KQ5 Revision Notes
The Vietnam War
What are the origins of the Vietnam War?
Vietnam, formerly known as Indo-China, and had been ruled by France since 19 century.
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It was taken over by the Japanese during the Second World War.
After the Second World War the Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh, who was in control of
North Vietnam, declared Vietnamese independence, and aimed to take the whole country,
resulting in war with France.
After 1949 communist China gave assistance to the Viet Minh.
The USA saw the Viet Minh as puppets of communist China, and feared Chinese
domination of south-east Asia, so poured $500 million a year into helping the French.
The French set up a non-Communist government in South Vietnam.
The war lasted until 1954, but the French were unable to deal with the Viet Minh’s
guerrilla tactics.
What happened at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and what was its significance?
, A large force of French paratroopers was defeated – 3000 died in battle, and 8000 in
captivity.
A small Asian state had defeated a rich European country by means of leadership, tactics
and determination.
The French decided to pull out of Indo-China.
At a 1954 peace conference in Geneva it was decided to divide the country into North and
South Vietnam, until elections could decide its future.
Why and how did the USA become increasingly involved in Vietnam?
The Domino Theory – President Eisenhower and Secretary of State J.F. Dulles believed
that if Vietnam fell to communism, then Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma and maybe
India would follow.
So in 1955 the USA helped Ngo Dinh Diem set up the Republic of South Vietnam, and
supplied his (corrupt) regime with $1.6 billion. After his overthrow other corrupt regimes
continued to receive American aid.
This led to an increase in public support for the communist Viet Cong (National Front for
the Liberation of South Vietnam), set up in 1960.
The Viet Cong attacked South Vietnamese government forces, officials and buildings,
making the countryside unsafe for government forces; and also attacked US bases.
By 1962 President Kennedy was sending military ‘advisers’ to fight the Viet Cong.
As tension between North and South increased in 1963 and 1964, so did the numbers of
US soldiers – 11,500 in 1962; 23,000 by 1964.
After JFK’s assassination in 1963 President Lyndon Johnson was more prepared to
commit the USA to full-scale conflict in Vietnam to prevent the spread of communism.
In August 1964 North Vietnamese boats fired on US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin – as a
result the US Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which gave Johnson the green
light to take the USA into a full-scale war
What were the tactics of the Viet Cong?
The USA and South Vietnamese had more men and better equipment, but the Viet Cong
used guerrilla tactics against them (Ho Chi Minh had seen these used effectively by Mao
Zedong in China).
Guerrilla tactics – retreat when the enemy attacks; raid when the enemy camps; attack
when the enemy tires; pursue when the enemy retreats; wear down morale.
Problems faced by the US forces – difficult to distinguish Viet Cong from local peasants;
difficult to catch them when they disappeared into the jungle; constant fear of ambushes
and booby traps.
The Viet Cong were also ruthless – a campaign of terror against employees of the South
Vietnamese government (approx. 27,000 civilians killed 1966-1971).
The Viet Cong were determined and persistent – they would not give in, despite losing a
million men (far more than the USA).
What were the tactics of the US forces?
The Vietnam War
What are the origins of the Vietnam War?
Vietnam, formerly known as Indo-China, and had been ruled by France since 19 century.
th
It was taken over by the Japanese during the Second World War.
After the Second World War the Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh, who was in control of
North Vietnam, declared Vietnamese independence, and aimed to take the whole country,
resulting in war with France.
After 1949 communist China gave assistance to the Viet Minh.
The USA saw the Viet Minh as puppets of communist China, and feared Chinese
domination of south-east Asia, so poured $500 million a year into helping the French.
The French set up a non-Communist government in South Vietnam.
The war lasted until 1954, but the French were unable to deal with the Viet Minh’s
guerrilla tactics.
What happened at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and what was its significance?
, A large force of French paratroopers was defeated – 3000 died in battle, and 8000 in
captivity.
A small Asian state had defeated a rich European country by means of leadership, tactics
and determination.
The French decided to pull out of Indo-China.
At a 1954 peace conference in Geneva it was decided to divide the country into North and
South Vietnam, until elections could decide its future.
Why and how did the USA become increasingly involved in Vietnam?
The Domino Theory – President Eisenhower and Secretary of State J.F. Dulles believed
that if Vietnam fell to communism, then Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma and maybe
India would follow.
So in 1955 the USA helped Ngo Dinh Diem set up the Republic of South Vietnam, and
supplied his (corrupt) regime with $1.6 billion. After his overthrow other corrupt regimes
continued to receive American aid.
This led to an increase in public support for the communist Viet Cong (National Front for
the Liberation of South Vietnam), set up in 1960.
The Viet Cong attacked South Vietnamese government forces, officials and buildings,
making the countryside unsafe for government forces; and also attacked US bases.
By 1962 President Kennedy was sending military ‘advisers’ to fight the Viet Cong.
As tension between North and South increased in 1963 and 1964, so did the numbers of
US soldiers – 11,500 in 1962; 23,000 by 1964.
After JFK’s assassination in 1963 President Lyndon Johnson was more prepared to
commit the USA to full-scale conflict in Vietnam to prevent the spread of communism.
In August 1964 North Vietnamese boats fired on US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin – as a
result the US Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which gave Johnson the green
light to take the USA into a full-scale war
What were the tactics of the Viet Cong?
The USA and South Vietnamese had more men and better equipment, but the Viet Cong
used guerrilla tactics against them (Ho Chi Minh had seen these used effectively by Mao
Zedong in China).
Guerrilla tactics – retreat when the enemy attacks; raid when the enemy camps; attack
when the enemy tires; pursue when the enemy retreats; wear down morale.
Problems faced by the US forces – difficult to distinguish Viet Cong from local peasants;
difficult to catch them when they disappeared into the jungle; constant fear of ambushes
and booby traps.
The Viet Cong were also ruthless – a campaign of terror against employees of the South
Vietnamese government (approx. 27,000 civilians killed 1966-1971).
The Viet Cong were determined and persistent – they would not give in, despite losing a
million men (far more than the USA).
What were the tactics of the US forces?
