CIE IGCSE History - The Vietnam War

which country ruled Vietnam prior to WW2?

France; known as Indochina

which country controlled Vietnam during WW2?

Japan

which group declared the independence of Vietnam at the end of WW2?

the Viet Minh

who was the leader of the Viet Minh?

Ho Chi Minh

which political belief did the Viet Minh hold?

communism

which country supported the Viet Minh?

China

when was the communist takeover of China and who ruled it?

1949 - General Mao

how did the French respond to the declaration of independence by the Viet Minh?

invaded 21 days later with the British

when and where were the French forces pushed out of Vietnam?

the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954

what happened at the international Geneva conference of 1954?

• Vietnam was divided into North Vietnam and South Vietnam

• NV was communist

• SV was anti-Communist; had a pro-western Government

• elections were to be held within 2 years to reunite the country

where were South and North Vietnam divided?

the 17th parallel

what was the USA’s reaction to the division of Vietnam?

• feared that Communism might spread to South Vietnam

• feared that from here, communism would spread throughout Asia

what was the USA’s fear that communism might spread throughout Vietnam called?

Domino Theory

what did the USA want to do about Communism in South Vietnam?

• did not just want to contain it in North Vietnam

• wanted to ‘roll it back’ and remove it entirely

which leader did the USA support in setting up the Republic of South Vietnam in 1955?

Ngo Dinh Diem

how did the USA support the setting up of the Republic of South Vietnam in 1955?

provided $1.6 billion of aid intended to build up the miiltiary

what was the general (Vietnamese) public perception of Ngo Dinh Diem?

• extremely disliked

• he was a part of the landowner’s class and disrespected peasants

• he was a Christian and disrespected the Buddhist religion of most Vietnamese peasants

• was corrupt

how did the USA’s support of Ngo Dinh Diem affect them?

• greatly reduced international standing

• they said that they knew no-one better

what happened in South Vietnam in 1963 (leadership)?

• Ngo Dinh Diem was overthrown in a coup d’etat encouraged by the CIA

• he was replaced by an equally corrupt government which the USA continued to support

what group was set up in 1960?

the National Front for Liberation of South Vietnam

why was the National Front for Liberation of South Vietnam set up?

growing discontentment with the SV government due to corruption

what was the aim of the National Front for Liberation of South Vietnam?

to remove foreign influence from South Vietnam and unite Vietnam

what was the military wing of the National Front for Liberation of South Vietnam called?

Viet Cong

who was the National Front for Liberation of South Vietnam made up of?

• South Vietnamese opponents of the Government

• communist North Vietnamese taking orders from Ho Chi Minh

where were the Viet Cong active?

South Vietnam

when were the Viet Cong formally created?

1960

who supported the Viet Cong?

North Vietnamese government

what emerged between the Viet Cong and South Vietnamese government?

guerilla warfare

when did guerilla warfare first emerge?

circa 1960/1961

how did the USA deal with the guerrilla warfare between the Viet Cong and South Vietnamese Government?

• supported SV

• supplied building materials, money, food and equipment

• began the strategic hamlet program

what was the strategic hamlet program?

• USA’s movement of villages in VC controlled areas to SV controlled areas

• peasants hated this

when was J.F. Kennedy president of the USA?

1961-1963 (assassinated)

when was Lyndon B. Johnson president of the USA?

1963-1969

what was Kennedy’s general policy towards the war in Vietnam?

• sent military personnel known as advisors into Vietnam to help SV (by 1962)

• said USA would not ‘blunder into war’

• failings of Korean War were fresh in his mind

what was LBJ’s general policy towards the war in Vietnam to 1965?

much more open to committing to a full scale conflict in Vietnam

which event catalysed the US response in Vietnam?

Tonkin Gulf Incident - August 1964

describe the Tonkin Gulf Incident

in August 1964, North Vietnamese patrol boats opened fire in US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin

how did the USA react to the Tonkin Gulf Incident?

• Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution

• This gave the president the power to ‘take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression and ensure peace and security.’

what did LBJ decided to do as a result of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution?

decided to involve the USA in a full scale war

which operation began in February 1965?

