History Vietnam

Front 1

What was the theory of Guerilla warfare by Mao Zedong?

Back 1

"The enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we attack; the enemy retreats, we pursue." Mao Zedong.

Front 2

What IS the theory of Guerilla warfare?

Back 2

You need to remain hidden from the enemy as far as is possible and make targeted attacks that will inflict maximum damage with a minimum of risk.

Front 3

How did working with local help the Vietnamese stay hidden behind enemy lines?

Back 3

Working with the local population helps to make sure that they will be less likely to give the US forces information about the whereabouts of the enemy and means that tunnels and depots can be built close to villages.

Front 4

How did the Vietcong use tunnels?

Back 4

Units would dig tunnels in and around towns and villages from where they could launch attacks. These tunnels had booby trapped entrances and often were sufficient in size to large stores.

Front 5

How did the Vietcong use minefields?

Back 5

By laying out minefields the Vietcong made patrolling incredibly difficult for US forces as they would have to slowly clear a way through difficult terrain. This made the patrols easier targets for the Vietcong.

Front 6

What was the Ho Chi Minh trail?

Back 6

The Ho Chi Minh trail was a series of routes along the Vietnamese borders with Cambodia and Laos. It ran through dense jungle and was particularly difficult for US forces to patrol. Supplies came to the Vietcong through here.

Front 7

How did Vietcong blend in with the locals?

Back 7

They did not wear uniforms.

Front 8

What was the USA's intention with Operation Rolling Thunder?

Back 8

To end North Vietnamese's support for the Vietcong.

Front 9

Why were cities like Hanoi and Haiphong initially not bombed?

Back 9

Johnson did not want to anger the USSR and China too much by targeting civilians.

Front 10

What was Agent Orange?

Back 10

The use of Chemicals towards the Vietcong, dropping chemicals onto the forests.

Front 11

What were the aims of agent orange? (2)

Back 11

-It would reduce the cover available to the Vietcong, making it easier to fight them.

-It would force peasants to move into urban areas and if they moved they couldn't support the Vietcong.

Front 12

What is Napalm?

Back 12

A chemical agent that burns at approximately 800 degrees. The chemical sticks to skin and is virtually impossible to remove.

Front 13

How did the USA use Napalm?

Back 13

It was dropped from aircraft into areas where the Vietcong supply lines or forces were thought to be.

Front 14

Why was the use of napalm controversial?

Back 14

Whilst the aim was to to exterminate the threat of the Vietcong in these villages, the tactic also led to many civilian injuries and deaths.

Front 15

What is meant by search and destroy?

Back 15

Army units were sent out into the villages and countryside to search for and kill Vietcong.

Front 16

How did The US Army High Command measure the success or failure of a search and destroy mission?

Back 16

By the "body count" of Vietcong killed

Front 17

What did General Westmoreland mean by a "war of attrition?"

Back 17

He planned to kill so many Vietcong and NVA personnel that the communists would give up.

Front 18

Why was My Lai targeted?

Back 18

It was located on a route that the Vietcong were using during the Tet Offensive and was identified as a primary location in which enemy troops were likely to be hiding or supplied from.

Front 19

What was the order given for the My Lai massacre?

Back 19

"Go in there aggressively, close with the enemy and wipe them out for good."

Front 20

How did the My Lai massacre start?

Back 20

The US troops were on a search and destroy mission.

Front 21

What happened in My Lai?

Back 21

Following artillery fire and suppressing fire from gunships, the US entered and found no obvious signs of the enemy, though feared that the Vietcong were hiding in the village.

Front 22

Why was My Lai a "massacre" ?

Back 22

Soldiers went berserk, gunning down unarmed men, women, children and babies. Families which huddled together for safety in huts or bunkers were shown no mercy. Those who emerged with hands held high were murdered.

Front 23

Who was Lieutenant Calley?

Back 23

The only person convicted of war crimes following the My Lai massacre.

Front 24

Why did Americans turn against the war (My Lai massacre related) ?

Back 24

Pictures of the massacre were shown around the world and people were appalled.

Front 25

What was early coverage of the Vietnam war like?

Back 25

It tended to be quite supportive of the cause and portrayed the soldiers as heroes. Interviews presented the conflict in a positive light with admirable aims and brave, caring soldiers.

Front 26

Why did opinion on the Vietnam war change?

Back 26

More grusesome images were shown and despite military success against the Tet Offensive, the media coverage began to suggest that the war was unwinnable.

Front 27

What was the Gulf of Tonkin incident?

Back 27

Sailors in the Gulf of Tonkin claimed they had been attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats. The US Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, allowing the American President to take direct military action in retaliation.

