How did America respond to guerrilla tactics in Vietnam? Name___________________________________________ Action
Effect
Problems that arose
The American soldiers went into the jungles and villages of South Vietnam looking for VC
Many Vietnamese villages destroyed
Civilians turned against the America war effort and joined the VC. The Americans looked bad in the eyes of the world.
The Americans used napalm and agent orange to destroy the jungle in which the VC were hiding
Americans could not find the VC who hid well and knew local terrain. They did not wear uniform. Who were they? Americans were frustrated by booby traps they couldn’t see.
Heavy bombing made America look bad in the eyes of the world. It made the North more determined to resist.
The Americans burnt down villages that were suspected of supporting the VC
It burnt down trees and polluted the earth
Supplies continued to flow into the South. America could not invade Laos and Cambodia where the trail ran.
The Americans would heavily bomb the “Ho Chi minh trail” which transported goods into South Vietnam
More bombs were dropped on the North than all the bombs dropped in World War Two.
It looked bad in the world’s eyes. Many VC hid underground where they were safe.
The Americans heavily bombed the North in the hope they would give in
Massive damage to the environment. The trail was well concealed in the jungle.
Americans killed civilians in frustration.
Examination Question Why did America fail tactically in the Vietnam War? Use your own knowledge and the sources to help you answer. (12 marks) Introduction America lost the Vietnam war because the tactics they used failed. They went looking for Vietcong but they couldn’t find them. The VC hid and knew the local terrain well. Also, they did not dress in uniform so they could slip into villages and hide. The jungle didn’t help and there were many booby traps that frustrated and slowed down the American search. Source supports this. It says that
Another tactic the Americans used was
Grade E = Two reasons given for American failure including a source extract
The Americans also
Grade D = Three reasons given for American failure including source extract
Furthermore
Grade C/B = Four reasons given for American failure including quotes
In conclusion, I think that Americans lost because of events on the battlefield and off the battlefield.
Grade A-A* = A number of reasons are given for American failure but the student also makes reference to strategies off the battlefield. Well Done!
How did America respond to guerrilla warfare?
Source A
"It became necessary to destroy the village in order to save it."
-- An American major after the destruction of the Vietnamese Village Ben Tre
Source B
"Bomb them back to the stone age."
-- U.S. General Curtis LeMay during the Vietnam War
Source C “We took two casualties. We opened up on where the shots had come from. I must have emptied a clip into the bushes. We got there, and found nothing. Not even a blood trail. We went back to barracks. Two guys dead and none killed. Guys are getting wasted every day – and what for?” -
US Marine, Dak To, 1969