Vietnam War

What happened after the peace agreement was signed in Vietnam?

Within two years South Vietnam had fallen to Communism. Congress refused Nixon funding for South Vietnamese troops because they were corrupt and unpopular. A year later Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal and months later North Vietnam launched an offensive which captured Saigon. Television cameras caught South Vietnamese civilians trying to struggle into helicopters as US embassy staff escaped.

What were the problems with the US soldiers in Vietnam?

After 1967 soldiers were drafted and the average age was 19 meaning it was their first experience of war. Soldiers did not know what they were fighting for. Soldiers realised patrols were just bait. Poor immigrants were most likely to be drafted. Tensions with officers and soldiers with evidence of fragging. High use of drugs and high desertion rate (18% of casualties not combat related). General Westmoreland introduced a 1 year service which meant troops were always inexperienced.

How could you argue that the media was insignificant?

American attitudes were turning against the war by 1967 anyway. Casualties and war weariness war the reason why support dropped. Shocking scenes were rarely seen of TV. Journalists rarely criticised the government for war.

How did the media undermine the war effort?

Lighter cameras in 1968 meant journalists could get closer to the action; TV scenes made war feel more immediate. Use of Zippo lighters and casual violence shocked many Americans (such as My Lai massacre and Tet Offensive). After the Tet Offensive, CBS journalist Walter Cronkite said the war was unwinnable, General Westmoreland said the media undermined the war effort.

What were the effects of the Guerilla tactics used by the Vietcong?

Morale was worn down by US troops as Vietcong tactics were effective. US air power was useless in hand to hand combat. American soldiers paranoid by booby traps. Many peasants supported the Vietcong.

What happened in the build up to the Vietnam war?

At the treaty of Geneva in 1954 indo-China was divided into Laos, Cambodia, North Vietnam and South Vietnam. It was agreed an election would be held in 1956 to unify the two parts of Vietnam, however ngo dinh diem (ruler of South Vietnam) refused to hold the elections. Ho Chi Minh was a communist supported by China, he set up the national liberation front in South Vietnam. Diems government was made up of rich landowners and it was unpopular. The Americans called the NLF the Vietcong, the Vietcong started a guerrilla war against diems regime in South Vietnam. In 1963, the U.S. military supported a military coup which murdered diem and put a military government in Vietnam. In 1964, sailors on the u.s warship the USS Maddox in the gulf of Tonkin claimed they had been attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats. The U.S. Congress passed the gulf of Tonkin resolution allowing president Johnson to take direct military action against the Vietcong. In 1965, after the North Vietnamese attacked American air bases, president Johnson declared war against them in response.

What were the four reasons for American involvement in Vietnam?

Containment: Stopping the spread of Communism. Domino Theory: It was believed that if Vietnam fell to Communism then Laos, Thailand, Burma and Cambodia could also fall. American Politics: Talking tough on Communism won votes during election time. Military industrial complex: Powerful groups in military and industry had a lot to gain from war

What was the My Lai massacre?

In 1968 Charlie company went to 'Pinkville' expecting 200 Vietcong and Vietcong headquarters. 300-400 civilians killed including women and children; three guns were found and no Vietcong. Bodies raped and mutilated; all captured on official military photography. Soldiers were praised for their efforts. Life magazine published graphic photos. Investigation led to the trial of Lieutenant William Calley who killed people in a ditch, none of his superior officers were charged; Calley served 3 years in prison. Soldier witnesses called it a revenge attack.

How did the Vietnam war end?

In 1968, Richard Nixon was elected as president. In 1969, the USSR and China's relations broke down so each tried to improve relations with the US; Henry Kissinger asked them both to help negotiate peace. Nixon wanted to appear to be containing Communism while retreating out of Vietnam. He introduced Vietnamisation; which was to build up South Vietnamese forces so US troops could leave without surrender and the South Vietnamese could independently protect themselves against the Vietcong. Nixon increased bombing campaigns against North Vietnam to show he was not weak. In 1973 the peace agreement was signed between North and South Vietnam and two months later the last Americans left the country.

What was the Tet Offensive?

In 1968, the Vietcong attacked 100 cities, military targets and the US embassy in Saigon. 4,500 Vietcong troops tied down a much larger US force for two days in Saigon. However, the Vietcong lost 10,000 experienced troops and the South Vietnamese did not rise up as expected. The US and south Vietnamese retook many of the cities and killed many civilians; the city of Hue was destroyed.

What were the effects of the US tactics?

Intense bombing of Hanoi forced the Vietcong to the negotiating table. Many civilians were killed and the US was unpopular. Ineffective in hand to hand combat. Demoralised soldiers as they were ineffective and brutal against civilians.

What were the anti-war protests?

Students did not want to get drafted into the war because they thought it was morally wrong after My Lai. Students burned the American flag to reject US values. In 1969 700,000 anti-war protesters stormed Washington DC. In 1970, Kent state university students protested Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia; the national guard opened fire and four students were killed.

What were the American tactics?

The Americans fought a high-technology war, using B2 bombers, artillery, helicopters, napalm and defoliants; this killed many innocent Vietnamese civilians and was ineffective against the Vietcong. Operation Rolling Thunder was the heavy bombing of agricultural land for over 3 years; they also bombed industrial and military targets. The Americans forced the peasants to leave Vietcong-controlled areas and forced them to live in defended strategic Hamlets in loyal areas. This created immense opposition and allowed Vietcong infiltrators into loyal areas. American soldiers were sent on patrols and supported by air and artillery when attacked; this demoralised them as they were being used as bait for the Vietcong. Search and destroy patrols were sent to look out for the Vietcong, but the patrols were easily visible and easy to ambush. This lead to Zippo Raids to burn villages down, such as the My Lai massacre.

What were the Vietcong tactics?

The Vietcong fought a Guerilla war. Ambushed American air patrols, setting booby traps (land mines) and planted bombs in villages. The Vietcong blended in with the peasant farmers by wearing ordinary clothing, therefore the Americans couldn't identify the enemy. The Vietcong were supplied with rockets and weapons by China and Russia, these were supplied through the Ho Chi Minh trail which was a jungle route that went through Laos and Cambodia. The Americans couldn't attack these supply routes without escalating the war. The Vietcong tactic was to 'hang on to the belts of the Americans'. This meant they were always in close proximity to the Americans meaning that they could not use heavy air artillery without killing their own men. They also had not official base so the Americans had nowhere specifically to attack; they could just disappear into the jungle when caught. Finally, the Vietcong were always respectful to the peasants to keep them on side.

What was the impact of the Tet Offensive?

US bombing campaign reduced. North Vietnamese agreed to go to the negotiating table; March 1968 peace conference began in Paris. President Johnson announced he would not stand for re-election and both the Democrat and Republican nominees campaigned to end US involvement in Vietnam. The US public was totally against the war.