Front 28

When did protests about the Vietnam war begin?

Back 28

Almost as soon as the US became involved.

Front 29

Why did the draft start protests?

Back 29

The Draft was predominantly aimed at the poor and in particular the Black American populations.

Front 30

Why did media coverage start protests?

Back 30

They saw many young men coming home in body bags, atrocities being carried out by US soldiers and the impression given by the media was that the war was unwinnable.

Front 31

What were student protests?

Back 31

Several student organisations were established to oppose US involvement in Vietnam.

Front 32

What were mass rallies?

Back 32

Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement these saw large numbers of people march in demonstration against the war

Front 33

How did protests inspire music?

Back 33

Music festivals often focussed on the anti-war theme and many songs were written about the war.

Front 34

What was the trial of Lieutenant Calley?

Back 34

Calley was sentenced to life in prison with hard labour. He served three years before he was released. Calley had his supporters and many believed that he was simply following orders.

Front 35

How did the kent state protests start?

Back 35

President Nixon announced the invasion of Cambodia by the US and the need to draft more soldiers. This provoked massive protests on campuses throughout the country.

Front 36

What happened at Kent state university?

Back 36

During an altercation on May 4, twenty-eight guardsmen opened fire on a crowd, killing four students and wounding nine.

Front 37

What happened after people were killed at kent state university?

Back 37

The unrest across the country escalated even further. Almost five hundred colleges were shut down or disrupted by protests.

Front 38

What were the Fulbright Hearings?

Back 38

a committee led by William Fulbright investigated the Vietnam War hoping to giving advice on how to end US involvement there. As people gave evidence, more emerged about the inhumane behaviour of US troops in Vietnam.

Front 39

What was the effect of these hearings?

Back 39

To raise questions at an official Government level about the purpose of US involvement in Vietnam.

Front 40

What was the Tet Offensive?

Back 40

An attack by the Vietcong and NVA on more than 10,000 cities, towns and military bases throughout South Vietnam

Front 41

What did the communists hope in the Tet Offensive?

Back 41

That people would join them but the uprisings they hoped for did not happen.

Front 42

How many people died in the Tet Offensive?

Back 42

Over 100,000 people

Front 43

Why was the Tet offensive a failure for the Vietcong?

Back 43

47% people killed were Vietcong, 24% were NVA and 22% were civilians.

Front 44

What did the North Vietnamese agree to after the Tet Offensive ended?

Back 44

Peace talks

Front 45

Why did the Tet Offensive turn Americans against the war? (3)

Back 45

-Many Americans felt they had been deceived by the army. The war could not be won.

-Americans believe the war had to be ended as soon as possible.

-Richard Nixon promised to end the war, so Johnson was voted out.

Front 46

Why were Laos and Cambodia invaded?

Back 46

To destroy the Ho Chi Minh trail and to destroy the vietcong bases in these countries

Front 47

What did the invasions of Laos and Cambodia lead to?

Back 47

Protests against the war in the USA. It seemed as though Nixon was escalating war not bringing it to peace.

Front 48

What was Vietnamization?

Back 48

Taking American troops out of Vietname and leaving the South Vietnamese troops to do the fighting.

Front 49

Why did Nixon bomb the North heavily?

Back 49

To try and persuade them to give up.

Front 50

What did the NVA do in 1972?

Back 50

Took advantage of the reduced number of US troops by launching an attack on South Vietnam

Front 51

What was operation Linebacker?

Back 51

Nixon orders a massive air attack by B52 bombers in North Vietnam such as roads railways and ports.

Front 52

What happened in Christmas 1972?

Back 52

Over 200,000 bombs were dropped on the major cities of Vietname in 11 days

Front 53

What happened at the Paris peace conference? (4)

Back 53

-Armed forced from Us had to withdraw

-US prisoners to be released by Vietnam

-NAV could remain in areas of South Vietnam they controlled at time of ceasefire

-Elections would be held in the future to determine whether Vietnam could be reunited

Front 54

When did the USA withdraw from Vietnam?

Back 54

In 1973, only a small number of advisors remained.

Front 55

Why did Saigon fall?

Back 55

North Vietnam continued the offensive into the south. A three pronged attack through Laos and Cambodia divided the ARVN forces. Major cities fell to the communists.

Front 56

What did South Vietnamese troops do in the fall of Saigon?

Back 56

Deserted in droves. Refugees from the north began to flee south to Saigon to what they thought was safety.

Front 57

When were communists in control of Saigon?

Back 57

1975

Front 58

What did many citizens of Saigon do?

Back 58

Stay to greet the conquerors. Others tried to escape the best they could.