Why the US failed Flashcards
How did the US fail in the Vietnam War?
They failed to contain the spread of communism into South Vietnam
How did the killing of innocent individuals cause the US to fail in the war?
Despite having the best technology, the killing of innocent individuals or even their own troops had a demoralising effect on the soldiers. It was also a huge fuel for anti-war protests and feeling in the US
How did the Vietcong tactics cause the US to fail?
The guerrilla tactics used by the Vietcong were well suited to jungle warfare
How did the US ‘tour of duty’ cause the US to fail?
The ‘tour of duty’ lasted a year, so US soldiers never got enough experience to fight in tricky conditions such as the jungle
How many US soldiers died on their first day, due to lack of experience?
900
How did the Vietcong experience cause the US to fail?
They were far more experienced, they also knew the territory better and had been fighting long before they fought the US
How did US supply issues cause the US to fail?
They were fighting a long-distance war, due to Vietnam being nearly 12,000km away from the US. This meant there were often supply issues with equipment and weaponry
How did the US public cause the US to fail?
Many questioned why the US was fighting to defend the South Vietnamese government. They viewed the South Vietnamese government as corrupt and brutal
How did the Vietnamese peasants cause the US to fail?
Many supported the Vietcong, and they often helped the Vietcong
How did discipline and morale cause the US to fail?
The discipline and morale of the US troops was poor. Drug taking and desertion were common
How did the supply to the Vietcong cause the US to fail?
The Vietcong were fighting on ‘home soil’ and were supplied locally or with equipment from allies in China and the USSR
How did media coverage in the US cause the US to fail?
The media coverage of the war horrified many Americans. As the war went on, the anti-war feeling increased. The anti-war movement was large and by the end of 1971, most of the US public wanted the war to end as quickly as possible
How did the way the Vietcong fight cause the US to fail?
The Vietcong viewed themselves as defending their own country against US invasion. They fought with brutal determination to defend their homeland. The Vietcong were motivated by the thought of driving the US out of Vietnam and uniting the country
