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The USA, 1954–75: Conflict at Home and Abroad

The nature of the conflict in Vietnam, 1964–68

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 3

Overview

Vietcong guerrilla tactics, booby traps and tunnel complexes, why they were so hard to beat, Search and Destroy and its effect on peasants, Operation Rolling Thunder, Agent Orange and napalm, and the Tet Offensive of 1968 and why it was a turning point.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Who won the Tet Offensive, and why was it still a turning point?

Key term

What tactics did the Vietcong use instead of meeting American forces in open battle?

Key term

Give three tactics the Vietcong used against American troops.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What tactics did the Vietcong use instead of meeting American forces in open battle?

    Model answer

    Ambushes, booby traps, night raids and tunnel networks, followed by melting back into the villages so the Americans could not find them.

  2. 2

    Give three tactics the Vietcong used against American troops.

    Model answer

    Ambushes on jungle trails, booby traps such as punji stake pits and mines, and tunnel systems from which they attacked and vanished.

  3. 3

    Why were the Vietcong so hard for US forces to find and beat?

    Model answer

    They wore no uniform and looked like ordinary peasants, knew the ground, moved mostly at night, and could shelter in villages or underground.

  4. 4

    What did the Vietcong keep in their tunnel complexes?

    Model answer

    Living quarters, hospitals, kitchens, weapon stores and workshops, so whole units could survive underground for long periods.

  5. 5

    What was Search and Destroy?

    Model answer

    American patrols were helicoptered into villages to hunt down guerrillas and wreck their bases, food stores and supply dumps.

  6. 6

    Why did Search and Destroy turn peasants against the Americans?

    Model answer

    Villages were burned and civilians killed or made homeless on the strength of poor intelligence, so survivors joined or sheltered the guerrillas.

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