War in vietnam Flashcards
Dien Bien Phu
-End of WW2 France wanted to regain former colony Vietnam
-Vietminh led by Ho Chi Minh wanted to regain control of the north of Vietnam
-1949 China became communist- and supported Vietminh with troops
-By 1954 US influence was so strong that it paid 80% of the cost of Frances war with Vietminh
-Major battle at Dien Bien Phu forcing them to withdraw
-Geneva conference 1954 caused Vietnam to be split- North led by Ho Chi Min- south led by Bao Dai, then Ngo Dinh Diem
Reasons for US involvement
1- Eisenhower domino theory
2-Weaknesses of Diem government- massively unpoluar and had little respect for the rural population and the buddists.
Kennedy’s role in Vietnam
-Agreed with the domino theory
-Wanted to avoid direct military action
-Sent more advisors to South Vietnam (around 16000)
-Authorised the use of chemical sprays such as AO
-Changes the tactics to searching for the VC fighters not just to draw them into battle
US concerns leading to diem’s overthrow
Kennedy believed that the VC were being beaten
The US reported the battle as a defeat
Buddhist monk self-immolated May 6 1963 in protest
Kennedy pressured him to make peace with the Buddhists
Kennedy didn’t want to publicly depose Diem but made it obvious he doesn’t support him
Strategic Hamlet program
1962
Diem and the USA built new villages to house locals away from the Vietcong
ARVN also forcibly removed and relocated villagers- however villagers did not want to leave their ancestral homes. Not enough food/provisions in the new villages, many starved to death.
Made USA and diem more unpopular in the south
Increasing threat of the Vietcong
VC became more organised and effective
Some of the VCs ideas were popular among ordinary Vietnamese
-Many south Vietnamese were angry about the strategic hamlet program.
-Received support from North Vietnam
-Many rural South Vietnamese supported the VC
Ho Chi Min trail
The North Vietnamese with Chinas help supported the vc in south Vietnam by sending troops and weapons via the Ho Chi Min trail
The trail was a network of paths and smaller trails which connected north and south Vietnam
Over time the paths on the trail became wider and easer to send some more support, by 1974 some bits of the trail were properly paved.
The Gulf of Tonkin incident
1964 two US naval ships reported attacks by north vietnamese torpedo boats
Cause- Increase build-up in US advisors in South Vietnam
Regular US patrols by ships
US involvement in ARVN raids
Consequence
Johnson ordered air strikes against North Vietnam
Congress passed the gulf of Tonkin resolution allowing Johnson to use armed force to defend south Vietnam
In response, the north Vietnamese expanded their involvement in south Vietnam.
Guerrilla tactics of the Vietcong
planned ambush
set simple but deadly traps
Did not wear the military uniform- integrated with the peasants
stayed close to US deployments
avoided open battles
blended in with the local population
Operation rolling thunder
In early 1965 no US soldiers in Vietnam
Johnson wanted to negotiate a settlement so started a bombing campaign.
Johnson resisted calls from the military to bomb extensively so he did it gradualy,
Targeted Ho chi Min Trail
US tactic of search and destroy
Small groups of US soldiers tracked down VC camps and then called in helicopters to spray chemicals on them and bomb them
VC often left traps to kill and injure soldiers
US troops destroyed any VC tunnels
Use of chemical sprays and bombings of crops and homes made USA unpopular
Tet Offensive
1968
Led by the North Vietnamese and VC
Over 100 cities and US bases in South Vietnam were attacked. * Initially, the North Vietnamese and VC drew US and ARVN troops away from cities and military bases by attacking the demilitarised zone.
* The North Vietnamese also suggested a negotiated settlement, which made the US think the communists were losing.
* On 30 January, North Vietnamese troops and the VC attacked high-profile places in Saigon, such as the US embassy, airport and radio station.
* The attack in Saigon was defeated, but US citizens were shocked at the events.
However, the American public saw the Tet Offensive as a terrible failure.
The Nixon Doctrine
The Nixon Doctrine On 25 July 1969
The USA would follow through on any existing support it had promised its allies and help them against nuclear attacks.
However, from now on the United States would only provide financial help and training against threats from countries that did not have nuclear capacity - it would not provide soldiers.
Key features of Vietnamisation
Putting the ideas behind the Nixon Doctrine into practice was called Vietnamisation.
Nixon wanted US troops to withdraw from Vietnam, while also giving the appearance the USA had not lost the war.
he South Vietnamese army (ARVN) was to take over more of the actual fighting, thus reducing the number of US military deaths.
The US government aimed to ensure South Vietnam remained an independent, non-communist country
US troops withdraw from Vietnam
In the USA, public opinions differed about Vietnamisation. Some supported the aims of the war and wanted to continue with active involvement. Others wanted American withdrawal as soon as possible.
Vietnamisation failed US training and equipment was not enough to ensure the ARVN was ready to take over the fighting. The ARVN also suffered from corruption and desertion.
Troops began to be withdrawn from 1968 onwards. Once soldiers knew they would soon be leaving, their desire to fight was severely reduced.
Drug use also rocketed among US troops
