Cold War Politics
Which 3 countries were involved in Cold war politics?
China, USA, USSR
Explain why North would start Vietnam war
Diem death left a vacuum
South rule was unpopular
Seem to be easy for North to inflitrate South and start a conflict
Name the 2 electronic devices that brought the Vietnam War to the homes of the Americans
Am households all had TV and access to news
lightweight cameras to report from the front lines
explain how the vietnam war ended to explain impact
ended with US carrying out vietnamisatio and withdrawing, N invade S, whole of vietnam communist
List the events in the correct sequence
Diem died, Vietnamization, Strategic Hamlet program, Tet Offensive, Geneva Accords, Gulf of Tonkin resolution, US sent military advisors
Geneva accords, US sent military advisors, Diem died, Strategic Hamlet Program, Gulf of Tonkin resolution, Tet offensive, Vietnamization
why was USSR more interested in helping Vietnam in the mid-1960s?
How did USSR help Vietnam?
Sino-Soviet Split - leadership of communist world
military aid especially aircraft
Explain why North Vietnam was more popular
1. focus on reunification - seen as more political stable
2. land reforms and show trials
Name the 2 events that was caught on video that resulted in US public outcry
My-Lai Massacre & photo of the execution of a vietcong captain by a S Vietnamese general
Explain Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
presented to Congress as N Vietnam boats attacking US ships --> congress passed this to allow President permission to wage war on N Vietnam
Name the 3 ways in which USA became more and more involved in Vietnam.
1. Military advisors and aid after Geneva Accords and fr exit
2. Strategic Hamlet Program
3. Gulf of Tonkin resolution
Explain how the Strategic Hamlet program is supposed to work and why it was unpopular
1. relocate peasants to agrovilles so that can identify who is Vietcong and a citizen
2. loss of ancestral lands
explain simply why North had the advantage and US didnt
North - home ground, geography landscape -->tunnels and natonalism --> more determined
US - poor understanding of terrain --> fighting someone elses war --. out in the open easy targets
Explain significance of Tet Offensive
Explain domino theory and what happened in the Gulf of Tonkin
1 country fall, the rest will fall. Like how China and half of Korea has fallen
N vietnam boats attacked USS Maddox. Second attack presented as a fact to Congress even tho there was lack of evidence
List 4 reasons why South was unpopular such that North was determined to replace
1. no land reforms
2. Buddha's Birthday
3. rigged elections - removed Bao Dai
4. nepotism - friends and family
Name 4 tactics by the North
1, Guerilla warfare - bobby traps and landmines
2. no uniforms hide amongst peasants
3. Ho Chi Minh Trial - supply route through Laos and Cambodia
4. anti-aircraft guns and surface to air missiles by China and USSR
name 4 impact for usa
loss of pride - humiliating -- to a weaker nation
balance of power shifted to communism
end of truman doctrine - no more involvement in overseas
US veterans
Explain loss of Vietnam War
huge casualties + lack of public support = politicians made the decision for gradual withdrawal of US troops +vietnamisation --> handing over the war & training vietnam to take over --> us withdrew --> N confident to attack South and take over.
Name 4 reasons why China helped Vietnam.
1. US can attack China from Vietnam
2. USA help KMT agst CCP. US was a threat
3. unite the CHinese under his leadership
4. Vietnam as a buffer.
5. Leadership after Sino-Soviet split - compete for leader of communist world
What did North Vietnam do to start the war with South Vietnam
1. disruption and harassment program against Diem
2.approve group 559 to transport weapons to Vietcong (NLF)
3.Ho Chi Minh supply route to supply Vietcong
4. Assassination of anyone collaborating with South, 5. attacked govt, buildings, US air base
Name 2 weapons/tactics by USA
Name 2 weaknesses from the US side
1. Operation Thunder B52 bombers on Ho Chi Minh Trail
2. Chemical warfare - napalm, agent orange with dioxin to burn vegetation
3. US Search and destroy patrols ambushed often -- led to US Zippo raids -- Massacres like My Lai -- presented badly by media
4. young inexperienced unwilling conscripts
name 5 impact for vietnam
villages and communities destroyed - 2million dead,orphans
econ - fields crops destroyed
environmental - agent orange
danger - unexploded mines
agent orange - cancer and deformities
Explain significance of the Geneva accords
France leaves. USA escalates involvement
Vietnam divided 17///. N communist under Ho Chi Minh. South under Bao Dai and Diem and partnership with USA.
Elections never happen allowing for a divide.