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 vietminhVietminh 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 chineseChinese 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
As your book lays out, the Genenva accords did many things within many countries. However, please note what specifically has to do with Vietnam.
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 devideddivided vietnamVietnam (North vietnam)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
southSouth vietnamVietnam
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 USUSA 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
USUSA 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 northNorth vietneseVietnamese 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-vietnamVietnam 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