Vietnam

GCSE History Paper 3 - Vietnam

What were the Geneva Accords (1954)?

An agreement that split Vietnam at the 17th parallel — North (communist) under Ho Chi Minh, South (capitalist) under Diem. Elections planned for 1956 (which were never held).

Why did the USA support Diem?

He was anti-communist and seen as a barrier to the spread of communism in SE Asia (domino theory).

When and why did the Vietcong (NLF) form?

1960, to resist Diem’s government and reunite Vietnam under communism.

What was the Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964)?

Alleged attacks on US ships — USS Maddox and Turner Joy — used to justify greater US involvement.

What did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution allow?

Gave President Johnson power to send US troops without a formal declaration of war.

When did Operation Rolling Thunder start?

1965 — large-scale bombing campaign over North Vietnam.

When did the first US combat troops arrive?

March 1965, at Da Nang, marking a significant escalation in US involvement in the Vietnam War.

What were Vietcong tactics?

Guerrilla warfare, tunnels (Cu Chi), booby traps, blending with civilians, avoiding open battles.

What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail?

A supply route through Laos and Cambodia used by the North to supply the Vietcong.

What was "search and destroy"?

US tactic involving helicopter insertions to find and kill Vietcong — often led to civilian casualties.

What was "hearts and minds"?

US campaign to win Vietnamese civilian support — largely unsuccessful.

What was the Strategic Hamlet Programme (1962)?

A program aimed at isolating rural peasants from the Vietcong by relocating them to fortified villages, ultimately proving ineffective as it caused resentment.

What happened during the Tet Offensive (Jan 1968)?

Vietcong attacked over 100 cities during Vietnamese New Year. Militarily failed but shocked US public.The Tet Offensive was a massive, coordinated surprise attack by the Vietcong and North Vietnamese forces against South Vietnamese and US troops, significantly altering American perceptions of the war despite its military failure.

What was the My Lai Massacre (1968)?

A mass killing of unarmed South Vietnamese civilians by US military forces, leading to widespread outrage and questioning of US involvement in the Vietnam War. US soldiers killed ~500 civilians in a village suspected of housing Vietcong.

When was My Lai revealed and by whom?

The My Lai Massacre was revealed in 1970 by investigative journalists, particularly Seymour Hersh, highlighting the atrocities and leading to widespread public outcry.

What was the “credibility gap”?

Public belief that the government was lying about progress in Vietnam.

Who said the war was “unwinnable” on TV?

CBS anchor Walter Cronkite after Tet.

What were the Pentagon Papers (1971)?

Leaked documents showing the government had misled the public about the war.

What happened at Kent State (1970)?

4 students shot dead by National Guard during anti-war protest.

What was Vietnamisation?

Nixon’s policy to train South Vietnamese troops so US soldiers could leave.

When were the Paris Peace Accords signed?

1973 — agreed US withdrawal and ceasefire.

When did US troops leave Vietnam?

1973

When did the Fall of Saigon occur?

April 1975 — North Vietnamese captured the South; Vietnam was united under communism.