Vietnam War 1
What sparked the Vietnam War?
French colonial withdrawal, Vietnamese independence struggle.
When did the Vietnam War officially begin
1955, after French defeat at Dien Bien Phu.
What was the significance of the Geneva Accords
Temporarily divided Vietnam into North and South.
Who led the communist forces in North Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh.
What was the U.S. policy towards Vietnam
Containment of communism / Domino Theory
The Ho Chi Minh Trail
What was Operation Rolling Thunder?
Intensive bombing campaign, aimed to weaken North Vietnam.
What was Agent Orange used for?
Herbicide, defoliant to destroy jungle cover
Who were the "Tunnel Rats"?
Special forces, tasked with clearing Viet Cong tunnels.
What were some of the lasting impacts of Australian Troops as a results of the Vietnam War?
Chemical poisoning - led to birth defects in children
PTSD
What was the Gulf of Tonkin incident
Alleged attack on U.S. ships, escalation trigger
What was the Tet Offensive
Massive Viet Cong and North Vietnamese assault
How did the Vietnam War end
Fall of Saigon, North Vietnamese victory
What is the estimated death toll of the Vietnam War?
Closest team wins
1,353,000 estimated deaths
Who were the four U.S. presidents during the Vietnam War period?
Eisenhower, JFK, LB Johnson, Nixon
How many kilometres of underground tunnels did the North Vietnamese troops use during the war?
Closest team wins
Over 250 kilometers
What was the significance of the My Lai Massacre?
Mass killing of civilians, exposed brutality of war.
Who was Ngo Dinh Diem?
South Vietnamese leader, faced corruption allegations, assassinated.
During the war nearly half of the Australian troops sent to fight were conscripts. How many soldiers to the nearest 1000 were conscripts?
Closest team wins
Approximately 15,381 Australian conscripts
What was the impact of the Vietnam War on Laos and Cambodia?
Extensive bombing, destabilization, and suffering from neighboring conflict.
Explain what the Moratorium means in relation to the Vietnam War.
"Moratorium protests" most commonly refers to the series of large-scale anti-Vietnam War demonstrations held in the United States and Australia in 1969–1971
Conscription during the Vietnam War sparked significant social and political debate in Australia. Describe the process used to select conscripts and outline how public opposition to this policy influenced the government by the early 1970s.
Conscription was determined through a lottery system based on birth dates drawn from a barrel. Growing public opposition, including large-scale protests and the rise of the “Save Our Sons” movement, placed pressure on the government and contributed to the eventual withdrawal of Australian troops and the end of conscription in 1972.
Operation Rolling Thunder (1965–1968) aimed to weaken North Vietnam through sustained aerial bombardment. Despite extensive bombing campaigns, the operation failed. Name two key reasons for this failure, considering both strategic and geographical factors.
1) The North Vietnamese used the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos and Cambodia.
2) The North Vietnamese used tunnel systems to avoid the bombing.
What was the "Vietnamization" policy?
U.S. strategy, gradually transferring combat roles to South Vietnamese.
What was the impact of the Tet Offensive on public opinion?
Shocked Americans, eroded support for the war effort.