Vietnam war

Q: What was French Indochina?

A: A French colony made up of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Q: Which country occupied Vietnam during World War II?

A: Japan.

Q: Who were the Viet Minh?

A: A communist-led nationalist group that fought for Vietnamese independence from France.

Q: What event ended French colonial rule in Vietnam?

A: The Viet Minh’s victory at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954).

Q: What did the Geneva Accords decide in 1954?

A: Vietnam was temporarily divided at the 17th parallel into communist North and anti-communist South.

Q: What was the Domino Theory?

A: The belief that if one country fell to communism, neighbouring countries would follow.

Q: Why did the U.S. support France in Vietnam?

A: To stop the spread of communism during the Cold War.

Q: What incident led to increased U.S. involvement in 1964?

A: The Gulf of Tonkin Incident.

Q: What did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution allow President Johnson to do?

A: Use military force in Vietnam without declaring war.

Q: What was Operation Rolling Thunder?

A: A U.S. bombing campaign against North Vietnam starting in 1965.

Q: What was the Tet Offensive (1968)?

A: A surprise attack by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces on South Vietnamese cities; it was a psychological turning point in the war.

Q: What was the Battle of Long Tan?

A: A 1966 battle where 108 Australian soldiers defeated a larger Viet Cong force; symbolised Australian bravery.

Q: What happened at the My Lai Massacre?

A: U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, an act considered a war crime.

Q: What were “strategic hamlets”?

A: Fortified villages meant to protect peasants from the Viet Cong but often caused resentment.

Q: Why was Diem overthrown in 1963?

A: Due to his corrupt, oppressive rule and persecution of Buddhists.

Q: Why did Australia join the Vietnam War?

A: To support the U.S. and prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.

Q: What was the conscription system during the Vietnam War?

A: A lottery system selecting 20-year-old men for compulsory military service.

Q: How did television affect public opinion?

A: Graphic war coverage turned many Australians against the war.

Q: What were the Moratorium marches?

A: Mass protests against the Vietnam War and conscription in Australia.

Q: What is the significance of the Battle of Long Tan in Australia?

A: It’s commemorated each year on Vietnam Veterans Day.

Q: What happened after the fall of Saigon in 1975?

A: North Vietnam took control, ending the war and uniting the country under communism.

Q: Who were the “boat people”?

A: Vietnamese refugees fleeing by sea after the war to escape persecution.

Q: How did Australia respond to Vietnamese refugees?

A: Initially cautious, but later accepted thousands under the Fraser government.

Q: What were the long-term effects of the Vietnam War?

A: Social division, mistrust in government, and changes to Australian defence and immigration policies.

Q: How did the war shape Australia’s foreign policy?

A: Australia became more independent, focusing on regional partnerships instead of automatic U.S. alignment.

Q: What was the Cold War?

A: A period of political, military, and ideological rivalry between the USA (capitalist democracy) and USSR (communist dictatorship) from 1945–1991, without direct fighting.

Q: What were the main ideologies of the USA and USSR?

A: USA – capitalism and democracy; USSR – communism and authoritarian rule.

Q: What caused tensions between the USA and USSR after WWII?

A: Opposing ideologies, disagreement over Eastern Europe, and mistrust at Yalta and Potsdam.

Q: What was decided at the Yalta Conference (1945)?

A: Division of Germany, creation of the UN, and free elections in Eastern Europe (which the USSR later ignored).

Q: Why did tensions increase at the Potsdam Conference (1945)?

A: Leadership changes (Truman and Attlee), U.S. atomic bomb, and Stalin’s control of Eastern Europe.

Q: What was the Long Telegram (1946)?

A: George Kennan warned the USA that the USSR was expansionist; influenced containment policy.

Q: What was the Novikov Telegram (1946)?

A: The Soviet response, accusing the USA of seeking world domination.

Q: What was the Truman Doctrine (1947)?

A: A U.S. policy to support countries resisting communism — the start of containment.

Q: What was the Marshall Plan (1947)?

A: U.S. aid program giving $12.7 billion to rebuild Western Europe and prevent communism.

Q: How did the USSR respond to the truman doctrine and marshall plan

A: By creating Cominform (1947) and Comecon (1949) to control communist nations and reject U.S. aid.

🔴 Cominform = Political control of communist countries.
🔵 Comecon = Economic control of communist countries.

Q: Why did Australia join the Vietnam War?

A: To support the U.S. and prevent communism from spreading closer to home (following the ANZUS alliance).

Q: Who were the leaders of North and South Vietnam during the Vietnam War?

A: North Vietnam was led by Ho Chi Minh, a communist revolutionary who wanted to unite Vietnam under one government. South Vietnam was led by Ngo Dinh Diem, who was supported by the U.S. but was unpopular and corrupt.