Operation Rolling Thunder

what was Operation Rolling Thunder?

a bombing campaign against NV cities, factories, army bases and the Ho Chi Minh Trail

what happened on the 8th March 1965?

3500 US Marines came ashore at Da Nang → beginning of full-scale war

why did the USA become involved in the Vietnam war?

containment + Domino theory

when was the Tet Offensive launched?

early 1968

what was the Tet Offensive?

• an attack launched by the Viet Cong on over 100 cities and other military targets

• main focus was Saigon - captured the US embassy, had to be regained room by room

was the Tet Offensive a success for the Viet Cong?

• no: had hoped SV peasants would rise up against their Government (did not)

• no: lost 10,000 experienced fighters

• yes: managed to hold down a large US + SV military base in Saigon for 2 days - only 4500 VC

how did the USA forces react to the Tet Offensive?

• they quickly retook towns and cities but used a lot of weaponry and air power

• destroyed the ancient city of Hue

• civilians died

why was the Tet Offensive embarrassing/damaging for the USA?

the communists had taken them by surprise when they had 500,000 troops in Vietnam and was spending $20 billion per year

what was the impact at home of the USA’s failure at the Tet Offensive?

• triggered the anti-war movement to fully begin

• up until this point, general public belief was that the war was going well - drastically changed public opinion

• LBJ said in March 1968 that he would not stand for re election - demonstration of his perception of failure

when did the draft begin in the USA?

December 1969

who were the key proponents of the Anti-War movement in the USA?

Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King

what were the main reasons why the Anti-War movement grew?

• cost

• inequality

• television coverage

• purpose

describe ‘cost’ as a reason why the anti-war movement grew

• the war cost lots of money, but this did not appear to be helping success

• the public were of the view that the money should be spent at home for pressing issues rather than abroad

• e.g. it cost $500,000 dollars to kill 1 VC soldier, but only $53 were spent on each person in poverty

describe ‘television coverage’ as a reason why the anti-war movement grew

• first televised war

• anyone could see bombing, shooting, atrocities - torture, arson, children burnt by Napalm

• fuelled anti-war beliefs

describe ‘inequality’ as a reason why the anti-war movement grew

• draft exposed inequality in USA

• 30% of African Americans were drafted compared to only 19% of White Americans

• 22% of casualties were African American, when they only made up 11% of the total US force

• do not want to be fighting an unfair war

• Muhammed Ali refused to join the war on account of his Muslim faith - stripped of his world boxing titles

describe ‘purpose’ as a reason why the anti-war movement grew

lots of Americans were confused about what they were actually fighting for - Vietnam was so far away, and why did the government care so much about communism - happened within the soldiers as well

during what period did Anti-war protests reach their height?

1968-70

how many demonstrations were there in the first half of 1968?

over 100, involving 40,000 students

what did demonstrations frequently include?

• burning of the American Flag - a powerful symbol

• the chant: ‘Hey, Hey LBJ; how many kids did you kill today?’

what happened in November 1969 (protests)?

almost 700,000 anti war protesters demonstrated in DC - largest ever political protest

what protest did Norman Morrisson carry out?

• he was a quaker - a pacifist

• he set himself on fire in front of the Pentagon

who was Defence Secretary until 1968?

Robert McNamara - sacked due to how badly the war was going

how did protests contribute to the anti-war movement?

• made it hard for politicians to justify sending troops into Vietnam - democracy

• lower support and morale in Vietnam itself

which brutal event happened in 1968?

My Lai Massacre

what was the My Lai Massacre?

• a search and destroy mission that went horribly wrong

• Charlie Company were told that there were Viet Cong headquarters + 200 guerrillas in a village; all civilians would be at market; under impression to kill everyone and destroy all houses and livestock

• killed 300 to 400 civilians incl. women, children and the elderly

• only 3 weapons found - not VC

what was the original reaction to the My Lai Massacre?

• originally treated as a success - commanding officer said only 20 civilians had been killed

• everyone else was VC

who was the whistle-blower of the My Lai Massacre?

Ronald Ridenhower - soldier who knew some who participated in it

what did Ronald Ridenhower do?

