Flashcards
Vietnam War
Cards in this deck (38)
- 1Who were the 2 rulers of South Vietnam and North Vietnam?North Vietnam = Hi Chi Minh
South Vietnam = Diem - 2What was happening in the North that annoyed the people?Collectivisation caused 1 million to flee to the south.
Ho Chi Minh's regime was based on land reform. - 3Why was Diem hated in the south?He was a Catholic in a Buddhist country and he tried changing the religion.
He was corrupt nepotistic and Dulles even admitted the only reason the US supported him was because there was no one else to do it. - 4What was the National Liberation Front (NLF)An organisation established by the north in 1960 where members would go into the north to 'free' the south from US imperialism.
They established a complex communication system which became known as the Ho Chi Minh trail to transport supplies to the NLF. - 5What was President Kennedy's main policy in South Vietnam?He developed counterinsurgency in the south and delivered ground forces to the south.
- 6A report was created during Kennedy's presidency regarding what they should do in Vietnam, what did this report conclude?Kennedy needed to:
Increase the number of helicopters.
Kennedy needed to train the south to fight themselves.
He needed to increase troop numbers to 10,000
He should use some strategic bombing. - 7Kennedy established the Strategic Hamlet Programme. What was this, when was it started and how successful was Kennedy?It began in March 1962 through Operation Sunrise.
He created armed stockades to house the south and isolate them from the Vietcong.
By 1962, 4 million people lived in a hamlet but it proved impossible to isolate the Vietcong completely. - 8What did President Johnson initially do in Vietnam?He continued counterinsurgency as Kennedy did however he increased military advisers from 16,300 - 23,300.
- 9What was put in place in January 1964 which escalated pressure for the North?OPLAN 34
- 10What happened at the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964?The north attacked US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin sinking 1 ship and damaging 2.
In retaliation Johnson ordered an air strike. - 11What was the Gulf of Tonkin resolution and when was it put in place?August 1964.
The resolution meant that Johnson could take immediate action in Vietnam without having to consult congress first. - 12How had the situation for the USA worsened by the end of 1964?China agreed to provide aid to the north.
The USSR established diplomatic relations with the NLF.
The Peoples Army of North Vietnam moved down the Ho Chi Minh trail.
There was an anti-American feeling in the South.
The ARVN (south army) had inadequate pay and training. - 13What did Johnson do to solve this?He continued to fight as he believed the only way the north would back down was by increasing the pressure.
- 14What was Operation Rolling Thunder?A bombing campaign ordered by Johnson that lasted between 1965-1968 and marked the beginning of escalation.
- 15When did Johnson publically announce that he would escalate the US military role?July 1965
He ordered:
2 marine battalions
Air squadron
20,000 troops - 16What was the TET offensive of 1968?The Vietcong launched a series of attacks against US targets and the US embassy was the main focus.
The USA were victorious in a rapid defeat.
However the US experienced a psychological defeat as the televised war encouraged anti-war protests. - 17What did President Nixon promise when he came into office in 1969?That he wasn't going to end up like LBJ, he would stop the war and fast.
He wanted 'peace with honour' - 18What was Nixon's main policy in Vietnam and what did this mean for the south?Vietnamisation
He wanted to withdraw US troops and train the south to fight for themselves.
It was designed to encourage the north to negotiate. - 19How many US troops were in the South of Vietnam in June 1969 and how many had this reduced to by June 1972?543,000
47,000 - 20When was the reformed ARVN first tested and were they successful?1972 when the north launched their Spring Offensive.
The ARVN resisted and suffered 8000 casualties - the north suffered nearly 5 times that number.
They were supported by the Us bombing campaign Operation Linebacker I where they dropped 150,000 tons of bombs. - 21Did Nixon's Vietnamisation policy work?No
The ARVN ultimately relied on the US for support because the process was so rushed.
It remained corrupt.
It did little to strengthen the aim of achieving 'peace with honour' - 22Why did President Nixon expand into Cambodia?To severe the supply lines of the trail.
To pressurise the north into an agreement.
To compensate for the Vietnamisation programme and maintain the support of the south. - 23What happened in Cambodia?The leader was overthrown by pro-USA leader Lon Nol.
The north increased it's presence using the Khumer Rouge led by Pol Pot
The US committed 20,000 ground troops into Cambodia.
The US dropped over 2 million tonnes of bombs at over 112,000 sites. - 24What were the consequences of the extension into Cambodia?The ability of the Vietcong was undermined.
The north moved deeper into Cambodia.
Opposition at home increased as the war was televised - 1970 = 4 students were shot by the National Guard at Kent State.
The senate voted to remove the Gulf of Tonkin resolution. - 25Why did Nixon extend into Laos in 1971?He wanted to cut off the Ho Chi Minh trail but because congress had banned the use of US troops after Cambodia, the ARVN had to take action with the support of only the US air military.
- 26What did Nixon do in Laos?He activated Operation Lam Son 719
He sent in a force of ARVN troops (30,000) supported by US air forces.
They were forced to withdraw because the North was more superior.
Vietnamisation and 'peace with honour' was failing. - 27What were the strengths of the US?Economic strength
Bombing was a strength
They had access to chemicals which activated Operation Ranch Hand where Agent Orange was used to get rid of the forest and expose the Vietcong.
The strategy of search and destroy used 1965-1968 was successful. - 28What were the strengths of the North of Vietnam?They had peasant support in the south.
They had the Ho Chi Minh trail.
They had the Vietcong. and guerrilla tactics.
The support of the USSR and China. - 29What were the weaknesses of the USA?The ARVN were not committed enough.
The TV coverage showed the brutality of war and encouraged anti-war protests.
They couldn't gain the support of the south's peasants. - 30What were the weaknesses of the North?The depended solely on the USSR and China.
They couldn't guarantee the support of the peasants. - 31What was agreed at the Paris Peace Talks of 1972?A ceasefire would begin in 1973.
Each side would keep their areas controlled during the ceasefire.
Within 60 days the US would withdraw.
A commission would be set up that would ensure free elections in the south and the eventual reunification of the country. - 32Why did the Vietnam war continue when it should have ended in 1973?The US troops were gone by March 1973 but the north continued the use of guerrilla tactics and the ARVN couldn't cope.
The US promised to give them $1 billion in armaments. - 33When did the war finally end?The south surrendered to the north in April 1975.
- 34What were the costs of the war in America?58,000 died and 2.7 million served.
US veterans faced rejection on their return as the public had seen the brutality of war.
A debate over draft dodgers took place,
It cost them $167 billion
The domino effect took place as Laos and Cambodia fell to communism and SEATO lost its relevance and was disbanded. - 35What were the costs of the war in Vietnam?1.3-9 million dead
They faced hostility from the US e.g. President Ford placed a trade embargo on them.
Massive destruction to agricultural land as 643,000 tones of bombs were dropped in the north and 700,000 in the south.
Southerners were forced into 're-educational' camps.
Collectivisation was enforced. - 36What happened under President Kennedy?Counterinsurgency
Strategic Hamlet Programme - 37What happened under President Johnson?OPLAN 34
Counterinsurgency
Gulf of Tonkin
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
TET offensive
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Ranch Hand - 38What happened under President Nixon?Vietnamisation
Peace with Honour
Operation Menu
Operation Lam Son
Operation Linebacker I
Paris Peace Talks
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- A2 History (The Cold War ) Flashcards on Vietnam War , created by Jennifer Washbourne on 16/05/2017.
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- Jennifer Washbourne
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