Escalation of Conflict in Vietnam (Vietnam War)

History AQA GCSE

When does the Vietnam war begin?

In 1958 between France and Vietnam

Domino Theory

A theory that if one nation comes under Communist control, then neighboring nations will also come under Communist control.

What happened during WWII?

Japan took Vietnam from China

Ho Chi Minh

Communist leader of North Vietnam

Diem

Leader of South Vietnam

Hanoi

Capital of North Vietnam

Saigon

Capital of South Vietnam

French Indochina

the French colonies of Cambodia and Laos and Vietnam were formerly organized as French Indochina

Nguyen Vo Giap

North Vietnamese general

Thich Quang Duc

a famous monk who did self-immolation

Self-immolation

the offering of oneself as a sacrifice, especially by burning; suicidal action in the name of a cause or strongly held belief

Dien Bien Phu (1954)

Disastrous defeat of a French army by Vietnamese Communists led by Ho Chi Minh.

Conventional Warfare

War using conventional weapons - weapons acceptable under Geneva Conventions

Guerilla Warfare

A hit-and-run technique used in fighting a war; fighting by small bands of warriors using tactics such as sudden ambushes

when does Vietnam declare independence

1945

Dien Bien Phu

French airbase in Northwest Vietnam, contained 10,000 French troops

Why was Dien Bien Phu successful?

1. Vietminh moved at night so can't be seen
2. They used a combination of guerrilla and conventional warfare
3. French assumed Dien Bien Phu was safe
4. They were determined

What happened with the conflict before Dien Bien Phu?

1. French won against Giap's army in conventional warfare because the French have better training and equipment
2. Vietminh shifted tactics to guerilla warfare and took control of jungles and countrysides
3. With chinese support they killed 80,000 out of 190,000
4. French punished Vietnamese villagers leading to increase in communism

What happened at Dien Bien Phu?

- 50,000 Vietminh surrounded it and attacked with artillery
- Destroyed runaway preventing French aircraft from bring supplies, so French ran out of water & medicines
- Lasted 55 days, French surrended on 7th May 1954
- 3,000 French killed & 8,000 wounded
- 8,000 Vietminh killed & 12,000 wounded
- French PoWs (prisoners of war) forced to march to prison camps and half died

Consequences of Dien Bien Phu

- French Prime Minister resigned
- French Parliament voted 471 to 14 to withdraw from all of French IndoChina
- Between 1946-1954, over 400,000 soldiers and civilians died
- Geneva Accords

Geneva Accords

agreement that divided Vietnam into North and South along the 17th Parallel until elections were to be held by 1956. Ho Chi Minh- North Vietnam Leader and Dinh Diem- South Vietnam Leader

VietMinh

North Vietnamese Communist Soldiers

VietCong

South Vietnamese Communist Soldiers

What did Diem do in 1955?

He broke the Geneva Accords and held the elections early and won by 98.2%- he rigged the elections so he could win

What was the 1962 Strategic Hamlet Program?

- Idea was to starve the VietCong of peasant support and supplies
- Peasants told they needed 'protection' from VietCong
- Forced to move from their homes to 'Strategic Hamlets', often miles away from villages and fields
- Camps surrounded by barbed wire & ditches
- By 1963, 2/3 of the population were moved -\> peasants were angry and turned to the VC

Was the Strategic Hamlet Program a success?

No because it made peasants angry at the US and made them turn to communism and the VC

Why was Diem so unpopular?

1. Diem was a Catholic who discriminated against his country's Buddhist majority and persecuted them through his policies
2. Diem persecuted his political oppositions- 100,000 are persecuted
3. Strategic Hamlet Program (1962)
4. Nepotism- he gave roles to his friends and family
5. Broke the Geneva Accords and rigged the elections
6.His land policies gave more land to fewer powerful landlords and pushed peasants off land they farmed on for generations
7. The VietCong offered a unification of Vietnam

Who is Madame Nhu?

Diem's sister-in-law- the 'first lady' of South Vietnam

When did the South Vietnamese civil war begin?

1957

What was the NLF?

The National Liberation Front was a broad based nationalist organisation dedicated to the unification of Vietnam

Facts about the NFL

- Led by Hua Tho
- Guerrilla tactics
- Soviet & Chinese supplied weapons to Ho Chin Minh & North Vietnam
- Smuggled to the South by the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos and Cambodia
- Fought for unification
- Treat peasants well

What was the ARVN?

Army of the Republic of Vietnam; South Vietnamese Army

Facts about the ARVN

- Diem and his generals
- Conventional warfare
- US supplied, trained and armed more weapons and money
- Fought for Diem's regime
- Introduced the Strategic Hamlet Program

When was Diem assassinated?

