why USA lost Vietnam - created from Mind Map

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Saigon regime corruption, unpopular and US dominated.

Faulty US methods

NVA & VC Strengths

Anti War movement

Media

Economic impact of the war

US Moral

ARVN strategy

ARVN weakness

Importance of this is that the war would have been over much quicker without the US interference, with corruption of leaders to blame // However not a MAJOR factor in why they lost.

keep control of the south, keep viet cong from villages and rely on lots of US money

despite outnumbering Vietcong they couldn't beat them

Diem's regime was unpopular.

Poorly trained and equipped. They actually had sympathy for Vietcong in the countryside.

poor chain of command

CORRUPTION

Rolling Thunder

Search and destroy

Agent Orange & Blue

Strategic Hamlets.

Overall US military failings were crucial to loss in Vietnam, they tried to win the hearts and minds of locals by bombing them and spraying acid on them; support for the war at home was wavering due to the amount of bodies returning due to these FAULTY METHODS

To make NV give up, halt the flow of equipment through HO Chi Minh trail.

800 million tons of bombs dropped in 8 years, costing $400 million per vietcong fighter killed.

To locate enemy and engage, transported using helicopters, high body count (grind them into submission)

It only inspired more Northen soldiers; innocent villages often destroyed; made US and ARVN unpopular; failed to win any support from peasants; rapes occurring and lots of booby traps.

To destroy jungle crops supporting NVA and VC. Was done to make the war easier to fight for the US

estimated approx. 77 million litres sprayed, drifted for miles killing local crops - up to 4 million people as well as more animals exposed to this acid. Got into the water supply.

Very unpopular with Locals, relocated peoples homes; supposed to protect from VC but actually drew people closer to it. like living in prison.

Aims: To win the hearts and minds of he people; wear the US forces down using Geurilla tactics.

The Vietcong respected the South Vietnamese and helped them in their fields. In return they got food, hiding places and support.

Tactics Used: Booby Traps and mines = 60% of all US casualties, used the countryside and jungle to their advantage, tunnel system for cover, no Unifors so hard to identify for US. Very skilled due to indochina wars against french, prepared to accept high body count.

They were fighting for a cause and were much more determined that the US troops, nullifying high tech warfare and US morale. They wanted to drive out foreign invaders and captured the local peoples heart and minds with this. It was a very important factor in why the war was lost by the US, guerrilla tactics especially.

However supporters f the ARVN or US would be treated ruthlessly and Brutally. Killing 30,000 southern govt workers including teachers and tax collectors.

Huge demonstrations carried out calling for the withdrawal from Vietnam

Undermined the US war effort; 58,000 total deaths, first televised war showing these pictures

Impact of this was LBJ not running for another term, can't in a war when the support of the people is lost, it may be overstated but definitely split opinion and contributed heavily to the withdrawal.

Student opposition

VVAW

Civil Rights

2 million took part in the Vietnam moratorium protest, 1 mill in san fran and washington '69. -- Kent State massacre '70.

Vietnam Veterans were a powerful voice against the war with stories, they took over the statue of liberty for 2 days

(Hard to dismiss their opposition)

Protesting against the draft; MLK against the war as most recruits were young blacks; seen as poor and black mans war, M.Ali refused to go.

Heavily reported; First televised war; US civilians saw war in a way they never had before - wounded and killed, also saw acts of brutality against prisoners and civilians at the My Lai massacre and with the Nepalm bombings.

This Gave the anti war movement momentum, turning people of off the images. "thought they were the good guys", critics though say this actually desensitised people from the violence as it was so heavily shown.

US deficit of $1.6 billion in 1965 raised to over $25 billion in 68; sacrificed the great society which could have dramatically improved the lives of many at home. Seen as a MASSIVE waste of resource with $2 billion a month being spent by '68.

The US economy could not sustain the Vietnam war, spending caused high inflation and a large budget deficit.

Important factor but not crucial as the war should have not dragged on as long as it did. Expected to be a quick victory for the US. did not materialise.

Inexperience of US soldiers not prepared; No Jungle experience; Avg.age 19; 43% killed in their first 3 months there; massive drug use with 21,000 treated in 1971; most soldiers just aiming to get home rather than win or make a difference. fragging was common to kill their own officers.

Troops more interested in surviving their duty than winning as 2 million were drafted - - Definitely important but not as important as tactics and support from the Vietnamese 'Hearts and minds'