1.2.10

Cold War Conflict - Vietnam

Test yourself on Cold War Conflict - Vietnam

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

The Vietnam War

After the Second World War, the Viet Minh (funded by the USSR) fought the French (funded by the USA) for independence in Vietnam. The French withdrew in 1954 and the Geneva Conference split Vietnam into North & South Vietnam.

Ngo Dinh Diem

Ngo Dinh Diem

  • As stated by the Truman Doctrine, the USA wanted to support South Vietnam to stop a communist party from taking over.
  • Eisenhower provided aid to Diem (South Vietnam's anti-communist leader) despite Diem's unpopular reputation with his own people and track record of corruption.
  • John F. Kennedy continued to give South Vietnam more money when he came to office.
  • America also sent 'military advisors' to the country, who may have fought for South Vietnam.
The Gulf of Tonkin incident

The Gulf of Tonkin incident

  • The North Vietnamese attacked US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964.
  • The USA reacted by escalating their military engagement with the Vietcong and North Vietnam.
  • The USA was scared that if South Vietnam became communist, so would lots of other countries in South East Asia.
  • In 1964, there had been roughly 20,000 soldiers in South Vietnam. By 1967, there were 500,000 American soldiers in Vietnam.
Guerilla warfare

Guerilla warfare

  • The USA could not fight the Vietcong’s tactic, despite their superior resources, starting at the Battle of Ia Drang in November 1965.
  • Guerilla warfare was a particular challenge for the Americans. The Vietcong would hide amongst undergrowth in territory that they knew well and attack American soldiers on patrol.

American Tactics in the Vietnam War

The USA could not fight the Viet Cong’s tactics, despite their superior resources, leading them to use extreme tactics in response.

Extreme tactics

Extreme tactics

  • Extreme tactics were used by the Americans, including targeting civilians, destroying villages, and using chemical weapons.
    • E.g. during the My Lai massacre, US forces killed 300-400 civilians.
  • American forces dropped napalm also known as Agent Orange on Vietnam in an attempt to gain back control of North Vietnam.
US public

US public

  • Videos and images of US planes dropping napalm on Vietnam, burning forests and civilians turned US public opinion against the war.
  • After nationwide protests and violent protests on US college campuses, Richard Nixon brought the war to an end in January 1973.
  • Two years later, South Vietnam fell to communist soldiers.
Jump to other topics
1

Key Topics

1.1

Conflict & Cooperation 1918-1939

1.1.1The Treaty of Versailles1.1.2The Terms of Versailles 11.1.3The Terms of Versailles 21.1.4Versailles & the League of Nations1.1.5LoN Successes & Failures1.1.6LoN Failure - Upper Silesia1.1.7LoN Failure - Corfu & Washington1.1.8End of Topic Test - Treaties and Agreements1.1.9The Great Depression1.1.10Tension in Europe in the 1930s1.1.11WWII & Failure of the League of Nations1.1.12End of Topic Test - Tension in the 1930s1.1.13Grade 9 - Conflict & Cooperation
1.2

The Cold War 1945-c.1989

1.2.1Emerging US-Soviet Rivalry1.2.2Communism in the 20th Century1.2.3The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan1.2.4East-West Alliances1.2.5Berlin Crises1.2.6The End of the Berlin Wall1.2.7End of Topic Test - East & West1.2.8Build-up to the Cuban Missile Crisis1.2.9The Cuban Missile Crisis1.2.10Cold War Conflict - Vietnam1.2.11Cold War Conflict - Afghanistan1.2.12End of Topic Test - The Cold War 1945-19891.2.13Grade 9 - The Cold War1.2.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Russia vs USSR1.2.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Stalin & the Atom Bomb1.2.16Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Iron Curtain1.2.17Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Truman Doctrine1.2.18Diagnostic Misconceptions - USSR vs Eastern Europe1.2.19Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Berlin Airlift1.2.20Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Berlin Wall1.2.21Diagnostic Misconceptions - Hungarian Uprising1.2.22Diagnostic Misconceptions - Stalin's Death1.2.23Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cuba1.2.24Diagnostic Misconceptions - Bay of Pigs
1.3

From the End of the Cold War to 9/11

1.3.1Reagan & Gorbachev1.3.2Consequences of the Soviet War in Afghanistan1.3.3End of Topic Test - End of the Cold War to 9/111.3.4Grade 9 - The End of the Cold War1.3.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fall of the Wall
2

Changing Interpretations

2.1

Changing Interpretations

2.1.1Appeasement2.1.2The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions2.1.3End of Topic Test - Appeasement2.1.4Grade 9 - Changing Interpretations

Practice questions on Cold War Conflict - Vietnam

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Which corrupt dictator did the Americans support in south Vietnam?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Challenges for the USA in the Vietnam war:True / false
  3. 3
    When did the French pull out of Vietnam, triggering the division of the country into North and South following the Geneva Conference?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Where did the North Vietnamese attack US ships in 1964?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What were the extreme tactics used by the Americans in The Vietnam War?True / false
Answer all questions on Cold War Conflict - Vietnam

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

The Cuban Missile Crisis

Cold War Conflict - Afghanistan