The USA war in Vietnam

The French in Vietnam

In the 17th century, what had the French sent to Vietnam in hopes of converting the population? Were they successful?

military, and had a marginal success

When did the French formally created a protectorate state in Vietnam?

1859

Although Vietnam represented an alternative access route to China for the French, what was the critical resource produced in Vietnam that made it so valuable to colonial powers?

Rice

Prior to WW2, how does your book characterize rebellions against the French in Vietnam?

robber

Which country EFFECTIVELY conquered and controlled France during WW2?

Germany

In defiance of their World War occupiers, what military force rose up amongst the population of Vietnam to fight for freedom? Who was their leader?

Viet Minh

In 1945, after the surrender of Japan, what did this military force immediately establish in North Vietnam?

DPRV

Although there was initially hope for US support in this new state, what led to North Vietnam gaining very little Western support?

The onset of cold war

In an effort to maintain French presence in Vietnam, what war was fought over South East Asia almost immediately after WW2?

First indo-china War

In terms of support, where did the French have strongholds in Vietnam? Where did the Viet Minh have strongholds?

French in urban, and Vietminh in rural

The first 4 years of the conflict were relatively quiet, however, what event in 1949 saw the North Vietnamese gain a huge military boon?

The Chinese communist winning the civil war, and provide huge support to Viet-com

What exactly happened at the battle of Dien Bien Phu? Why were the French forced to surrender?

The Viet Minh started a blockade, and the french were outnumbered

When the French realized that the war would be too costly, what international peace keeping event effectively stopped the war?

Geneva accords

 

The Geneva accords

Where is the ceasefire line?

17th parallel

Where must the Vietminh withdraw from?

From Cambodia and Laos

What will happen in Vietnam (North and South together) in 1956?

A free election

 

A divided Vietnam (North Vietnam)

Despite anti-communist sentiment from France and other Western countries, the Geneva accords accepted the existence of a new communist state. However, what did Western Powers hope the agreement would do to said communist state? How exactly was that to be achieved?

Stability through a temporary division

How did the hope of Western countries in Geneva backfire with North Vietnam?

This would weaken their support

The Geneva accords divided Vietnam between a country in the North and a country in the South. How exactly was the political rule of these countries divided?

Viet Minh north and Diem in the south

According to your book, what demographics largely made up the people of North Vietnam?

Rural peasantry

How does your book describe the leadership of South Vietnam?

Inept and corrupt rulers

Although Ho Chi Minh was an extremely important leader within North Vietnam, why does your book describe him as a “figurehead?”

His death in 1969 did not end the war or cause a power struggle

The entire communist world recognized North Vietnam as a country, but most nations wanted to wait until what happened?

The election

Although the division within Vietnam plagued civil strife in the country, what was Ho Chi Minh’s main focus in the early days of North Vietnam?

Internal affairs

Your book described Ho Chi Minh as “incorruptible.” What do you believe this to mean?

He can’t be bought by money

In an effort to maintain strict communist ideology, what did the North Vietnamese to eliminate the class system?

The landlords and class enemies were killed

Pro-French Vietnamese in the North often represented which religion? How many Catholics/French-supporters fled from North to South Vietnam?

1 million

The North Vietnamese engaged in land reforms we’ve discussed multiple times throughout our exploration of the Cold War. What similarities do you see between the how the Viet Minh and other communist/socialist states instituted the reforms?

distribute land to peasants

The Viet Minh were not limited to North Vietnam. What was established in South Vietnam to help establish the Ho Chi Minh Trail (we will discuss this in depth in class)? What else was established in Laos and Cambodia?

The viet cong

Ho Chi Minh dies 1969, how describe the effect of this death on the Northern Vietnamese people?

A motivation to complete his mission

Your book described the regimes of South Vietnam as have 3 characteristics. What were they?

Corruption, brutality, and chaos

During the First Indo China War, what had the United States provided the French with?

Funds and new leader Diem

 

South Vietnam

After the failure of former emperor of Vietnam to establish a client state in the South, who did the Americans establish as a leader in South Vietnam?

Diem

How would you described Diem? How did other countries and his own people view him?

Patriotic and corrupt

During WW2, what had the Viet Minh done to much of the land in the South? How did Diem change these land reforms?

Distribute lands to peasantry, and Diem reversed this

Diem was (perhaps justifiably) paranoid over his power and life. Despite the Geneva Accords, what did Diem refuse to do in 1956 and why?

The elections because he fear that the communist would win

Diem often favored Catholics as selected positions of power in Vietnam. What was the religious majority in Vietnam?

Buddhist

The Viet Cong (southern communists) began to actively harass Diem’s regime. How many assassinations of Diem officials were there in 1959? How many in 1961?

1200, and then 4000

What exactly was the purpose of Diem’s strategic hamlets? Why did they actually backfire on Diem?

