AQA GCSE History Korea & Vietnam Key Facts

What is Capitalism?

A system in which businesses are owned by private individuals, in order to make profit

What is Communism?

A system in which the state controls production, with the aim of equality

What was the Truman Doctrine?

The US policy of trying to contain Communism

What is Containment?

The US policy of trying to contain Communism

What weapon meant that the USA & USSR could easily destroy each other?

Nuclear Weapons

Which ideology was North Korea?

Communist

Which ideology was South Korea?

Capitalist

Which organisation said it would defend the USA its allies if any one of them was attacked?

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)

What year did the Korean War start?

1950

Which country was a close ally of both North Korea and the USSR?

China

Where was Korea divided in 1945?

38th parallel

Who led the North Koreans?

Kim Il Sung

Who led the South Koreans?

Syngman Rhee

Why did the USA support Syngman Rhee?

He was strongly opposed to communism

How long did it take the North Korean's to take the capital of South Korea, Seoul?

3 Days

Why did the UN help defend South Korea?

Because the USSR was boycotting the security council, and hence couldn't use its veto

Why was the USSR boycotting the UN Security Council?

Because the USA wouldn't let communist China into the UN

What percentage of the UN troops were US?

50% of army, with 90% navy and air

Why did France not stop Hitler's remilitarisation of the Rhineland?

There was about to be an election and politicians didn't want to be responsible for starting another war

Who led the UN forces in Korea?

General MacArthur

Where did the UN forces land in Korea?

Inchon

Which river did the UN get close to, forcing China to intervene in Korea?

Yalu River

When did China invade North Korea?

October 1950

How many Chinese troops invaded Korea?

300,000

What had been reached in Korea by Spring 1951?

Stalemate

When was General MacArthur sacked?

11 April 1951

Why was General MacArthur sacked?

Refused to obey Truman's orders

Why did the weather affect the Korean War?

It was very cold and snowy, making it hard to fight

Why did trench warfare affect the Korean War?

It made it hard to defeat the other side

Why did it take two years to reach a peace agreement in Korea?

Couldn't agree on the border/return of prisoners/the use of Chinese & UN forces

Why did Stalin's death help end the Korean War?

Neither China or North Korean could be sure if USSR's help would continue

When was the Armistice signed in the Korean War?

27th July 1953

What was the DMZ?

The 'Demilitarised Zone' between North & South Korea, approximately 3km

How many civilians died in the Korean War?

1 Million

How many US troops died in the Korean War?

36,500

What impact the Korean War have on the Cold War?

It made it 'heat up'/Heightened tensions

Who was Ho Chi Minh?

The leader of the Vietminh/Vietcong/North Vietnam

Which country owned Vietnam as a Colony?

France

Which country occupied Vietnam in WW2?

Japan

What was Domino Theory?

The theory that if one country fell and became communist in Asia, they all would

How did the US support the French in Vietnam?

By sending finacial aid, the USA was paying for about 80%

Which battle ended the French involvement in Vietnam?

Dien Bien Phu, 1954

Which peace agreement ended war between France and Vietnam?

Geneva Agreement, 1954

Which line divided North and South Vietnam?

17th Parallel

Who led the South Vietnamese?

Ngo Dinh Diem

Why was Diem a poor leader of South Vietnam?

Corrupt/Persecuted Buddists/Refused to allow elections

What was the name of the Monk who burned himself in 1963?

Thich Quang Duc

What tactics did the Vietcong use?

Guerilla Tactics

What were Guerilla Tactics?

Hit and run, trying to avoid a pitched battle

List 3 Vietcong tactics

Ambush/Traps/Guerilla/No Uniform etc...

What supplied the Vietcong?

The Ho Chi Minh Trail

Why did the Vietnamese peasants protect the Vietcong?

They disliked the American tactics/The VC threatened them/Helped on their farms

How did Eisenhower involve the USA in Vietnam?

SEATO created/Sent Money and military advisors

Which American programme forced peasants to move to areas away from the Vietcong?

Strategic Hamlet Programme

By 1963, how many 'advisers' were there in Vietnam?

16000

Which boat was attacked at the Golf of Tonkin?

USS Maddox

When was the Gulf of Tonkin incident?

August 1964

What was the consequence of the Gulf of Tonkin?

It gave Johnson the power to escalate the war in Vietnam

What was the US bombing campaign in Vietnam called?

Operation Rolling Thunder

What was the name of missions that US soldiers were sent on in Vietnam?

Search and Destroy

Why were Search and Destroy missions a failure?

Limited intel/It was hard to tell the VC from peasants/Made peasants hate the VC

Which chemical weapons did the Americans use in Vietnam?

Agent Orange/Napalm

What date was the My Lai Massacre?

1968

How many civilians died in the My Lai Massacre?

350 (roughly)

How did the My Lai Massacre affect the American Public?

It shocked them, increased opposition, and had a negative impact on soldiers morale

Which major North Vietnamese offence happened on 30th January 1968?

The Tet Offensive

Which trusted news reporter told the US public that they weren't close to winning the war?

Walter Cronkite

What were the consequences of the Tet offensive?

Increased Anti-war protest/Johnson sent another 200.000 troops/VC lost lots of experienced troops

What was the chant which was shouted at President Johnson to end the Vietnam war?

Hey, Hey, LBJ, how many kids have you killed today?'

What effect did the Media have on the Vietnam War?

Broadcast live pictures/Shocked Americans/Stopped Propaganda

What was a 'Draft Dodger'?

Someone who avoided signing up for war, even though they had been conscripted

Who succeeded Johnson as President in America?

Richard Nixon

What policy did Nixon suggest in Vietnam, meaning the South Vietnamese would defend themselves

Vietnamisation

What was the acronym for the soliders from South Vietnam?

ARVN

Why did Nixon increase bombing in Vietnam?

To try and force the VC to the negotiating table

Which countries did Nixon invade to try and end the war?

Laos & Cambodia

When did the Kent State shooting take place?

May 1970

Which scandal forced Nixon to resign in 1974?

Watergate Scandal

Which peace agreement ended war between the USA and North Vietnam?

Paris Peace Accords

Who was Nixon's national security advisor who carried out negotiations to end the Vietnam War?

Kissinger

When did the last US troops leave Vietnam?

March 1973

What happened on 30th April 1975?

South Vietnam surrended to the Vietcong

How many civilians were killed in the Vietnam War?

1.1 million

How much did it take the US to kill 1 VC soldier?

$400,000

How much did the US spend on the Vietnam War?

$170 billion