Key Insights on the Vietnam War and Its Impact

South Vietnam

Where the farms were.

North Vietnam

Where industry was located.

US involvement in Vietnam

To stop the spread of communism.

Outcome of the Vietnam War

The US left Vietnam and did not stop communism.

Geography of Vietnam

Mountains, Jungles, and a big river.

Viet Cong

The Southern Communist Fighters.

Ho Chi Minh

Leader of North Vietnam in the fight.

French Indo-China Colonial History

French maintained a Christian missionary despite harsh persecution from local Confucian authorities.

1857 French Intervention

French forced the Vietnamese to accept 'protection' to prevent British from obtaining a monopoly of trade in South China.

Nguyen Dynasty

The ruling dynasty of Vietnam.

Guerilla Warfare

Both the fight for independence in 1864 and 1964 were guerilla and fought to the death.

Diem

Leader of South Vietnam who was assassinated by the US in a coup.

Maddox Incident (Tonken Gulf)

A ship that thought it was under attack but it was not; it led to the start of the war.

Fog of War

The inability to know what is actually happening on a battlefield.

Tonkin Gulf

Located in Northeast Vietnam.

Guerrilla Fighters Advantages

More spread out allowing them to fight larger forces and stay out of sight.

Vietnam War Fighting Differences

Battles were harder to anticipate because of guerrilla fighting.

McNamara

Secretary of Defense.

VC Motivation

Had more motivation to win compared to ARVN.

US Village Removal

They thought the VC was there.

Charlie

The VC.

Soldier's Thoughts When Shot

What the hell is communism.

Kennedy's Reaction to Diem's Assassination

Was not happy.

Bombing Ho Chi Minh

Transports were human.

Tet Offensive

Showed the government was being too optimistic; created a credibility gap.

Nightly news effect on public opinion

It shows some horrific things. First time that war is covered on the spot.

Hippies' anger

Angry at the Government and LBJ.

Kent State incident

Protest that resulted in the shooting of college students by the Ohio National Guard.

Woodstock symbolism

Anti-Vietnam Protests.

Race and the war effort

African Americans did not want to fight for something that they did not have at home.

Long hair as a political statement

Long hair was the opposite of what was allowed in the military making it a political statement.

Nixon's War

Nixon calls for "Detente" with the Soviets intending to ease the tensions and isolate North Vietnam.

Nixon's relations with China

Nixon also hoped to normalize relations with China.

Vietnamization

Hoping to train and equip ARVN troops to fight the war.

USSR recognition

USSR recognizes the Provisional Revolutionary Government of North Vietnam.

ARVN troops performance

ARVN troops fight poorly.

US troop issues

US troops decreased in number and face serious drug and alcohol problems.

Kent State date

Kent State - May 1970.

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

Congress rescinds the Tonkin Gulf Resolution.

Heroin cost

Very Cheap.

Cab drivers offer

Anything they wanted.

Music's role in protests

Music allowed for people in the US to unite behind a movement against the war.

Morale issue

There was a lack of understanding as to what the US was fighting for.

Nixon's minimization of conflict

The US public was no longer interested in the war.

Congress and war powers

They rescinded the Tonkin Gulf resolution. (took it away).

Paradox definition

An answer with a seemingly simple answer that, upon further examination is deemed to be unsolvable.

Counterinsurgents

The team working against the insurgents.

Terrorist vs guerrilla fighter

A terrorist is fighting for a belief, a guerrilla fighter is fighting for a country.

Easter Offensive

North seizes territory in the south, March 30th, 1972 - October 22, 1972.

Christmas Bombing

Nixon's retaliation of bombing Northern cities in December 1972.

Paris Peace Accords

January 8, 1973.

Troop withdrawal timeline

March 29 last of the US combat troops leave.

Cease-fire agreement

Cease-fire agreement signed 1973.

US funding cessation

By 1975 US stops funding the south.

Saigon fall date

April 30, 1975, Saigon falls.

Vietnam unification date

July 2, 1976, Vietnam is unified under a communist regime.

Reason for US involvement

To stop the spread of communism.

Reason for US loss

The US lost because of a lack of moral and understanding of communism.

Lesson from Vietnam

A lesson that the US should have taken away from Vietnam is that you need the support of the locals if you want a chance.