Kennedy's administration is blamed for military solutions and failed perceptions
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What were Kennedy's early ideas regarding the Vietnam war?
'containment', 'domino theory', opposed 'loss' of China
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What did Kennedy's election speech outline in 1956?
Vietnam was an 'important domino' and 'proving ground for democracy'. 'Get America moving again'
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Who were Kennedy's advisors?
Robert McNamara, defence department, less military BUT always held military solutions. Dean Rusk, State department, cold warrior
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How did the events in Cuba and Laos influence Kennedy's actions in Vietnam?
Failure at the Pig's and 'draw' in Laos made him progressive in Vietnam, keen to use military solutions to make a name for himself
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Kennedy and Diem, option 1 - exit.
1961, Kennedy told Diem was not reforming BUT Kennedy advised couldn't leave now, would lose credibility and relationships
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Kennedy and Diem, option 2 - peace.
1962, unofficial peace talks begin, Hanoi didnt negotiate as US still in occupation. US wouldn't leave till Saigon regime was clearly winning
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Kennedy and Diem, option 3 - Military solutions.
700 US military advisors and Diem's 250,000 soldiers couldn't wipe out the Viet Cong
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How did Kennedy respond militarily?
Kennedy wanted to increase advisors
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What was the MACV, why did Kennedy create it?
Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Increase US helicopters, transport and weaponry in Vietnam for the ARVN
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What was the view of Vietnam in 1961?
The US aid was paying off, things were improving
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What was the view on Vietnam after Mcnamara visited?
1962, Mcnamara visits Vietnam, says the US were winning
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What was the view on Vietnam after Mansfield visited?
1962, Mansfield visited, critiqued the oppressive Diem regime and the poor outcome of the US assistance
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When was the battle of Ap Bac?
1963
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What happened at the battle of Ap Bac?
2000 ARVN, 113 US personnel carriers, US helicopters and bombers surrounded Ap Bac, there were 350 guerrillas they were unaware of.
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What was the outcome of Ap Bac?
5 helicopters and 3 lives were lost,
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Why did the US and Diem get beaten at Ap Bac?
VC were unexpectedly strong, ARVN unwilling to fight, Diem ignored US advise on how to deploy his men, US delayed attack to allow his pilots to sleep
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What did Ap Bac show?
Diem was useless, US aid was not working, Kennedy feared intervening as he believed it would lead to full scale intervention
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Kennedy and Diem, option 4 - reform option, why did the US want to remove Diem?
Diem was 'repressive', 'dictatorial' and 'unpopular'
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What was Diem's strategic hamlets programme?
1962, keep Vietnamese peasents away from the Viet Cong, set up by Diem's brother Ngo Dinh Nhu, ignored US reform advice, VS invaded them and stole their supplies
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What was the role of the US press toward Diem?
US press downplayed Diem
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What was Kennedy's view on Diem?
Kennedy was sympathetic, Kennedy and Diem were both catholics
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What was the Buddhist incident under Diem's regime?
Diem allowed the Catholic flag and banned Buddhas birthday celebrations (1963), 10,000 Buddhist protest, one set himself alight, religious war, Kennedy shocked and lost faith
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Kennedy and Diem, option 5 - remove Diem, what was the State Departments recommendation in 1963?
State department recommended replacement with stronger leader
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When did Lodge visit Vietnam?
1963, became convinced of the need to remove Diem
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What group was created in Kennedy's administration?
Anti-Diem group, pressured Kennedy to asses his position on Diem, Kennedy critical of Diem in an interview, sent Taylor and McNamara to Vietnam to review the situation
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How was Diem assassinated?
Lodge gained more power, turned the US against Diem and Ngu through press leaks, heard of ARVN plot against Diem which he encouraged, Diem and Nhu were later found dead
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What was the situation in Vietnam was Kennedy's death?
16,000 US advisors, people recognised the commitment trap, Kennedy blamed the escalation on Eisenhower's creation of SEATO
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What were Kennedy's early ideas regarding the Vietnam war?
Back
'containment', 'domino theory', opposed 'loss' of China
Card 3
Front
What did Kennedy's election speech outline in 1956?
Back
Card 4
Front
Who were Kennedy's advisors?
Back
Card 5
Front
How did the events in Cuba and Laos influence Kennedy's actions in Vietnam?
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