Vietnam War Flashcards
What was the name of the peace treaty which ended the War in Indo-China, signed in 1954?
The Geneva Peace Agreement
When was the gulf of Tonkin Incident?
August 1964
Who was the leader of the Vietminh and after 1954, leader of North Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh
Who was General Giap?
Former history teacher who led the Vietminh’s military campaign for independence.
How far was USA involved in the war in Indo-China?
Supported France, paying for much of the fighting.
Why did USA support France in the war in Indo-China?
The Americans saw the war as a fight against the spread of Communism, and not as a war of independence. They were especially concerned about the spread of Communism in Asia after the communist takeover in China in 1949.
Why was the Battle of Dien Bien Phu important?
The humiliating defeat marked the end of French attempts to hold onto Indo-China. It sped up peace talks in Geneva.
The humiliating defeat marked the end of French attempts to hold onto Indo-China. It sped up peace talks in Geneva.
Independence for Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Vietnam to be split in half, along the 17th parallel, until free elections could be held (scheduled for 1956).
The strip of land separating the 2 halves of Vietnam would be a demilitarised zone.
Who did the Geneva Agreement leave in control of South Vietnam?
Emperor Bao Dai, who appointed Ngo Dinh Diem as Prime Minister. Diem then ousted Bao Dai and turned South Vietnam into. Republic with himself as President.
What was SEATO?
South-East Asia Treaty Organisation set up in 1954, by a group of countries including USA. They pledged themselves to protect the countries of SE Asia, especially from the threat of communism.
Which American President was the first to send military advisers to Vietnam, when and how many advisers were sent?
Eisenhower in November 1954. 17 officers were sent as military advisers to assist the ARVN (army of South Vietnam).
How many military advisers were in South Vietnam by the Kennedy became president in 1961?
685
What was the ‘Domino Theory’ and who was the main proponent of it in Eisenhower’s government?
The belief that pro-Western governments in Asia would fall, like dominoes, to Communism. Each one, it was argued, would be pushed over into Communism by its neighbour. It was promoted by John Foster Dulles, Eisenhower’s Secretary of State (Foreign Secretary).
What was the ‘Vietcong’ and when was it formed?
‘Vietcong’ was the name used by the Americans to refer to the NLF (National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam). It was a guerrilla army formed in December 1960 by Communists in South Vietnam. It was supported and supplied by the North using the Ho Chi Minh trail.
How many military advisers did America have in South Vietnam by the time Johnson became President in Nov 1963.?
16,000