November 2, 1963 \= ARVN generals sought US approval and CIA support to remove him

Why was Diem overthrown?

- Diem's corruption and brutality made him unpopular with South Vietnamese people. This provoked civil war
- Despite US support, the ARVN can't beat NFL whose tactics were effective, and policies supported by South Vietnamese peasants
- Strategic Hamlet Program destroyed any support left and encouraged peasants to join the NFL

The Red Scare

Fear of the dangerous spread of communism across the world. Propaganda in USA fuelled this idea

McCarran Act

Law that limited employment opportunities for communists in USA

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

All US communist groups had to register with this body

Joseph McCarthy

Senator who claimed to have a list of 200 communist government workers- his accusations escalated the Red Scare and led to many sackings

President of U.S. 1961-1963

JFK- assassinated in 1963

Why did the US get involved in Vietnam?

1) Domino Theory
2) Public Opinion (USA)- upcoming elections and both say they will fight communism
3) Fear of Ho Chi Minh- very popular & powerful and people want communism
4)American Ideals- capitalism, democracy, personal freedoms
5) Intimidate USSR- concerned of USSR spread
6) American Pride- after French defeat, USA need to stay strong. They only need stop Ho Chi Minh

Name 6 VC tactics

- Underground Tunnel System
- Ho Chi Minh Trail
- 'Hanging on the Belts'
- No standard uniform or equipment
- Punji Traps and Bouncing Betties
- Propaganda and civilian recruitment

What was the underground tunnel system?

Their bases were underground, the tunnels were over 300 km under the jungle and had hospitals, kitchens and conferences room. They learnt that anything visible from the air was a target.
Advantages: They are booby-trapped, protective measures available and have a lot of facilities
Disadvantages: Can be gassed

What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail?

A series of paths, tracks and roads, a vital supply route for the VC. Supplied weapons, food and soldiers. They received 60 tonnes of supplies per day. The trail ran through Laos and Cambodia
Advantages: Through thick jungles so US can't find it, can be rebuilt quickly
Disadvantages: Can be bombed

What was 'Hanging on the Belts'?

Temporary camps the VC set up along the Ho Chi Minh Trail helped the VC launch surprise attacks on the US
Advantages: Avoids bombing as US might bomb own troops due to close contact
Disadvantages: Had to be close

What did no standard uniform or equipment do?

The VC didn't wear uniform and disguised as Vietnamese peasants. Generally used USSR weapons (AK-47s)
Advantages: Can't be identified, light, simple, reliable
Disadvantages: Not secure

What were punji traps and bouncing betties?

Sharpened bamboo sakes hidden in shallow pits covered in leaves. Could easily pierce through the sole of army boots and even damage limbs. VC would smear the spikes with human/ animal excrement leading to infection in wounds. When triggered mines launched in the air and are designed to explode at stomach (genital height)
Advantages: Well suited to the jungle, element of surprise

What was propaganda and civilian recruitment?

VC relied on support of villagers, but they used terror tactic to make people do what they want. Police, tax collectors, teachers and other SV workers were attacked
Advantages: Kept people in line
Disadvantages: Killed 27,000 civilians and government workers

Why were the VietCong's tactics so effective?

- Element of surprise
-Caused US fear of VC tactics/methods
- Undermined USA's superior air force/bombing raids
- Civilian recruitment (had no uniform)
- Knowledge of the terrain
- Propaganda war increases peasant support for VC
- Hard to pin down by superior US forces, can't be defeated

By 1968 how many G.Is (American Troops) were there?

1/2 million with an average age of 19 and majority were drafted in to serve a 'tour of duty' (1 year) and 41% were black despite only 11% of the population being black. Relied on superior air power, technology and training to overcome VC tactics

Name 7 US tactics

- Operation Rolling Thunder
- Hearts and MInds Programme
- Search and Destroy Raids
- Napalm
- Agent Orange
- Body Count
- Army Recruitment

What was Operation Rolling Thunder?

Launched in Feb 1965, intended to pound NV with countless bombs. Next 3 years giant B-25 bombs dropped on NV. Idea was to maim not kill, wanted to reduce VC manpower
Advantages: Injured people, means less manpower for VC
Disadvantages: Didn't defeat VC, strengthened VC underground bases

What was the hearts and minds programme?

Massive recruitment to get the peasant's support. Strategic Hamlet Program was part of it
Disadvantages: It failed and made peasants support VC more

What was search and destroy raids?

Used superior technology and firepower. Idea was to search villages for VC soldiers and would destroy it if any soldiers found
Advantages: Terrifies SV peasants, removes a VC base
Disadvantages: Turns SV away from capitalism

What was napalm?

