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GCSE MODERN WORLD HISTORY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1945-1975 VIETNAM WAR INTERACTIVE WHY DID THE USA FAIL TO WIN THE VIETNAM WAR? History Interactive Teaching and Learning Resources These are sample slides. There is no audio, document links or internet links in this sample. See all of our resources at www.historyinteractive.co.uk History Interactive Teaching and Learning © 2013 WHY AMERICA GOT INVOLVED 8 Diem's government proved corrupt, oppressive, and extremely unpopular. Nonetheless, the United States continued to support it. Ho Chi Minh launched a guerilla campaign in South Vietnam, led by Vietcong units, with the aim of uniting the country under communist rule. In 1962, American president John F Kennedy sent American “military advisors” to Vietnam to help train the South Vietnamese army, the ARVN. This marked the first official U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The USA was afraid that if South Vietnam turned communist then country after country in Asia would fall to communism. This was called the ‘Domino Theory’. During Kennedy’s presidency, American ‘advisers’ in Vietnam were increased from 500 to 10,000. By 1968, there were 500,000 Americans in Vietnam, with 300 dying per week, at a cost DOMINO THEORY of 30 billion dollars a year. THE America quickly realised that it was not possible to save Diem’s government. Therefore, 1963, the States backed a coupThe that This theory was firstinargued by United President Harry S Truman. overthrewidea Diemwas andthat installed a new leader.fell Thetonew American-backed leaders if South Vietnam the Communists, the other proved just as corruptof and ineffective. Just weeks later, Kennedy was assassinated, and countries Southeast Asia (Laos, Cambodia, Thailand) and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson becameBurma, president. perhaps South Korea, Taiwan, and even India would also fall and be added to the communist camp in quick succession. This GCSE Modern World History was part of the American policy of containment. The Vietnam War American involvement the Vietnam The War Supportinthe Gulf Fear of the Domino Theory. The American policy of ‘containment’. capitalist South Vietnam. Why did America get involved in Vietnam? 10 of Tonkin incident. The National Liberation Front was set up in South Vietnam. President Nixon President Kennedy President Johnson Kennedy sent (1969-74) Johnson wanted a (1963-69) (1961-63) ‘advisers’ to After escalating the aggressive war Increasedmore involvement After the Gulf of support the South war, negotiated a against in Vietnam. He sent the Tonkin incident, sent Vietnamese communists. American ‘advisers’, the U.S. combat troops. By peace treaty in 1973 government. and withdrew CIA and U.S. 1964, it cost $30 GCSE Modern World History American troops. ambassadors. billion every year. The Vietnam War TET: A TURNING POINT? The Battle Hamo Village during the Tet THE of TET OFFENSIVE 17 Weakened Offensive 1968. U.S. Opposition Marines and ARVN Grew North Vietnamese Support leaders believed theytogether could not sustain the heavy losses inflicted by troops working to defend a Wasandthe amilitary effort. the Americans indefinitely had Tet to win Offensive the war with an all-out against a first Vietcong The attacks began position on January 31, 1968, the day of theattack. Lunar New Year, Vietnam's turning point in the war? Turning point means when an action or an event takes a Tet Offensive North Vietnamese had turn forshowed the this better or fornetwork-Ho the dramatically supply Chi Why was the Tet Offensive important? was notat case. Minh Trail. • The Tet Offensive came a time when U.S. forces appeared to be winning the war. worse. It is the point at which This made the shock even greater. • Although Vietcong losses were significant frightful, it showed that the Vietcong could strike a very change U.S. to destroy anywhere and atAttacks any timegreatly and that there was nothing thatefforts the Americans could do weakened American network-Ho Chi Minh about it. occurs; a decisive moment. American leaders had Tetmore Offensive, most important holiday. All the major cities of SouthAfter Vietnam, than 100 war altogether victory in troops into Saigon expanded were attacked.claimed The Vietcong sent 4,500 to try tointo hold Laos, out for fortyclose at hand. eight hours Vietnam until reinforcement arrived but they were cut offCambodia. and killed by the U.S. forces and the ARVN. It took weeks for U.S. and South Vietnamese troops to retake all of the captured cities, including the former imperial capital of Hue. for war. •It was clearpublic that thesupport war in Vietnam could not be won. Trail failed. GCSE Modern World History The Vietnam War