• sent a letter to 30 leading politicians and officials

• said he had evidence of something ‘dark and bloody’

what happened as a result of Ronald Ridenhower’s actions?

• Life magazine published photos taken by Rob Haeberle

• army investigation resulted in the trial of Lieutenant William Calley - convicted of premeditated murder of 22 civilians (accused of 109) - sentenced to 20 years hard labour, released 3 years later

• public anger and anti-war movement drastically grew - officials refused to take accountability for their actions

which political view did both candidates that stood for presidential election in 1968 hold?

anti-war

who was elected president after LBJ?

Nixon - served 1969-73

what did Nixon have to be careful about when trying to withdraw?

• could not be seen as failing or accepting communism

what did Nixon do as a precursor to withdrawing?

improved relationships with USSR and China

what was ‘Vietnamisation’?

• a plan to aid US withdrawal in Vietnam

• involved handing over of responsibility to South Vietnamese troops and withdrawal of US troops

how many US troops were withdrawn between April 1969 and 1971?

400,000

what began in early 1969?

Peace Negotiations

who led peace negotiations in Vietnam?

• US national security advisor - Henry Kissinger

• Vietnamese negotiator - Le Duc Tho

what arial action did Nixon take in Vietnam?

• increased bombing against NV, Ho Chi Minh trail, Cambodia to show that they weren’t weak

• bombing in Cambodia caused national outcry

when was a peace agreement signed?

January 1973, in Paris

what was the peace agreement described as?

‘Peace with honour’

what happened within 2 years of total US withdrawal from Vietnam?

• South Vietnam fell to the communists

• 1975: Cambodia and Laos became communist (Domino theory in action lol)

why did the USA withdraw from Vietnam?

failed militarily:

• outdone by VC tactics - USA could not remove communism if they were not winning militarily

anti war:

• bombing of Cambodia and Laos caused public outcry and dissatisfaction with war effort - could not justify it - increased support for NV

what were the final effects of the Vietnam war on the USA?

• USA became wary of engaging in war physically

• containment policies were altered

• USSR and Chinese relationships were strengthened

what was the key strategy of the vietcong?

To use guerrilla warfare to force USA out of Vietnam, by making American victory impossible - they didn't necessarily want to win

What were the tactics of the Viet Cong?

• To take advantage of local knowledge – of jungle & mountain regions

• To avoid major battles with American forces, blunting effect of their superior technology

• To surprise US troops with ambushes (51% casualties) & booby traps (11% casualties)

• Had no uniform - hard to identify

• To gain support from South Vietnamese peasants, undermining support for South Vietnam

• To supply Vietcong forces inside South Vietnam, via the Ho Chi Minh Trail

• To promote nationalist Vietnamese resentment of foreign intervention in Vietnam - tapping into a historic tradition (France, Japan, China)

what was the Ho Chi Minh trail?

a route from NV to SV through Cambodia and Laos, used to transport supplies and soldiers to forces in SV

How effective were Viet Cong tactics?

Very effective - made the Americans fight in the circumstances they least wanted to fight in - fighting in Jungle, ambushes - the troops weren't trained in this

 They were also effective in getting lots of support from the South Vietnamese peoples - they turned them against the government as they could blame them for all of the US's work

what was the USA’s strategy?'

To make the most of USA’s advantages, to force Ho Chi Minh to withdraw from South Vietnam 

What were the tactics of the USA?

• To use American air superiority to bomb North Vietnam & Ho Chi Minh Trail (‘Rolling Thunder’)

• To destroy Vietcong influence in Southern countryside, with ‘search-&-destroy’ missions (fly into an area, identify Viet Cong, kill them all)

• To take advantage of helicopters to maximise mobility of US military operations

• To use chemical weapons (eg. Agent Orange and Napalm - weedkillers which destroyed jungle; burnt through skin to bone) to stop Vietcong hiding in jungle regions

• To introduce conscription (the ‘draft’), as way to maintain pressure on Vietcong

How effective were Viet Cong tactics?

• not very effective

• key limitation: the more violence they used, the greater loss of support from the South Vietnamese people