History: Asia

• Responsibility 


  NK: Crossed the 38th parallel, declaring war. Kim il Sung believed he was the rightful leader or Korea.

  SK: Syngman Rhee also believed he was the rightful leader. He boasted he could take NK in 3 days, over confident.

  Russia: They spread communism to provoke USA. Provided NK with supplies to attack. No troops.

  China: Mao supported Kim il Sung. Allies, communist.

  USA: Felt it was their duty to save SK, domino theory. Want to look like peace makers.
• 25th June 1950


  25th June 1950, NK crossed the 38th parallel invading the South.

  They quickly defeated the South and pushed them to the port of Pusan.

  The US viewed this as concerning, domino theory.
• US/UN Intervention


  SK are trapped at Pusan. US appealed to the UN for support. The soviet union cannot veto because they were boycotting the UN security council.

  By August 1950: battle at Inchon carried out by 40,000 UN troops vs 6500, outnumbered. In 4 days, UN troops had captured Inchon.

  This shocked NK. Left them trapped and vulnerable in the South.
• Chinese Intervention


  MacArthur wanted to seize control of NK but avoid war with china. One last push pushed NK to cross the Yalu river, Mao felt threatened. Over 300,000 Chinese soldiers secretly moved, experts in camouflage.

  26th November: Chinese forces launched a massive surprise attack against UN forces, forced back across the 38th parallel.
• Stalemate 


  Stalemate continued between NK and SK until peace resulted in an Armistice. Ending fighting in 1953, end hostility.
• Impacts (Gains) 


  UN: Gained respect by taking prompt actions.

  USA: Saved SK from communism.

  USSR: Achieved a close relationship with China.

  China: Gained respect of communist supports in Asia. Saved NK from American control. Received much financial and military help from USSR. Secured NK as a buffer state on its own borders.

  Korea: NONE - the border remains at the 38th parallel.
• Impacts (Losses) 


  UN: Over 30,000 casualties, mostly American troops.

  USA: 30,000 casualties. Spent 60 billion dollars.

  USSR: Forced into an expensive arms race with USA.

  China: Over half a million casualties. Failed to make SK communist. Suffered loss of potential trade with USA.

  Korea: Huge casualties 1.3 million. Agriculture ruined. Millions of refugees. No united Korea - the point of fighting.
• Background in Vietnam


  Before WW2: French ruled Vietnam for resources (rubber).

  During: Japan conquered and stripped all resources. Starved 2 million to death.

  After: French took back control.
• Dien Bien Phu battle 1954


  Vietnam use the jungle, Guerrilla tactics and destroy a part of the french airbase so resources cannot land. French are circled, starved and forced to surrender.
• Geneva agreement 1954


  FRE withdraw all troops from Vietnam.

  Laos and Cambodia are independent.

  Vietnam is split at the 17th parallel (NV is Ho Chi Minh) (SV is Diem). Supposed to hold election 1956: Diem holds his own, red voting cards is luck in Vietnam, said he won by 98.2% (lies/corrupt).
• Diem


  Supported by USA: he is a strong anti communist. No choice but to support (domino theory).

  Used violence and nepotism: appointed friends and family.

  Kicked peasants off land and gave it to rich.

  Catholic.
• Buddhist (Opposition)


  Diem favoured Catholics.

  He made anti-buddhist policies.

  They went on hunger strikes. Quang Duc set him self alight in protest.
• NFL, the national liberation front (Opposition) 


  They wanted land back for peasants, to be rid of Catholic power.

  They murdered Diem's government, Ho Chi Minh offered support.
• Civil war 


  Civil war breaks out.

  Diem's opponents leave and move to the jungle.

  Many joined the NFL and was supplied by Ho Chi Minh via the Ho Chi Minh trail.

  South Vietnamese (ARVN) had support from USA: Money and weapons. Eisenhower launches propaganda campaigns - claim Vietminh is killing innocent civilians (lies).
• Strategic Hamlet programme (JFK)

  Forfeited, 24 hour watch men villages for the South vietmanese.

  To save them from communism influence.

  Win over their hearts and minds.

  Trapped like a prison.
• Gulf of Tonkin 1964 (LBJ)


  LBJ approves Operation 34A and sends South Vietnamese mercenaries to North Vietnam to destroy bases.

  USS maddox fire shorts and NK fire tarpedoes.

  US fighter jets sink 1 damage 2.

  By 1965 200k troops are in Vietnam, full scale US involvement.

  1965: Operation rolling thunder - constant bombing in hope of surrender, lasts 3 years.
• Tet offensive 1968


  Element of surprise: to lure US and ARVN troops away from Sygon.

  NLF took the US embassy for 6 hours - embarrassing, shown on tv. they told the people at home they were winning the war.

  Anti war movements grow: pressure govt.
• My Lai Massacre 1968


  Carried out by Charlie Company to destroy all crops, kill anyone they come across (innocent people), 500 civilians murdered.

  The army covered it up - leads to an investigation, exposed my Ronald Ridenhour.

  Pictures in newspapers of the horrors, soldiers were drug addicts and unexperienced.

  Calley was charged with the murders.

  LBJ will not stand again: lost Walter Cronkite, lost the nation.
• US tactics 


  Napalm: indiscrimatory and now banned in war. Napalm girl: shock, anti war.

  Agent Orange: Long term consequences such as birth defects, cancer, diformities.

  Turned people against the war - anti war movements.

  "HEY HEY LBJ, HOW MANY KIDS DID YOU KILL TODAY?"
• Vietcong tactics 


  Punji traps: cause injury not death. take more US soldiers out of the field.

  Tunnels of Cu Chi: make america's air mobility less effective, cant see enemy.
• Role of the media

  Tv ownership increased.

  Shows the reality of war in your homes. Not censored.
• Vietnamization 1969 (Nixon)


  Objective: to withdraw all US troops from Vietnam.

  Train the ARVN, secretly bomb Cambodia and Laos to destroy VC bases.

  They failed ending up sending 150,000 men back into Vietnam.

  Turned people towards communist govt 'Kmer Rouge'. Domino theory coming true.
• Paris peace talks 


  From 1969-1973

  In 1972, Nixon visits china and USSR to improve relations. Says they will stop fighting.

  Signed January 1973. By March 1973 the last of the US forces leave.
• Kent state shooting 1970

  Students holding a peaceful protest and by noon is descended into violence. 4 people killed, 9 injured.

  Shocks the nation: firing on students.

  Students refuse to attend class.
• The Watergate scandal 


  Led to the resignation of Nixon.

  Nixon tried to cover up burglars stealing secret documents.

  People are unhappy with govt. They can't trust them.
• Human cost (Impact)


  Vietnam: 11 million Vietnamese civilians killed and another 5 million injured. 100,000 children born as a result of relationships between local Vietnamese women and US soldiers.

  US: 58,000 American soldiers aged 23 killed in war. A large amount developed cancer and unknown illnesses. Developed drug addictions.
• Environmental cost (Impact)


  Vietnam: Bombs destroyed roads and bridges and still cause injury today. Forest destroyed due to agent orange.
• Cost to countries reputation (Impact)

  US: Faced negative reactions when arrived home. Mistrust in America - the govt tried to cover up the my lai, watergate..
• Financial cost (Impact)


  US: over $170 billion. Pensions paid out to Vietnam veterans who were injured or widows: doubled the cost of war.

  Vietnam: no money but the country faced starvation.