Vietnam War Flashcards
What was the Tet offensive of 1968?
This military action was a major turning point in the way many Americans perceived the war. On the morning of January 30, Communist forces in North Vietnam and Vietcong squads in the South took advantage of a truce during Tet (the Vietnamese new year holiday) to launch a massive offensive. Major cities and provinces were captured, and heavy fighting ensued. Although turned back by U.S. and South Vietnamese forces in a matter of days, the Communists nonetheless claimed a major political and psychological victory. U.S. observers were stunned by the size and coordination of the Communist forces.
What was the My Lai Massacre of 1968 and how did it change American opinions about the Vietnam War?
On March 16, 1968 the men of Charlie Company, 11th Brigade, American Division entered the Vietnamese village of My Lai. A short time later the killing began. As the “search and destroy” mission unfolded, it soon degenerated into the massacre of over 300 apparently unarmed civilians including women, children, and the elderly. The commander ordered his men to enter the village firing, though there had been no report of opposing fire. Word of the atrocities did not reach the American public until November 1969, when journalist Seymour Hersh published a story. As the gruesome details of My Lai reached the American public, serious questions arose concerning the conduct of American soldiers in Vietnam. This massacre certainly shifted American citizens’ attitude toward the Vietnam War and many began protesting America’s continued involvement in Vietnam.
What significant development happened in Saigon, South Vietnam in1975?
The capital of South Vietnam, and the seat of official U.S. power in the country, Saigon was overrun by North Vietnamese Communist troops on April 30, 1975. As a Communist victory became certain, a massive evacuation began. In just 19 hours, 81 helicopters carried more than 1,000 Americans and 6,000 Vietnamese out of the city-under-siege and to the safety of aircraft carriers waiting offshore. For every Vietnamese who successfully fled the city, however, dozens more were denied transport. The Americans evacuating, leaving Vietnam to the Vietnamese.
What was the Viet Minh?
The Viet Minh was an organization that worked towards the independence of Vietnam from France. It was founded by Ho Chi Minh and was the group that was fighting to make North Vietnam communist, with the ultimate goal of creating one united communist Vietnam.
Who was Ho Chi Minh and when was he in power?
Ho Chi Minh, “Uncle Ho,” was the prime minister of North Vietnam from 1945 to 1955 and president from 1945 to 1969. He founded the Viet Minh and then declared independence from France in 1945. He fought against control by the French and later against the Americans. He helped to direct the Viet Cong and its attacks on South Vietnam and against the USA.
Who was Ngo Dinh Diem and when was he in power?
Ngo Dinh Niem refused to join in the communist movement at Ho Chi Minh’s request. He led the south from 1954 to 1963 and was killed by generals in a coup. He was a cruel dictator who imprisoned and executed Buddhists. His autocratic rule led to his demise, as well as increasing support for Ho Chi Minh and communism, something he certainly did not want to happen.
Who was Nguyen Van Thieu and when was he in power?
Nguyen Van Thieu was briefly communist, but then rejected it by serving in French military. He became president of South Vietnam in 1965 and was president until the fall of Saigon in 1975. Just before the South was taken, he fled to Taiwan and later to England.
Who were the Viet Cong and what tactics did they use?
They were guerilla fighters who fought against South Vietnamese and eventually US troops. They were directed by Ho Chi Minh and fought for a communist Vietnam. Highly developed tunnels, traps, and other unconventional methods of fighting made them very effective and difficult to fight. They used the Ho Chi Minh trail, which went from North Vietnam, through Cambodia and Laos, into South Vietnam, to transport supplies.
What sorts of tactics did the US military use in Vietnam?
Mostly conventional military tactics which failed against the Viet Cong. However, the also raided villages, like in My Lai and used Agent Orange and Napalm. Agent Orange was an herbicide used to kill the plants and trees that sheltered the Viet Cong and the crops that gave them food. Agent Orange and other herbicides caused problems for both Vietnamese and U.S. soldiers. Agent Orange is suspected to cause cancer and birth defects among other things. Napalm was a highly flammable gas and when ignited it stuck to most substances and burned for up to ten minutes at very high temperatures, causing painful burns that very often killed people.
What kind of involvement did Dwight D. Eisenhower have with Vietnam?
Eisenhower provided military aid (money and weapons) to the French to fight Ho Chi Minh, but refused to send U.S. advisors or troops to Vietnam.
How did John F. Kennedy contribute to the Vietnam War?
He was president from 1960-1963, when he was assassinated. JFK tripled the amount of American aid to South Vietnam and increased the number of U.S. military advisors stationed there (Greet Berets). He did not send troops to Vietnam.
Who were the Vietnamese Boat People?
These were the people of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia who chose to flee the newly declared communist country of Vietnam after 1975 on makeshift boats. It was illegal to flee the country and the boats were more than often overcrowded and not stable enough to handle the open sea. These voyages were highly dangerous and many died.
What was the Paris Peace Agreement of 1973?
This was the peace agreement about Vietnam that was finally reached after years and years of negotiation. The US would be able to withdraw from the war. Northern troops could stay in the South but there could be no increase of troops. Thieu would be allowed to stay as the president of the South and the South would be able to decide its own government. It failed to actually create peace, and in 1975, the North stormed Saigon and all of Vietnam became communist.
What was the organization “Students for a Democratic Society”?
This was originally a group of students who fought for civil rights. However, as the Vietnam War waged on and more young people were drafted, the SDS turned much of their attention to this cause. It was based in Ann Arbor Michigan. They organized tons of anti-war protests across the country.
What was the significance of the Kent State Shootings?
The Kent State Shootings were an example of the US government response to peaceful protests. National Guardsmen killed 4 peaceful protesters at Kent State, an American university. This sparked even more protests across the US. It came after Nixon’s announcement of Vietnamization and after his decision to bomb Cambodia and Laos. It is one of many examples of US anti—war sentiment, and how this sentiment spread across the nation as the war dragged on.
