Vietnam War Flashcards
Fighting the French
French had controlled Vietnam before war
Wanted it back after Ho Chi Minh takes over
Fights for 9 years funded by Americans
French lose and pull out in 1954
Fighting the Japanese
During WW2 Vietnam was captured by Japanese
Strong anti Japanese movement developed
Led by Ho Chi Minh - Viet Minh
Walk into Hanoi after war and declare independence
Escalation of American involvement
Containment
Domino Theory - India might fall to communism
American Politics - Voted in to be tough on communism
Military-Industrial Complex - getting rich off the war
1954
French Surrender
Split into North and South Vietnam
1959
North Vietnamese army creates Ho Chi Minh trail
Supply route into South Vietnam
1960
North Vietnam makes National Liberation Front of South Vietnam
Viet Cong
1961
16000 American advisers help to organise South Vietnamese army
1962-3
More advisers and equipment arrive
Viet Cong use guerrilla tactics on South Vietnamese army
1964
North Vietnam fires on American boats in Gulf of Tonkin
Congress passes Gulf of Tonkin resolution
1965
February - Operation Rolling Thunder starts
March - first combat troops - 3500 - arrive in Da Nang
June-September - Major Viet Cong offensive
November - Battle in La Dreng valley - Heavy loss for communists
1966
Americans build up heavy encampments
US control towns
Vietcong control countryside
1967
Communists unable to force out Americans
1968
January - Tet offensive - Large scale Vietcong attack on cities. American embassy in Saigon attacked. Hue levelled by fighting
Defeat for communists but big shock for Americans
November - Operation Rolling Thunder stops after 3 years
1969
American policy of Vietnamisation begins - Withdrawing troops and handing control over to South Vietnamese army
May - Battle for Hamburger Hill
1970-71
Fighting spreads to Cambodia
Secret talks between Kissinger and Le Duc