Atomic Bomb
Which country dropped the atomic bombs on Japan?
USA
What type of government did Japan become after WWII?
Democracy
Who was the leader of the Viet Minh?
Ho Chi Minh
What type of warfare did the Viet Cong use?
Guerrilla warfare
Who was the leader of Communist China in 1949?
Mao Zedong
Name one city where the atomic bomb was dropped.
Nagasaki / Hiroshima
What is meant by democratisation?
The process of introducing elections, rights, and political freedoms
Which European country controlled Vietnam before independence?
France
What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail used for?
Ho Chi Minh Trail transported troops and tons of supplies daily
What was the name of Mao’s campaign to remove pests?
Four Pests Campaign
In what year were the atomic bombs dropped?
1945
Name one reason why Japan experienced an “economic miracle.”
US aid (~$2 billion)
Korean War demand boosted industry
Investment in technology
What happened at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu?
At Dien Bien Phu, ~16,000 French troops were surrounded, with over 10,000 killed or captured, leading to French defeat
Name one type of trap used by the Viet Cong.
Punji sticks / booby traps / tunnel systems (some 200 km long)
Give one reason why Mao’s agricultural reforms failed.
Poor planning
People were scared of Mao so lied
Inefficient farming techniques
Killing sparrows led to crop failure
Resulted in famine killing ~15–45 million people
What was the main reason the USA gave for dropping the atomic bombs?
To avoid a land invasion of Japan, which was estimated to cause:
250,000–1,000,000 US casualties
Millions of Japanese deaths
What role did the USA play in rebuilding Japan after WWII?
Under Douglas MacArthur:
New constitution (1947)
Democratic reforms
Land redistribution
Why were the Viet Minh successful against the French?
Guerrilla tactics
Local support
Knowledge of terrain
Why was guerrilla warfare effective against the USA?
Jungle covered ~75% of Vietnam
Hard to identify enemy
Hit-and-run tactics
What was the Cultural Revolution?
A campaign (1966–76) to enforce communist ideas; millions persecuted, schools closed, Red Guards enforced control
Explain two consequences of the atomic bombings for Japan (short-term AND long-term).
Short-term:
~140,000 deaths in Hiroshima (by end of 1945)
~70,000 deaths in Nagasaki
Japan surrendered within days
Long-term:
Radiation illnesses for decades
Start of nuclear arms race (Cold War)
Explain how Japan changed politically AND economically after WWII.
Political: Democracy established, emperor became symbolic
Economic: Growth of ~10% per year, became world’s 2nd largest economy by 1970s
Explain why the French were defeated in Vietnam.
Lost ~75,000 troops
Viet Minh used guerrilla tactics and controlled countryside
Long supply lines weakened France
Strong leadership of Vo Nguyen Giap
Explain why the USA failed in Vietnam.
~58,000 US deaths vs 2–3 million Vietnamese deaths
Guerrilla tactics difficult to defeat
Jungle terrain advantage
Strong supply via Ho Chi Minh Trail
Anti-war protests in USA
Explain why Mao won the Chinese Civil War AND one impact of his rule.
Why Mao won:
Support from 80–90% peasants
Nationalists were corrupt/weak
Impact:
China became communist (1949)
Economic damage (Great Leap Forward)
Social upheaval during Cultural Revolution