War in Vietnam 1954-75

Question 1

Write a narrative for Dien Bien Phu and French withdrawal (10)

Answer 1

1. After WW2 France wanted previous colony in Vietnam
2. Vietminh (Ho Chi Minh) wanted independence so DRV was declared
3. Vietminh controlled North, French controlled South
4. 1949 China = communist and supported Vietminh
5. USA supported French but did not involve troops
6. 1954 USA paid 80% cost of France’s war
7. 1954 = battle of dien bien phu
8. After 55 days French surrendered
9. Geneva Conference 1954 attempted to restore peace and divided Vietnam into the North and South
10. North led by Ho Chi Minh and South by Ngo Dinh Diem

Question 2

Name 2 reasons for greater US involvement in Vietnam

Answer 2

1. Domino Theory

2. Weakness of Diem’s government

Question 3

How did Eisenhower aim to stop the Domino Theory?

Answer 3

Set up SEATO in September 1954 to stop communism. Included the countries: USA, Britain, France and five others

Question 4

Name 4 ways Diem was weak

Answer 4

1. Diem was corrupt and against Buddhists
2. North Vietnam backed the Vietcong (Communists)
3. Eisenhower supported Diem in South by training the Vietnamese army (ARVN)
4. Eisenhower didn’t want to risk nuclear war by sending in US troops

Question 5

Name 4 facts about JFK

Answer 5

1. President in 1961
2. Wanted to avoid direct military action in Vietnam
3. Authorised use of chemical sprays (Agent Orange)
4. Requested report on feasibility of sending US soldiers for active service in Vietnam

Question 6

US Concerns leading to Diem’s overthrow (4)

Answer 6

1. US media reported a previous Battle of Ap Bac negatively
2. 6th May Diem fired on a Buddhist procession
3. 11th June, Monk burned himself to death in protest
4. November 1963, ARVN overthrew and assassinated Diem

Question 7

Strategic Hamlet Programme 1962 (4)

Answer 7

1. ARVN forcibly removed villagers
2. Aim was to stop VC recruiting people to fight
3. Not enough food/basics in some so some people starved to death
4. Programme made Diem and USA unpopular in South

Question 8

Name 3 of LBJ’s aims

Answer 8

1. Stop communism spreading
2. Make southern gov supported by the people
3. Ensure no nuclear war

Question 9

Name 3 of LBJ’s problems

Answer 9

1. Communists stronger and harder to defeat
2. Gov weak and unpopular
3. USSR was a superpower with nuclear capability

Question 10

Vietcong threat increasing (3)

Answer 10

1. VC ideas became popular
2. Support from North Vietnam which sent supplies and weapons
3. Southerners angry with strategic hamlet programme

Question 11

Name 3 causes of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident 1964

Answer 11

1. Increased US advisors in South Vietnam under LBJ
2. Regular US patrols by ships
3. US involvement in ARVN raids on North Vietnam

Question 12

Name 3 consequences of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident 1964

Answer 12

1. Johnson ordered air strikes against North
2. Congress passed Gulf of Tonkin Resolution allowing him to use armed force as defence
3. North Vietnamese expanded involvement in

Question 13

Ho Chi Minh Trail (4)

Answer 13

1. China supported VC by sending troops and weapons via this trail
2. Network of paths that connected North and South
3. Took 1 month to get from 1 side to another
4. 1974 dome parts were properly paved with underground hospitals, and fuel and weapon stores

Question 14

Guerrilla Tactics (4)

Answer 14

1. Used by VC
2. Didn’t wear military uniform for camouflage
3. Stayed close to US deployments of soldiers so harder to get bombed
4. Sabotaged roads and bridges

Question 15

Operation Rolling Thunder (3)

Answer 15

1. Feb 1965, USA started bombing campaign in North Vietnam
2. Began gradually near South Vietnam targeting the Ho Chi Minh trail
3. Johnson avoided the capital, the port and the border area with China to avoid war escalating

Question 16

US Tactic ‘Search and Destroy’ (6)

Answer 16

1. US soldiers found VC camps and got helicopters to spray chemicals and bomb them
2. VC left traps on ground to trick US soldiers
3. VC used hit and run tactics on US troops
4. US troops destroyed VC tunnels
5. Once US troops left VC came back suggesting search and destroy tactics were failing
6. Use of chemical sprays made USA unpopular with locals

Question 17

Tet Offensive 1968 (6)

Answer 17

1. led by North and over 100 cities were attacked
2. VC drew US away from cities by attacking the demilitarised zone
3. 30th Jan VC attacked high-profile places such as Saigon and US embassy
4. attack at Saigon was defeated
5. US and ARVN recaptured cities and communities suffered heavy losses
6. USA viewed Tet Offensive as terrible failure

Question 18

Nixon Doctrine (3)

Answer 18

1. 25th July 1969
2. USA follow through on any existing support promised to prevent nuclear war
3. US would only provide financial help and training

Question 19

Key Features of Vietnamisation (4)

Answer 19

1. US troops withdraw from Vietnam
2. ARVN take over more actual fighting
3. US gov focus was to send money and advisors
4. US wanted to ensure South Vietnam remained an independent non-communist country

Question 20

When did troops start to withdraw?

Answer 20

1968 onwards

Question 21

Attacks on Cambodia 1970 (3)

Answer 21

1. Nixon sent US troops to Cambodia to stop communism there
2. Congress cancelled 1964 gulf of Tonkin resolution
3. Congress reduced money for war and demanded faster troop reduction from Vietnam

Question 22

Attack on Laos 1971 (3)

Answer 22

1. US gave air support for South invasion of Laos
2. Bloody fighting between north and south in Laos
3. South didn’t fight well and US troops went home

Question 23

Bombing of North Vietnam 1972 (5)

Answer 23

1. April 1972, USA heavy air raids on North
2. All areas targeted and mines dropped into Haiphong harbour to stop supplies from China and USSR
3. Radio and communications destroyed
4. North war industry severely damaged
5. Led to calls from USSR and China for North to sign a peace deal