TET
Define Pacification
The process by which US forces aimed to counter Viet Cong insurgencies and establish control through occupying and 'pacifying' a particular geographical area; the Americans aimed to establish control over the area and remove communist influence over the people.
Define Moratorium
A temporary prohibition of an activity (used by th eanti-war movement in the US and Australia)
What was the Mad Man theory?
What was Watergate?
Watergate was a scandal which was exposed from a failed break in at the US democratic National Committee undertaken by Nixon's administration and the subsequent attempt to cobver up his involvement, leading to his resignation.
This 1972 photograph of a young girl fleeing a napalm attack became one of the war’s most iconic images. Name the Image
The "Napalm Girl"
Provide Westmoreland's two beliefs about the TET offensive
- Claimed communist side had failed in its objectives as the people of the south did not stand up to support the.
- He maintained the VC had suffered serious losses that the NVA would now take the lead role in the South
What occurred as a result of the Kent State Shooting? Provide as many statistics as possible.
The news of the killings triggered a wave of protests, raising doubts about the US foreign policy. In April 1971, about 500,000 anti-war marchers converged on Washington D.C in a massive protest.
This led to the "May Day" protest, resulted in 12,000 arrests on May 1-5
What problems did US policy makers face in regards to the Vietnam War?
- Initially believed that Ho was intent on spreading communism, only to realise he was more focussed on National unity.
- Furthermore, the lack of wide acceptance of the SV government by their population, fueled by their brutality only served to promote anti-war movements against US intevention
What 4 reasons are provided for why communism succeeded?
1. Vietnamese Nationalism was at the centre of the NV fight
2. The US had misread the situation and saw the conflict as part of the wider Cold War.
3. Ho had continually argued that it was mostly about the struggle for their homeland and national sovereignty.
4. The victory in the region was not as crucial to the US
Correctly spell the name of the tunnels used by the VC in SV.
The Cu Chi tunnels
Provide 2 impacts of TET on US soldiers and what they resulted in.
Anti-War feelings in the US decreased the Morale of the troops and led to worse results in the field.
Many american soldiers were shocked by the attacks and bitter about their losses, this led to them becoming more aggressive that usual in their patrols
Provide the 4 revelationsmade out as a result of the Pentagon Papers.
Secretary of Defense, Robert Macnamara stated that the Eisenhower administration supported the South Vietnamese Ngo Dinh Diem regime 'not only to help a friend, but to contain China'.
Kennedy's administration knew of plans to overthrow South Vietnamese leader Diem
Johnson's promise to the nation to 'seek no wider war' after the Tonkin Incident in '64 was false. He intensified covert warfare campaigns from this time
Johnson ordered the bombing of NV in 1965, despite intelligence advice arguing that it would not cause the NV to cease their support of the VC in SV.
What was signed in 1973, why was it important and what happened as a result??
The Paris Peace Agreement, it ended direct American involvement in Vietnam, however, the US continued to aid the ARVN to sustain a fighting force against the NV, a small presence remained in the south to advise the Thiem regime and maintain operations at the US embassy
What occurred on the 9th of March 1975, and what did it result in. (Key details needed)
General Dung commenced a major operation in the central highlands. The NVA then marched southwards, causing panic to begin. The NVA fired on civilians, killing over 100,000 southerners. Dung, along with 18 NVA divisions marched on Saigon in April, and the ARVN collapsed by the end of the month.
This 1972 NVA offensive used Soviet T‑54 tanks and nearly collapsed South Vietnam before U.S. airpower intervened (We have studied this very breifly)
The Easter Offensive
Explain the reason and stages of the TET offensive with as much detail as you can.
NVA initially conducted a seige of the US base at Khe Sanh as a diversion to distract, then in Janurary 68 VC and NVA exploited the New Year's celebration using 84,000 troops. Attacked 48 provincial capitals, five major cities an 64 district capitals, including Saigon. The offensive lasted 2 weeks.
What key problem did Australian's face in regards to the Vietnamese war?
What three resistance groups were created as a result of this? and what did they achieve/aim to do
Conscription was dictated by Menzies in 1964 as a result of the National Service Act.
The Youth Campaign Against Conscription, organised protests and the burning of national service papers
Save our Sons, Organised hiding places for men who sought to avoid conscription
The Australian Trade Union helped organise protests and rallies
How did Nixon get out of Vietnam? (4 reasons from the textbook)
- Announced that he would end US involvement by 1973
- Undertook Operation Menu from 1969 to halt communist spread into the south
- Nixon initiated the Christmas bombing campaign dropping over 40,000 tonnes of bombs over NV in December of 1972
- He appeared unpredictable, ruthless and ready to do whatever to see the end of the conflict.
Discuss the value of Source 46 to a historian studying the nature of US troop withdrawal in 1975.
- Removal of US citizens from the region via helicopters
- Primary evidence of the withdrawal taking place
- the proximity of the VC to the airbase
- US left while the base was being captured
- VC overall victory
This U.S. Navy vessel was attacked in 1964, leading to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
The USS Maddox
The coordinated assault on 36 provincial capitals was enabled by the covert pre‑positioning of weapons in urban areas, often hidden inside what type of building?
Pagoda's (and coffins)
The first major anti‑war “teach‑in” occurred at this university in 1965, challenging the logic of containment.
The University of Michigan
The failure of this massive 1972 bombing campaign demonstrated that air power alone could not force Hanoi to concede.
Operation Linebacker II
South Vietnam’s government was undermined by this chronic problem, a term, where officers inflated troop numbers to steal salaries.
Ghost Soldiers
This U.S. intelligence group failure underestimated NVA infiltration rates, leading to the “Order of Battle” controversy.
MACV’s undercounting of VC/NVA troop strength