War in Vietnam, 1954-75

Question 1

What did President Nixon ensure?

Answer 1

that South Vietnam did not become a communist-led country

Question 2

When was the Nixon Doctrine?

Answer 2

25th July 1969

Question 3

What was the Nixon Doctrine?

Answer 3

President Nixon’s ideas about Vietnam, SE Asia and the US

Question 4

How did the US fulfill its promises with allies in The Nixon Doctrine?

Answer 4

• Follow through on any existing support it had promised its allies
• Help them against nuclear attacks

Question 5

How did the US become limited with their support during The Nixon Doctrine?

Answer 5

• Only provided financial help & training against threats from countries that did not have nuclear capacity
• Would not provide soldiers

Question 6

What is Vietnamisation?

Answer 6

Putting the ideas behind the Nixon Doctrine into practice

Question 7

What did Nixon want from his troops during Vietnamisation?

Answer 7

• To withdraw from Vietnam
• But not give the appearance that the US lost the war

Question 8

What was the role of the South Vietnam army (ARVN) during Vietnamisation?

Answer 8

• Take over more of the actual fighting
• Thus reducing number of US military deaths

Question 9

What was the focus of the US government during Vietnamisation?

Answer 9

To send money & advisors, not soldiers

Question 10

What was the aim of the US government during Vietnamisation?

Answer 10

• To ensure SV remained independent & non-communist
• Therefore US would not lose face over Vietnamese outcomes

Question 11

How did American opinions differ during Vietnamisation?

Answer 11

• Some supported war aims & wanted to continue with active involvement
• Others wanted US withdrawal asap

Question 12

Why did Vietnamisation fail?

Answer 12

• US training & equipment was not enough to ensure ARVN was ready to take over fighting
• ARVN suffered from corruption & desertion

Question 13

When were US troops withdrawn?

Answer 13

1968 onwards

Question 14

Why was American desire to fight greatly reduced?

Answer 14

Soldiers knew they would soon be leaving

Question 15

Why did US soldiers kill their own officers?

Answer 15

To stop them leading into situations where their lives were at risk

Question 16

What skyrocketed among US troops?

Answer 16

Drug use

Question 17

When did the US attack Cambodia?

Answer 17

1970

Question 18

Why did Nixon send US troops to Cambodia?

Answer 18

• To stop North Vietnamese from helping Cambodia’s communist to power there

Question 19

What was the effect of Nixon’s attack on Cambodia?

Answer 19

• Congress outraged & cancelled 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution; reduced money for war & demanded faster troops reductions from Vietnam

Question 20

When did the US attack Laos?

Answer 20

1971

Question 21

Why did the US attack Laos?

Answer 21

• US gave air support for South Vietnamese invasion of Laos
• To stop spread of communism

Question 22

What were the effects of the US attack on Laos?

Answer 22

Doubts about South Vietnamese ability to fight against communism without US support

Question 23

When did the US bomb North Vietnam?

Answer 23

1972

Question 24

Why did the US bomb North Vietnam?

Answer 24

To weaken it

Question 25

How did the US bombing of North Vietnam prevent Communist influence?

Answer 25

Mines were dropped into Haiphong harbour to stop Chinese and Soviet supplies coming by sea

Question 26

What was destroyed as a result of US bombings on North Vietnam?

Answer 26

North Vietnamese radio & communications

Question 27

What was damaged as a result of US bombing on North Vietnam?

Answer 27

North Vietnamese war industry

Question 28

What did US bombing on North Vietnam lead to?

Answer 28

Calls from USSR & China for North Vietnam to sign a peace deal

Question 29

What were some of the tactics used by the Vietcong?

Answer 29

- planned ambushes - simple, deadly traps - avoided open battles

Question 30

What were the tactics used by the Vietcong in order to integrate?

Answer 30

did not wear military uniform so integrated with rural peasants

Question 31

What were the tactics used by the Vietcong in order to avoid being bombed?

Answer 31

stayed close to US deployments of soldiers

Question 32

What were the tactics used by the Vietcong to make it difficult for the enemy to move around?

Answer 32

Sabotaged roads & bridges

Question 33

What were the tactics used by the Vietcong in order to stop members being identified?

Answer 33

Blended in with local population

Question 34

How did tunnel tactics help the Vietcong?

Answer 34

- Could organise suprise attacks - Store supplies safely - Hide securely - Treat wounded

Question 35

When was Operation Rolling Thunder?

Answer 35

1965

Question 36

How did Johnson force North Vietnamese to negotiate a settlement?

Answer 36

Started a bombing campaign in North Vietnam called Operation Rolling Thunder

Question 37

Why did Operation Rolling Thunder target the Ho Chi Minh Trail?

Answer 37

To stop supplies being taken south

Question 38

How did Operation Rolling Thunder avoid war and involvement of Soviets?

Answer 38

Avoided: - Capital city Hanoi - Haiphong - Border with China

Question 39

What was the significance of Haiphong port?

Answer 39

It was where the USSR sent supplies into North Vietnam

Question 40

How did the US tactic of 'search & destroy' bomb the Vietcong?

Answer 40

- Small groups of US soldiers tracked down VC camps - Called in helicopters to spray chemicals & bomb

Question 41

Why was the US tactic of 'search & destroy' ineffective?

Answer 41

- After US troops left a VC occupied area, the VC returned - This sent out the message that US search & destroy methods were failing

Question 42

When was the Tet Offensive?

Answer 42

1968

Question 43

Who was the Tet Offensive led by?

Answer 43

North Vietnamese & VC

Question 44

What was attacked during the Tet Offensive?

Answer 44

- Over 100 cities and US bases in South Vietnam

Question 45

How did the North Vietnamese & VC draw in US & ARVN troops away from cities?

Answer 45

By attacking the demilitarised zone

Question 45

What tricked the US into thinking the communists were losing during the Tet Offensive?

Answer 45

The North Vietnamese suggested a negotiated settlement

Question 45

How did the North Vietnamese & VC attack Saigon during the Tet Offensive?

Answer 45

- Attacked high-profile places - E.g. US embassy, airport & radio station

Question 46

How did the US & ARVN retaliate against the Tet Offensive?

Answer 46

- Recaptured attacked cities & bases - Communists suffered heavy loss - VC nearly wiped out

Question 47

How did Americans view the Tet Offensive?

Answer 47

Failure