USA Involvement
What and when was the Geneva Agreement
What was the main aim of US bombing during the Vietnam War?
To destroy North Vietnam’s industry and stop supplies reaching the Viet Cong.
How long was the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
Over 2km long
When was the Tet Offensive?
1968
Did the American policy of containment succeed or fail?
it FAILED
Who are the 4 important people who played a part?
Ho Chi Minh
Lyndon Johnson
John Foster Dulles
President Eisenhower
What was “search and destroy” and why was it unpopular?
US missions to find and kill Viet Cong fighters, often killing civilians and destroying villages.
What was the original name for the Viet Cong and when was it set up?
1960 - The National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam
How many people died in the Mai Lai massacre?
Around 500
When did the war end?
1975- North Vietnam captured Saigon
Why did the US block Vietnamese elections?
They didn't want Ho Chi Mhin would win...
Which chemical weapons did the US use, and what were they for?
Agent Orange (to destroy jungle cover) and Napalm (to burn villages and crops).
How were the Viet Cong a guerilla force?
They were a small group of soldiers that set up ambushes and traps through a tunnel system to avoid big battles.
What is Tet?
Vietnamese new year
How did this fail militarily for the US?
they had superior troops, weapons, and money, and still could not stop communist forces with guerilla tactics
What was operation rolling thunder?
It was a prolonged and massive U.S. aerial bombardment campaign against North Vietnam from 1965 to 1968, intended to disrupt the enemy's war effort and force them to negotiate peace.
What was Operation Rolling Thunder (1965–1968)?
A major bombing campaign ordered by President Johnson to weaken North Vietnam and cut supply routes.
Why was the Ho Chi Minh Trail vital for Viet Cong success?
It allowed them to move troops, weapons, and supplies to their comrades in the South, strengthening their ability to attack both the South Vietnamese government and American forces.
Who carried out the Mai Lai Massacre?
Charlie Company (US)
What was Vietnam Syndrome?
Vietnam Syndrome was the fear and reluctance in the U.S. to send troops into foreign conflicts after the Vietnam War, because Americans believed they might get trapped in another costly and unwinnable war.
What was the Tonkin Gulf Resolution?
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution gave President Lyndon B. Johnson authority to use military force in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war from Congress. This effectively stole Congress's power to declare war to the president and served as the legal basis for the massive escalation of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
How did US tactics affect American public opinion?
The heavy bombing, civilian deaths, and chemical weapons led to protests and loss of support for the war at home.
Why did the 'strategic hamlet' programme fail?
It failed because the villagers were unhappy and corrupt government officials pocketed money for resources.
Who was convicted for the Mai Lai Massacre?
Lt. William Calley
How did they fail strategically?
Due to heavy bombing Laos and Cambodia, it helped communist forces gain support there, making them communists as well, speeing up the domino effect they were trying to prevent from happening.