To stop Viet Cohn from gain support, but they alienate the peasants

What was the ARVN?

The Army of republic of Vietnam

 

The USA proxy war

In 1963, with tacit USA support, what happened to Diem and his government?

Replace by military junta

Who became the leader of South Vietnam in 1965?

General Nguyen Van Thieu

Your book spends a few paragraphs describing the land reform enacted in South Vietnam under the post-Diem regime. There’s a lot of detail here, but here’s the important bit. What caused this rather socialist change in South Vietnam, and how effective was it?

The south vietnam is ineffective in solving land problem

Why was the Second Indo Chinese War (1959-1975) so deadly?

No option to be neutral, and massive bombing and agent orange

Although ideology was the core of the Second Indo Chinese war, what was the primary source of “choosing sides” for most Vietnamese people?

By necessity

It’s fair to say that the Viet Cong operated outside the command of the North Vietnamese despite being on the same side of the conflict. Why?

Ti avoid their Cadre being recognized

When did the Viet Cong reach the peak of it’s power?

1968

Although the ARVN was formerly trained, what skill did they lack when compared to the Viet Cong?

Guerrilla tactics and leadership

It’s also worth noting, what the Viet Cong managed to do within the ranks of the ARVN?

IN filtrated by viet cogn

In 1959, why did war officially materialize from a world of assignation and harassment to full on hot war?

The Viet cogn are strong enough

Why did the USA feel the need to aid the ARVN?

They faltered

 

USA entering the war

Despite the initial struggle over unification of Vietnam, how did the USA’s entrance into the war change the messaging around the goal for the Northern Vietnamese government and Viet Cong?

From unification to anti-imperial

What was the great fear of the United States and others over Vietnam?

That the domino effect would cause the whole world red

What exactly was SEATO? And how did the United States use this organization?

To stop communist expansion

What was the Tet Offensive of 1968? Why was it a “surprise” to the Americans and ARVN forces?

A turning point, because this was usually a time of ceasefire

Although the Tet Offensive ended with the ARVN holding out and a significant loss of life for the Viet Cong, why had it effectively turned the war in favor of the communists?

The North Vietnamese is talking the show, and American confidence is shaking

 

Peace talks

What did President Nixon promise to do with troops in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970? (note, he won the election of 1968).

The withdraw from Vietnam

Peace talks began in 1968. Who were the primary people negotiating for each side? How long did these peace talks last?

Between US and north vietnam, and it lasted 5 years

Although the USA and the North Vietnamese did come to a tentative agreement for peace, which party was in the war was basically ignored in the process? How did this ignored party express their frustration?

south vietnamese, and trie to negotiate with north

In 1973, what did all parties tentatively agree to in Vietnam?

To end war

When US troops left, what major problems did South Vietnam immediately suffer from?

The numerus north vietnamese troops

Almost immediately after the withdraw of US troops, what did the North Vietnamese do? How successful was their action and why?

Start a offensive, they end 1and 10 months ealier than they expected

The “Fall of Saigon” was largely unopposed by forces in the south. Why?

Because the peasants all feel that they need the communist to help them to fight the landlords.

 

The establishment of the communist vietnam

Why did the unified government of Vietnam struggle so much after its establishment?

The ruthless establishment of collectivism

How did the government have to adjust its communist policies to survive?

TO have a market oriented policy

How did the new government deal with former officials and supporters of the South Vietnamese government?

They eliminate all opposing parties, and send these officer to rural vialliage to be indoctrinate

To what extent did the united Vietnamese government control the economy of their country?

All aspects

Why did Vietnam adopt the “Doi Moi” policy in 1986? The actions of which communists countries encouraged these reforms?

They recognized the changing policies of PRC and USSR

Did the reforms of Doi Moi work?

Yes

How did the Vietnamese government implement social reforms? What kind of restrictions did they implement?

They banned the freedom of speech and all need to be pro-communist

Although media was greatly limited and censored, the proximity of which country made total censorship impossible?

Thailand

90% of Vietnamese people share an ethnicity. How did this help reform instituted?

Limit minority itue to religious minority

How many refugees likely fled Vietnam after the war?

hundreds of thousands, one million

 

China-Vietnam conflicts

Why did the Vietnamese and Chinese have such a tense relationship?

They wanted free from Chinese influence

What happened between the Chinese and Vietnamese in Cambodia in 1979? How did the conflict end?

A brief conflict, and the Chinese withdraw

How had Vietnam come to rely on the Soviet Union? What was their major problem after the collapse of the USSR?

Econmic and military aid, the end of aid and market

How did Vietnam approach its relationships with South East Asian neighbors? Does it maintain those kinds of relations today?

Support communist regimes, and improved after withdrawing their forces

Vietnam is one of the few communist countries to endure the collapse of the Soviet Union. Why do you think they managed to endure (note this is purely an opinion question. There is no answer in your book).

They worked with USA togo against china