Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
UNIT 5: How effective was the US @ containing Communism Spread (VIETNAM…
UNIT 5: How effective was the US @ containing Communism Spread
KOREA
Background Info
.
Korea's neighbor, China, becomes communist in 1945, making Americans worry about the "Domino Theory"
Roots of Korean War
Korea had been taken over by Japan until end of WWII, 1945
USSR defeats the Japanese in the North of Korea. US defeats the Japanese in the South of Korea
The North is run by communist Kim Il Sung, the South is run by capitalist Syngman Rhee
Korean War
In 1950, North Korea (communist) invades the South and take over almost all of Korea
President Truman sends warships, advisers, and supplies to the South (capitallist)
The mess at the United Nations
The US wants the UN to condemn the actions of N.Korea, but they have to vote
The US doesn't allow communist China into the UN in 1949
The USSR walked out of the UN to protest China's exclusion
This means there are no Communists present when the UN votes to act in Korea
CUBA
Cuban Revolution
Cuba is being led by General Fulgencio Batista, a cruel dictator that was supported by the USA
Cuba saw extremely high poverty and unemployment under Batista
Batista allowed the US to dominate and profit off the Cuban economy
In 1953, Fidel Castro begins a 5+ yr. revolution against Batista, which gains the support of the Cuban people and ends with victory in 1959
US Reaction
After Castro begins to nationalize wealthy cuban and American businesses, the US decides to take action against him
The US placed a trade Embargo (restrictions) on Cuba
1961, the CIA launches the Bay of pigs invasion to overthrow Castro
1,700 Cuban exiles were defeated by the Cuban army, and the US
The invasion prompts the USSR to supply Cuba with assistance, especially military, including Nuclear MIssiles
Cuban Missile Crisis
1962 the USSR's Nikita Khrushchev begins building Nuclear Missile launch sites in Cuba
The US obtain spy plane photos proving the existence of launch sites
President Kennedy announces the Cuban blockade to prevent the USSR from delivering weapons to the island
This "showdown" is the closest the US and the USSR ever come to Nuclear war
OUTCOME
Ultimately, Khrushchev stops the shipments to Cuba and removes the missiles, while Kennedy also removes US missiles from bases in Turkey, (USSR's neighbor), and Cuba remains a communist country up to the present
Pres. Kennedy kept removal of Missile in Turkey a secret to make it look like the US "won" the Cuban Missile Crisis
VIETNAM
Vietcong Tactics
Hanging on to American belts
Fighting extremely close to the US so their bombers and artillery could not be used
Booby traps
These were designed to frighten the US soldiers and lower morale of fighters morale of fighters available
Dressed as farmers
GOAL
The Vietcong wanted to wear the US down and make them not want to fight any longer, NOT to actually win the fight
USA Tactics
Strategic Hamlets
Used to separate Vietcong from the Farmers, so the "Enemy" could be easily found
PROBLEM
Vietnamese did not want to be moved from their homes
Vietcong often tricked US troops and got into safe zones
Operation Rolling Thunder
Massive bombing campaign that was supposed to disrupt the supplies of weapons and troops to South Vietnam
PROBLEM
Did not disrupt supplies
Killed innocent people
Search & Destroy
Tactic were the US would fly small #'s of troops out to Vietcong locations then destroy everything the Vietcong needed to continue fighting
PROBLEM
Vietcong would get advanced warnings
Innocent villagers would sometimes get killed