The Weaknesses of the US 2
History: Cambridge International GCSE The Twentieth Century (Option B), topic 5.3.28
Military Weaknesses
The US were at a huge disadvantage in the Vietnam War, due to geographical, cultural, political, economic and military reasons, which all came together to cause their failure.
Limitations
- The military believed that the war could be won if they were given more troops and bombing campaigns in North Vietnam, not by fighting the limited war the government wanted.
Resentment
- They ignored the fact that the South Vietnamese government didn’t control large parts of the South.
- They also ignored that burning villages caused resentment, instead focusing on the number of VC troops killed or bases destroyed.
- Work on gaining the support of the villagers was inconsistent.
Inexperience
- The draft meant many US soldiers were young and inexperienced.
- Drafted soldiers only stayed in Vietnam for a year before returning home, meaning the most experienced soldiers left.
Lack of training
- Soldiers’ morale dropped due to the lack of training in how to fight against guerrilla tactics.
Fragging
- Soldiers tried to avoid combat and ‘fragging’ and drug abuse became a big problem.
Test yourself on The Weaknesses of the US 2
How did the American military believe they could win the war in Vietnam?
Which crucial facts did the US overlook?