13. Confrontation In The Vietnam War Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in 13. Confrontation In The Vietnam War Deck (34)
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1
Q

What was Johnson’s initial policy in vietnam?

A

-to achieve a quick victory without having to commit USA to an escalation of its role in Vietnam

2
Q

What is OPLAN 34A and what is its significance?

A
  • January 1964
  • based on covert action to escalate pressure on north Vietnamese
  • also to force Hanoi to stop aggressive policies
  • that Johnson was not committed to a negotiation
  • that he saw the conflict expanding into NV.
  • the V was can be seen as becoming Americanised at this point
3
Q

When did Johnson become president + why?

A
  • Kennedy was assassinated and he was vice

- November 1963

4
Q

What happened as a result of European allies not liking Johnson’s approach?

A
  • USA’s allied support began to diminish

- French leader warned increase of involvement in V could lead to the failed Indochina

5
Q

when and What was the golf of Tonkin resolution?

A
  • 7th August 1964
  • After US navel vessel was attacked by NV force in golf of Tonkin
  • congress agreed to allow Johnson to take whatever action necessary to resist
6
Q

What did the golf of Tonkin resolution allow Johnson to do?

A

-freedom to conduct any policy he wanted without consulting congress

7
Q

What led to America’s further escalation in Vietnam late 1964?

A
  • China and USSR providing military supplies to NV
  • USSR establishing diplomatic links with NLF
  • Vietnamese forces moved down Ho Chi Minh trail
  • Vietcong strengthened position in SV
8
Q

Why didn’t Johnson believe in diplomacy in 1964 + evidence?

A
  • believed that NV would back down when faced with the economic and military might of the US (similar to E and Brinkmanship)
  • and gold of Tonkin resolution enabled him to enforce this
  • offers to talks arranged by UN secretary were rejected by US
9
Q

Why + when did Johnson order ‘rolling thunder’?

A
  • feb 1965-1968
  • it was a bombing campaign
  • Due to Vietcong attack on army barracks and US helicopters
10
Q

What did rolling thunder show about the nature of the war?

A
  • Americanisation of the war

- escalation of US involvement

11
Q

What was NV’s four point proposal?

A
  • US troops withdraw from SV
  • neither NV OR SV can enter into a military alliance with a foreign power
  • SV affairs must be settles by the people w/out external interference
  • peaceful reunification of Vietnam to be settled by the people
12
Q

What was johns response to the 4-point proposal?

A
  • rejected them
  • believed acceptance may lead to a unified communist Vietnam=domino theory
  • ordered 20,000 troops to deploy and publically announced escalation of US military role
13
Q

What were the strengths of the North Vietnamese war effort

A

-large supply of soldiers (used conscription), but many volunteered as they wanted to save their country
-knew terrain
-skilled in guerrilla warfare
-won support from peasants (US
search and destroy team helped this)
-ho chi Minh trail

14
Q

What were the weaknesses of the North Vietnamese war effort

A
  • dependency in the USSR and China
  • north economy could not maintain a prolonged war
  • no guaranteed support from SV peasants
  • lacked air and military prowess of America
15
Q

What were the strengths of the American war effort

A
  • SV soldiers in side
  • had powerful Air Force, could deploy bombs and troop support
  • large army (2.8 million Americans) over 100,000 being deployed each year
16
Q

What were the weaknesses of the American war effort

A
  • weren’t prepared for terrain and weather
  • inexperienced in guerrilla warfare
  • 19 was average age= inexperienced troops
  • 43% died In first 3 months of their tour
  • many cases of desertion
  • America became overly extended on numerous military commitments
  • SV we’re not committed and not trained
  • press coverage =anti war movement
17
Q

Give an example of guerrilla tactics?

A
  • complex tunnels

- booby traps

18
Q

Explain how bombing was a strength for the US?

A
  • rolling thunder
  • deployed huge B-52 bombers
  • was successful in destroying some military targets
19
Q

What was the aim of US bombing

A

-aim to destroy economy and undermine northern forces

20
Q

How was US bombing seen as a weakness?

A
  • aim failed as they had very well disguised military targets
  • NV resources were replenished by aid from China and USSR
  • agent orange turned peasants against the US, causing famine. Many civilians were victims
21
Q

Explain search and destroy?

A
  • intended to find and destroy enemy in the jungle + villages
  • many innocents were killed in raids
  • livestock + homes of peasants were destroyed
22
Q

Why was search and destroy a weakness of the US?

A
  • rural peasants refused to ally

- they saw success by body count not by number of enemy dead and many civilians died

23
Q

What big figure supported the anti war movement in America?

A
  • MARTIN LUTHER KING
  • he was an influential voice appealing to so many black men that were conscripted
  • helped increase domestic opposition from black community
24
Q

How did NV gain peasant support?

A
  • promised things to them eg. Respect and peace

- element of cooperation through terror and were preferred than Americans

25
Q

How was the Ho Chi Minh trail a strength for NV?

A
  • primary supply route and crucial for supplement of men and equipment
  • never fully disabled by US attacks
26
Q

When did China agree to provide aid to USSR?

A

-December 1964

27
Q

How long was the Tet offensive?

A

Jan-Feb 1968

28
Q

What is the Tet offensive?

A
  • Vietcong launched surprise attacks on US targets
  • attempt to foment rebellion among the South Vietnamese population and encourage the United States to scale back its involvement in the Vietnam War.
29
Q

What was the outcome of the TET offensive for the Vietcong?

A
  • military defeat

- 25,000 Vietcong killed

30
Q

explain negative impacts of the TET offensive for the US?

A
  • showed the war to be at a stalemate, as the Enemy were able to strike with such force
  • showed a US victory would be far away even tho they had won this battle
  • military containment looked useless
  • Despite heavy casualties, and its failure to inspire widespread rebellion among the South Vietnamese, North Vietnam achieved a strategic victory with the Tet Offensive, as the attacks marked a turning point in the Vietnam War and the beginning of the slow, painful American withdrawal from the region.
31
Q

What impact the the Tet offensive have for Johnson?

A
  • Before Tet, Westmoreland and other representatives of the Johnson administration had been claiming that the end of the war was in sight; now, it was clear that a long struggle still lay ahead. people lost trust in Johnson
  • Johnson declared that he was limiting the bombing of North Vietnam to the area below the 20th parallel and calling for negotiations to end the war.
  • Johnson’s decision to halt escalation after the Tet Offensive marked a crucial turning point in American participation in the Vietnam War.
32
Q

what is the great society?

A
  • An idea by Johnson which is an improved united states with better health care + economy which was the allure to him being voted in
  • Johnson either had to put money into the great society or into Vietnam and if he didn’t put money into either he would loose his presidency
  • his advisors who were also advisors to kennedy convinced him to fund money into the war
33
Q

why is kennedys death important in the course of the Vietnam war?

A
  • his death can be seen as a turning point of the vietnam war
  • speculation around if kennedy was alive, would the vietnam war have began?
34
Q

explain the impact of the TET offensive on the domestic US?

A
  • news coverage of the massive offensive shocked the American public and eroded support for the war effort.
  • effected domestic situation inside America and this led to a change of focus
  • people lost confidence in johnson, shifting public opinion
  • stated he didn’t intent to run for re-election (march 1968)