Vietnam War

Definition

The Vietnam War was a prolonged military conflict that took place in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1955 to 1975. It pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its southern allies, known as the Viet Cong, against the United States-supported South Vietnamese government and its allies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era conflict that was part of the broader Indochina Wars, which had been ongoing since the 1940s.
2. The United States became increasingly involved in the war in the 1960s, with the goal of preventing the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.
3. The war was characterized by a protracted guerrilla campaign by the Viet Cong, supported by North Vietnam, against the South Vietnamese government and its American military advisers and combat forces.
4. The war resulted in the deaths of over 58,000 American soldiers and an estimated 2 million Vietnamese civilians and combatants.
5. The Vietnam War was a major factor in the social and political upheaval in the United States during the 1960s and early 1970s, leading to widespread protests and the eventual withdrawal of American forces.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Vietnam War was connected to the broader context of the Cold War and the Domino Theory.
  • The Vietnam War was a key part of the broader Cold War conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. The United States became increasingly involved in the war in an effort to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, fearing that if Vietnam fell to the communist North Vietnamese, it would lead to the rest of the region, like a row of dominoes, also falling under communist influence. This was known as the Domino Theory, which was a major driving force behind the American intervention in the Vietnam War.
• Describe the role of guerrilla warfare tactics used by the Viet Cong and how they impacted the course of the Vietnam War.
  • The Viet Cong, the communist-backed guerrilla forces in South Vietnam, utilized highly effective guerrilla warfare tactics throughout the Vietnam War. This included surprise attacks, ambushes, and other hit-and-run tactics that allowed them to harass and weaken the larger, more conventional American and South Vietnamese military forces. The Viet Cong's ability to blend in with the local population and their intimate knowledge of the terrain gave them a significant advantage, making it extremely difficult for the American forces to defeat them decisively. The Viet Cong's guerrilla tactics were a major factor in the prolonged nature of the conflict and the ultimate withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam.
• Analyze the social and political impact of the Vietnam War on the United States, and how it contributed to the 'Coming Apart' and 'Coming Together' of American society during this period.
  • The Vietnam War had a profound impact on American society during the 1960s and early 1970s, leading to a period of significant social and political upheaval. The unpopular and protracted nature of the war, combined with the high number of American casualties, sparked widespread protests and civil unrest, especially among the younger generation. This 'Coming Apart' of American society was characterized by growing divisions over the war, as well as broader issues of civil rights, counterculture, and the role of government. However, the eventual withdrawal of American forces and the end of the war also contributed to a 'Coming Together' of the American people, as the country sought to heal the wounds of the conflict and move forward. The Vietnam War was a major catalyst for the social and political changes that transformed the United States during this tumultuous period.

Related terms

Domino Theory: The political doctrine that if one country comes under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries will also fall to communism, like a falling row of dominoes.

Guerrilla Warfare: An irregular form of warfare in which small, mobile groups of combatants, such as the Viet Cong, use surprise attacks, ambushes, and other tactics to harass and weaken a larger, conventional military force.

Draft: The compulsory enlistment of people into the armed forces, which was used extensively during the Vietnam War to meet the high demand for troops.