A mixture of a gelling agent and either petrol or a similar fuel. Burns through anything
Advantages: Destroys thick jungles
Disadvantages: Burns through skin, muscles and bones, causing terrible injuries

What was Agent Orange?

Highly toxic weed killer, that destroyed jungles, so US can see VC trails and bases. Another killer was Agent Blue. It destroyed their crops. Chemicals caused cancer
Advantages: Exposed VC trails and tunnel entrance and bases, destroyed their crops
Disadvantages: Chemicals caused cancer and pregnant woman who came in close contact likely gave birth to chromosomal children

What was Body Count?

For every US killed, a VC must die and more. If you kill the most you win
Advantages: It reduced VC numbers
Disadvantages: VC found out and started taking dead bodies with them

What was the army recruitment?

Used a form of conscription called the draft process. Majority of men were people of colour
Advantages: Got more men

Cherries

Young, inexperienced soldiers

Fragging

The practice of soldiers turning on and killing their commanders

Drug use

Many soldiers turned to alcohol, marijuana and later cocaine to deal with the horrors of war in Vietnam

Why were US forces unable to defeat the VC?

- VC tactic led to fear within marines, so they are less willing to fight
- US air forces less effective due to VC tunnels and hanging to the belts
-Search and Destroy Raids often failed to identify real VC troops
- Heart and Minds Programme undermined by US brutality and force very little support for the US
- Body Count was undermined by VC tactics and willingness to be sacrificed
- The draft + anti-war sentiment undermined marines' motivation to fight

President of US between 1963- 1969

LBJ- Lyndon B Johnson

When was the Gulf of Tokin?

1964

What do LBJ do in March 1964?

Sends US destroyers like the USS Maddox to monitor the Gulf of Tonkin

What happens on the 3rd August 1964?

USS Maddox "attacked" by Vietnamese torpedo boats- the Maddox fired back and sank one of the boats

What happened on 4th August 1964?

LBJ announces he is increasing US involvement in Vietnam

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (7th August 1964)

US Act granting LBJ power to see US military in Vietnam

Camp Holloway (1965)

VC attacked a US helicopter base- killing 8 marines and wounding 100

Operation Rolling Thunder (1965-1968)

LBJ authorises a 3-year major bombing campaign pf North Vietnam and communist military facilities. US marines were also deployed in South Vietnam

Tet Offensive (1968)

The Tet Offensive was one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War, launched on January 30, 1968 by forces of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army against the forces of South Vietnam, the United States, and their allies. It failed militarily, but had an enormous psychological impact on the US, showing that the war was far from over, and proving that the government was lying about the war.

US public opinion on the Vietnam War in August 1965

61%

US public opinion on the Vietnam War in February 1968

42%

US public opinion on the Vietnam War in May 1971

28%

General Westmoreland

The commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam

What had happened by December 1967?

- USA had almost 500,000 troops in Vietnam
- The VC had lost almost 100,000 men in 1967
- Little negative media coverage and american support was at 48%
- LBJ and Westmoreland were confident the US would win

Battle of Khe Sanh (1968)

- US marine base near the border
-Encircled and besieged by VietMinh starting 27th Jan 1968
-5.5 month siege
-Operation Niagara launched by US to retaliate (100K tonnes bombs). VietMinh lose the siege and the operation niagara costs $1 billion
- Succeed in drawing US forces away from the cities

What happened during the Tet Offensive?

1) Tet- Lunar New Year- 31st Jan
2) Radio Tower captured, and message sent (that it's time to overthrow the SV government)
3) 100+ towns and cities at the same time
4) US embassy attacked
5) Summary execution of VC officer
6)Saigon won back in 6 hours
7) Battle of Hue- 1 month
8) LBJ doesn't run for re-election

Why is TET offensive considered a turning point in the war?

- US public see VC as a threat
- VC switch to conventional warfare- Khe Sanh
- LBJ doesnt run for re-election- focus changed from trying to win to trying to leave without being seen to lose
- See the US as vulnerable
- Questioning everything

Walter Cronkite

Famous news reporter who begins to doubt the war after the Tet Offensive

What happens in Feb 1968?

- They are in a stalemate
- USA change focus from winning to trying to leave
-LBJ doesn't run for re-elections
-Nixon is elected promising to withdraw US troops and end the war

Charlie Company

US troops involved in the My Lai Massacre in 1968 under Lt. Calley.

William Calley

led My Lai massacre, convicted of war crimes

Seymour Hersh

reporter who breaks news of My Lai Massacre.

Hugh Thompson

helicopter pilot during My Lai who evacuates women and children during the massacre

Ron Ridenhour

Person who sent 30 letters to people in congress about My Lai

Credibility Gap

American public's growing distrust of statements made by the government during the Vietnam War

How many civilians died?

22