viet + 16,000 to fight the 12,000 VC, who control half of S.Viet
17
Q
Battle of Ap Bac
A
1963
ARVN lost despite massive military support from US
18
Q
Who was Quang Duc
A
1963,
Self-immolated on streets of Saigon as protest of Diems treatment of Bhuds
-In response, Diem raided and shut temples
19
Q
Kennedy’s aims in Vietnam:
1
Hunt down the VC and destroy them
2
Gain support of the local people
A
Hunt down the VC and destroy them
Gain support of the local people
20
Q
China sent $….. mil dollars in aid to SV, using …..
A
-$100 mill
-Ho Chi Minh trail
21
Q
Johnson inc no. of advisors to SV to …
A
200,000
22
Q
When did Gulf of Tokin happen?
-ships involved
-outcomes
A
-1964
-USS Maddox
-Us had been using their ships to allow ARVN to attack North along Gulf of Tonkin, angering them
-three torpedo boats from N attacked Maddox, fire back
-Johnson ordered air strike on NV
-Gulf Of T Res.
23
Q
what did the gulf of tonkin resolution do?
A
-allowed Johnson to stop further attacks w/o permission from Congress or declaring war
-J didn’t wanna declare war -> would anger USSR & China
-but could send in troops so same effect
24
Q
how long was the Trail? why couldn’t US stop it?
A
600 miles
-went through Laos & Cambodia, couldn’t declare war against other countries
25
...% of US casualties caused by traps
19%
26
Viet War cost the US $... billion while bombing.
........ killed
4 billion
90,000
27
Tactics of US:
-napalm
-pineapple bombs: sprayed pellets when exploded, like bullets
28
The S&D attacks made .... million SV refugees
4 million
29
Operation Cedar Falls 1967
Search and destroy:
The US burnt down villages for three weeks, killing 750 VC.
Despite some early successes in finding and killing VC fighters, as soon as the US troops left the VC returned to the area.
The attacks made 4 million South Vietnamese into refugees from the violence, making the US and South Vietnamese government even more unpopular.
30
Operation Ranch Hand:
Agent Orange attacks 1964-71
31
What was the Tet Offensive
1968
84,000 communist troops attacked southern cities on 30th January, when there was the Tet ceasefire.
Most famously, the city of Hue was captured, and the US embassy in Saigon was taken for 6 hours.
Attack in Saigon, beaten by US troops in 2 days, and within 3 weeks Hue was reclaimed.
32
How many commie troops attacked at Tet
84,000
They took Hue, but it was taken back by US in three weeks
33
VC victory from Tet:
lost 45,000 men
-but proved they could launch huge surprise attack
-only lasting victory: could use it in propaganda
34
How many protesters led from Tet
150,000
Peace talks started in 1968
35
Who was the new president in 1969?
Nixon
36
Troop withdrawal in 1969:
Nixon decreased troops in Vietnam by 25,000
-started to withdraw them from July 1969 onward
37
Who was in charge of the ARVN training
General Abrams
38
Aim of Vietnamisation :
to allow the US to 'withdraw with Honour'
39
Attacks on Cambodia 1970
1970, pro-American army general Lon Nol took over Cabodia.
VC had joined w/ Cambodian commie guerilla fighters, used the trail to supply
To help, Nixon ordered secret bombings of the trail Cambodia, and 50,000 ARVN and 30,000 US troops
Knew it would be unpopular, so he limited them to 19 miles over the border, and they had to withdraw by end of June
11,000 commies killed, but VC continued to use trail in Laos
Nol's gov stayed in power
Huge damage to trails, weapons and supplies captured
40
How many troops did Nixon order to invade Cambodia '70
50,000 ARVN & 30,000 US troops
41
Effects of Cambodia in US
-public outrage and protests
-Congress cancelled Gulf Of Tonkin Resolution, called for Vietnamisation to be sped up
-limited military funding
42
1971, ARVN asked for US to provide air support to invade Laos with ...... troops
21,000
43
Attack at Tchepone 1971
NV raised 36,000 troops to attack Tchepone, which ARNV took over
-ARVN retreated, many casualties despite air support
-made people think Vietnamisation will never work as ARVN were incompetent
44
Bombing of North Viet 1972:
-120,000 NV and VC surprise attacked 3 US bases
-ARVN managed to repel with air support
-in retaliation, Operation Linebacker: heavy-bombing of NV ordered
-bombs and mines dropped
-mines in the harbors blockaded USSR & Chinese supplies
-nearly all of NV war industry & supply routes, communication and radio networks destroyed,
-USSR & China urged NV to reach peace settlement
45
Which two cities did Linebacker target?
Hanoi and Haiphong
46
How many cases of fragging were there in 1970?
Officers who tried to force soldiers to fight were killed by their own men in a practice called ‘fragging’.
There were 209 cases of fragging in 1970.
47
Drug use with American soldiers
Drug use also became a huge problem, with 35,000 soldiers apparently addicted to heroin and marijuana.
48
How many ARVN deserted during Vietnamisation?
150,500 ARVN deserted during Vietnamisation
49
Reasons for failure of Vietnamisation?
