GCSE Coursework

GCSE Coursework

Vietnam

Course content



Vietnam since 1939

Key Issues Content Focus

Part 1: Origins of Conflict  

Why did the French leave Vietnam in 1954 and the United States become involved?
French war 1946-54; Dien BienPhu, 1954; Domino Theory; NgoDinh Diem, 1956-63; Gulf ofTonkin incident, 1964.

Part 2: Vietnam: the Military Experience
                    
How effective were the U.S. intheir attempts to defeat theguerrilla tactics used against them in the Vietnam War? Theory of Guerrilla Warfare;Guerrilla tactics, 1965-1973;
U.S.response: Rolling Thunder, 1965;Tet Offensive, 1968; AgentOrange & Napalm; US Bombingof the North, 1970-72.

Part 3: Vietnam: the Civilian Experience

How did the experience of war lead to the peace movement in America?
My Lai, 1968; TV and media coverage; Protest movement, 1968-73.

Part 4: Vietnam: Finding Peace

Why has peace been difficult to find for the people of Vietnam?
US withdrawal, 1973-75; Fall of Saigon, 1975;
Boat people and economic problems. Long term effects of chemical warfare.
















Question –    Explain why the USA withdrew it’s forces from
            Vietnam in  1973.

‘Explain’ means that you must give reasons why the USA took troops out of Vietnam.

Think
          Who made the decision to pull out the forces?
          Why were US forces there in the first place?
          Had they achieved their objective?
          Why was the year 1973 chosen?
          What factors could have influenced the decision makers?
          Which reasons were the most important?
          How are the reasons linked?

You are going to be asked to show your understanding of causation. Marks will be awarded for doing the following;


Level 1     A simple description of  some of the causes, telling the story.
                                        (1-5 marks)

Level 2     Shows simple understanding and uses some relevant information to try to answer the question.
     May concentrate on only one factor.
     May tell the story but not really link answer to the question.
     May identify several factors but not clearly linked to the question and little evidence to support answer.
                                   (6-12 marks)

Level 3     Uses relevant material, develops and makes links between several factors and explains how they are linked to the question.
                                        (13-20 marks)

Level 4
Complex understanding will be demonstrated by building on Level 3 but will show  understanding of how complex the past was and how the factors were intertwined. Will make judgements on the relationships between causes, may comment on long term and short term causes and may put forward a conclusion that suggests which factors were the most important.









ESSAY GUIDANCE

WHY DID THE USA LEAVE VIETNAM BY 1973?


Introduction
          What is the short answer to the question?


Paragraph 1
          Set the scene, explain why the USA became involved in Vietnam

• Cold War – Containment-Domino Theory


• Support for France


• Partition of Vietnam, North is communist, South is non-communist.


• USA supports South and Diem

Paragraph 2     
Explain why Diem was a bad choice, why he was unpopular in South Vietnam. US policy ‘backed the wrong horse’.

• Strategic hamlets


• Pro Catholic.


• Angered farmers.


• US policy of advisers and money continued by Eisenhower and Kennedy.

Paragraph 3
Explain how the USA escalated the conflict under Johnson and the tactics uesd. How the USA were going to fight a technological war and how these tactics proved to be ineffective.

• Gulf of Tonkin episode


• Increased use of ground troops (500,000 by 1968)


• Bombing of North Vietnam and  Viet Cong


• Lack of success, fighting a technological war against guerilla tactics.

Paragraph 4
          Why were the Viet Cong so good at guerilla tactics.

• Experience


• Supplies, Ho Chi Minh trail, Russia and China.


• Tunnels


• Support of peasants


• US troops young and inexperienced.

Paragraph 5     
          US tactics become desperate and counterproductive

• Chemical weapons


• My Lai


• Tet Offensive


• Bombing campaign only strengthens the resolve of North Vietnam.

Paragraph 6
The war becomes unpopular, growth of protest movements.Negative impact on public opinion in the USA and the world.

• Draft dodgers


• Student protests


• Veterans protest


• Woodstock, Hippy era, Peace and Love.


• Kent University.

Paragraph 7
          The role of the media in bringing home the horrors of the war.

• 1964 approval rating  for war high.


• TV war, photos


• Deaths


• Attrocities, eg My Lai


• Tet Offensive – role of Walter Cronkite.


• Anti-war protests.

Paragraph 8
          The response of the politicians.

• Cost of war, cutbacks on Great Reform programme.


• Johnson does not stand for re-election


• Nixon vows to get USA out


• Negotiates peace settlement, Vietnamisation


• 1973 peace agreement signed


• 1975 USA withdraws, South Vietnam falls to communism.

Conclusion
          US policy failed in Vietnam, 58,000 dead.
          What do you think are the main reasons for the US admitting defeat?