Robert Menzies & Australia
Q: Who was Australia’s Prime Minister when we first sent troops to Vietnam?
Robert Menzies
Q: What fear was behind Australia joining the Vietnam War?
The spread of communism
Q: In what country was the Vietnam War fought?
A: Vietnam
Who was Ho Chi Minh?
Ho Chi Minh was a Vietnamese revolutionary leader who led the communist forces in North Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
What does the word conscription mean?
Being forced to join the army
Q: What year did Australia first send combat troops to Vietnam?
1965
Q: Which major ally (not located in Asia) influenced Australia’s decision to join?
The United States
Q Which side did Australia support?
A: South Vietnam / USA / capitalist
What is agent orange?
Agent Orange was a chemical herbicide used by the US military during the Vietnam War to destroy jungle plants and crops, making it harder for enemy forces to hide. It also caused serious health and environmental problems
What technology development meant that civilians could watch the war from their living rooms?
The television.
What theory did Menzies use to justify sending troops?
A: The domino theory
Name two communist (not including North Vietnam) countries in the Asian region at the time
China, North Korea ( Russia also accepted)
Q: What type of war was it (in terms of political system conflict)?
A: Communist vs non-communist
Name two weapons that the US/allies used in the Vietnam war
Public opinion in Australia was divided.
Q: Which Asian country was Australia mainly supporting in Vietnam?
South Vietnam
Name the two alliances Australia was a member of during the Vietnam War
Anzus and Seato
What was significant about the Battle of Long Tan?
At Long Tan, a small Australian company held off a significantly larger enemy force during a large monsoon, becoming a defining moment in Australian military history.
What is Guerrila Warefare?
Guerrilla warfare is when small groups of fighters use surprise attacks, ambushes and hit-and-run tactics against a larger, stronger army.
What year did Menzies announce conscription for the Vietnam War?
1964
Describe Vietnamisation (who introduced it and what did it involve?)
Vietnamisation was a policy introduced by U.S. President Richard Nixon during the Vietnam War. It involved training and supplying South Vietnamese forces so they could take over more of the fighting, allowing American troops to gradually withdraw from Vietnam.
Forward Defence was the policy of fighting threats overseas before they could reach Australia. During the Vietnam War, Australia sent troops to Vietnam to help stop the spread of communism and protect Australia from fighting on its own soil.
What were TWO of the long term implications for returning Australian veterans?
Was Vietnamisation successful? give one reason why it was, and one reason why it wasn't.
Successfully reduced American (and Australian) troop numbers and casualties, easing domestic political pressure
However, South Vietnamese forces struggled to independently match the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong once US support diminished
The conscription lottery was known as what?
The Birthday Ballot