>Fragging, low morale
>Drug use
>Corruption and theft
>Desertion of ARVN
>Poor training and foreign manuals of weapons
>Lack of funding
50
General Opposition to the war:
-High death toll affecting families of soldiers
-Bombing in Cambodia and Laos
-Events such as Tet Offensive
-Increased taxes to pay for war
-Ethical objections:
From 1964 to 1973, the U.S. dropped more than 2.5M tons of ordnance on Laos during 580,000 bombing sorties
51
Lies and opposition
-Public started to realise they weren't being told the truth about the war
-Tet Offensive declared as victory, but CBS reporter showed reality of the stalemate
52
The student movement
-gained recognition for being white-middle class who rejected parents' values
-wanted social change
-'counter culture' emerging
-many opposed to the draft
-increased to 8.5 mill in 1970
53
Only ........ men of the 2.6 million who fought for Viet were draftees
650,000
54
Around ...... men left the USA illegally or went into hiding
Around 50,000 men left the USA illegally or went into hiding
55
Students for Democratic Society:
Students for Democratic Society had 3,000 members across 80 campuses by 1965
56
Describe the Mai Lai Massacre 1968
-Charlie Company sent to Mai Lai to get rid of the VC
-No VC, only women, children and elderly
-Americans raped and killed the inhabitants, at least 350, possibly 500 and all their animals
-after stopping to eat lunch they returned to base
-an army photographer, Sgt Ron Haeberle, documented the events
-Army claimed to have killed 128 VC and destroyed base
-Photos of massacre released by CBS news, people horrified, knowing information was being withheld
57
When was the Mai Lai Massacre?
The Mai Lai Massacre was in 1968
58
How many murders was Lt Calley found guilty of?
What was the outcome?
-Calley claimed he was following orders from above, proven right
-Only convicted for 22 murders
-He got life, but only served 3 years house arrest
-35 newspapers had reported 500 murders in My Lai, public outcry
59
Kent State shooting summary:
-4 days after Nixon declared Cambodia invasion, student protst w/ 500 students buried copies of US constitution
-Fighting betw/ protesters and supporters
-1000+ students in demonstration, officer training corps burnt down
-900 National Guardsmen, armed w/ rifles and tear gas
-NG opened fire after 2000 people still protested and violence (students threw tear gas canisters and bricks at the NG)
-4 students killed, 9 injured
-Public outcry because they were white, but when 2 black students shot at Jackson State Uni, little publicity
60
How did limited war affect chances of winning for the US?
The limited war needed to avoid conflict w/ USSR & China made it impossible for the US to defeat the N.V.'s
61
How much did the war cost in total?
$167 billion in total, much more than expected
62
After the invasion of Cambodia, Congress:
-Limited military funding.
-Repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
-Set a cut-off date for troops in Cambodia as 30th June 1970.
-Set a date for the total withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam as December 1971.
63
Reason for support of war: The 'Red Scare'
-After WW2, nas beginning od Cold War, Americans feared a commie revolution, they were driven out of jobs, houses and arrested
-Wanted to stop communism
-Viet War was a flashpoint in the Cold War
64
Reason for support: Patriotism
-love and loyalty to USA; why many soldiers volunteered
-didn't want to lose face and look weak
65
Who were the Hard Hats
-construction workers; supporters
-beat up an anti-war protests in 1970, police didn't try to stop it
-2 days later, held their own pro-war rally outside City Hall, 60,000 attended
66
Silent Majority
-Poll showed 77% supported the war
-Nixon made a speech in '69 appealing to SM to show their support
-Over next few days, 80,000 telegrams came in to W.H showing support
-Congress passed resolution approving Nixon's actions;
-He could show NV his support persuading them to reach settlement
-Allowed 'peace with honor' negotiation
67
What was political support of the war like?
-Congress became less supportive (cost of war), but kept funding because military were saying victory was close, and they didn't want to lose face
-After 1970 funding was limited
68
Peace Negotiations:
US said they would negotiate at any time but independent SV must be guaranteed
-NV said they would too but expected commie Gov to be elected and a united Viet
-US planned talks w/ USSR & China, NV feared losing w/o allies so agreed to talk w/ US
69
In 1972, the North launched
Easter Offensive
-US beat it but it was still a shock
-Showed war could drag on for years
70
The Paris Peace Accords 1973:
-Accept reunification of Vietnam
-Declared immediate ceasefire
-US had to withdraw military and equipment in 60 days
-Had to aid w/ reconstruction
-No interference w/ Vietnam
-Had to return all war prisoners
71
1974 Attack:
-VC became popular w/ locals again
-Theiu was frustrating everyone with his lack of negotiation
-NV attacked in 74', ARVN couldn't fend off attack, no help arrived like Congress promised in case of attack, only funding for evac. of US citizens
-Saigon fell in 75'
72
Human cost of V.W
-58,000 dead
-300,000 wounded
-75,000 severely disabled
-850,000 severe psychological problems
Returning Soldiers received hostility
73
Strengths of NV
-Many NV fighters from SV before Geneva, so had connections they could use
-Knew about the tunnel system that was built during war w/ France
-China and USSR sent $3 billion in aid
-Trails in L & C; hard for US to stop w/o starting more wars
74
Weaknesses of US
-had to use interpreters; hard to gain local support
-racist attitudes
-didn't understand customs; locals didn't want to leave land where ancestors were buried
-many V's saw US as another French-like occupation
-US backed SV Gov always corrupt
-Home Opposition
-drafted soldiers only stayed a year then left, most experienced gone
-burning villages built resentment
-lack of training against guerrilla tactics
-fragging
75
Chinese support
China sent over 320,000 troops to NV
76
Great Society
Because of expenditure in the war, home local interests were not met
Johnson's 'Great Society' scheme lacked funding for the inequality and racial divisions.
