The USA and Vietnam - Reasons for USA Loss - Revision Cards in GCSE History

Guerrilla Tactics

AVOIDED OPEN WAR AS WEAPONRY INFERIOR
- 'HIT AND RUN TACTICS' - DIFFICULT FOR US TO KNOW/ATTACK ENEMY - BOOBY TRAPS, BOMBS - AVOIDED DIRECT CONTACT
- REMAINED HIDDEN - ATTACKED US SOLDIERS IN SMALL GROUPS AND THEN DISPPEAR INTO SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE
- AVOIDED DIRECT CONTACT - WOULD NOT DEFEAT US IN BATTLE - NOT EQUIPT
- EVENTUALLY HOPED TO WEAR DOWN US TROOPS AND DESTROY MORALE - ALLOW TO TAKE CONTROL OF AREAS WHERE US STRONGER
RELIED HEAVILY ON LOCAL SUPPORT FOR PROTECTION AND RECOURCES
- BECAME PART OF VILLIAGE - LIVED AND WORKED WITHIN IT - IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO FIND
- USED VIETMINH CODE OF CONDUCT AND KIDNAPPED UNPOPULAR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS - WON SUPPORT OF LOCALS - PLACE TO HIDE
- GOT INTO US CAMPS - DID WASHING AND CLEANING - ''VC PYJAMAS' - DESTROYED US MORALE
- ALSO GAINED SUPPORT BY THREATENING TO KILL PEOPLE THAT SUPPORTED USA

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TUNNEL NETWORKS - STAYED HIDDEN AND SUPPLIED WITH EQUIPMENT AND WEAPONS
- CATERED FOR NEEDS - WEAPON STORES, KITCHENS, SLEEPING QUARTERS, HOSPITALS
- STRONGLY PROTECTED - DIFFICULT TO FIND AND BOOBY TRAPPED
- BOOBY TAPS - PUNJI STICKS IMPALED USA - BOUNCING BETTY
- SHOWED LEVEL OF DETERMINATION AND ORGANISATION OF VIETCONG
- ENTRANCES CONCEALED UNDER PLANTS, COOKING POTS ETC.
HO CHI MINH TRAIL - WEAPONS AND SUPPLIES BROUGHT FROM NORTH
- SUPPLY ROUTE FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES OF LAOS AND CAMBODIA
- OVER 600 MILES IN LENGTH AND 50 MILED WIDE
- DUMMY TRAILS - CONFUSED US BOMBERS AND SPY PLANES
- DISPITE BOMBINGS AND MONSOON, NEVER SHUT - DETERMINATION

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FAILURE OF 'HEARTS AND MINDS'
- IMVESTMENT POURED INTO SV TO WIN SUPPORT -PEASANTS HELPED TO IMPROVE METHODS OF FARMING (DRAINAGE DITCHES), BUILDING OF ROADS, CANALS AND BRIDGES, SCHOOLS IN TOWNS IMPROVED, REFUGEES FLEEING NV PROVIDED WITH HOME
- SUCCESS IN VILLAGES BUT LESS IN COUNTRYSIDE WHERE DOMINATED WITH VC
SEARCH AND DESTROY MISSIONS LOST LOCAL SUPPORT
- HELICOPTERS FROM USA BASES CARRYING SMALL NUMBER OF TROOPS CARRIED OUT SURPRISE ATTACKS ON VC - FAST HELICOPTER LANDED NEAR VILLIAGES - HARD FOR VC TO DETECT - LITTLE TIME FOR VILLIAGERS OR VC TO GET AWAY
- EVERY HOME SEARCH - IF VC PRESENCE FOUND - VILLIAGE DESTROYED
- INNOCENT SUVVILIANS HOME DESTROYED AND SOMETIMES KILLED - CRUEL AND LOST US SUPPORT
- MY LAI MASSACRE - 'INEXCUSABLE AND TERRIBLE' - 500 UNARMED WOMEN AND MEN KILLED - NEWS BROKE IN 1969 - PHOTOS RELEASED TO MEDIA - USA OUTRAGED - PUBLIC OPINION TURNED
FAILURE OF BOMBING CAMPAIGNS
- OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER CALLED OFF IN 1968 - VC HADN'T SURRENDERED
- AGENT ORANGE AND NAPALM - CHEMICAL WARFARE 1965-1970 - MADE LITTLE DIFFERENCE TO FIGHTING BUT HUMAN COST IMMENSE - 0.5M V CHILDREN BORN WITH DEFECTS

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MEDIA COVERAGE SHOWED BRITALITY OF WAR
- 'TV WAR' - USA PUBLIC SAW SHOCKING IMAGES E.G. CHILDREN RUNNING IN NAPALM RAID, VIETCONG SUSPECT BEING MURDERED IN SAIGON, PICTURES OF MY LAI AND TET
- CAUSED OPINION TO BE TURNED AWAY - LEAD TO 1968-1973 PROTESTS
- 1968 - 10,000 DEMONSTATORS PROTEST IN CHICAGO AND 35,000 OUTSIDE WHITEHOUSE
UNIVERSITY PROTESTS
- HIPPY CULTURE - 'MAKE LOVE NOT WAR' - MORAL REASONS AGAINST IN LATE 60'S AND EARLY 70'S
- DEMONSTATIONS ON CAMPUSES AND IN SUPPOUNDING CITIES - MOST PEACEFUL, SOME OUT OF HAND
- WENT ON STRIKE - REFUSED TO ATTEND LECTURES - ATTRACTED MEDIA ATTENTION
- MAY1870 - KENT STATE PROTEST - 1000 STUDENTS - DAMAGE TO UNI BUILDING - NATIONAL GAURD BROUGHT IN AND SHOT 4 STUDENTS - LATER PROVED NOT TO BE PROTESTORS
- TURNED USA AGAINST WAR - LOST RIGHT OF DEMOCRACY TO PROTEST - MADE NIXON REALISED VICTORY COULDN'T BE ACHIEVED WITH SO MUCH PROTEST
FULLBRIGHT HEARINGS 1971
- 22 PEOPLE GAVE EVIDENCE - SOME FOR AND SOME OPPOSING WAR
- JOHN KERRY - DETAILS OF WINTER SOLDIER INVESTIGATION - REVEALED VIETNAM WAR CRIMES AND PROVED BRUTAL INCIDENTS OF MY LAI NOT RARE - NEED FOR PEACE APPARENT

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SHOWED USA PUBLIC AND POLITICIANS THAT WAR COULD NOT BE WON
- PUBLIC SAW TELEVISION FOOTAGE - SHOCKED - ALL OF SAIGON DESTROYED
- OVER 100 PLACES ATTACKED
- THOUSANDS OF CIVILLIAN CASUALTIES, HUNDRENS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES
- US SUPPOSED TO BE WINNING - TURNED PUBLIC OPINION
POLITICIANS OPINION TURNED
- CONGRESS REFUSED REQUEST OF US COMMANDER IN VIETNAM FOR 200,000 TROOPS TO FINISH JOB
- PRESIDENT JOHNSON DID NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION IN 1968 - NIXON ELECTED AND PROMISED TO END US INVOLVEMENT IN WAR

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