STUDY QUESTIONS FOR THE VIETNAM TEST
LOCATION/CLIMATE
Where is Vietnam located?
Southeast Asia, long and narrow shaped like an “S”
What are the surrounding countries?
Bordered by China on the north and Cambodia and Laos on the west.
What is the capital?
Hanoi
What is the climate like?
Tropical, during the dry season it has very hot temperatures. During the wet season
it has large amounts of rainfall.
What is the terrain like?
In the north there are mainly highlands and in the south lowlands, vast forests, and
dense jungles.
What is the meaning of guerilla tactics?
Unconventional warfare and combat, which in Vietnam was used in the jungles.
WEAPONS OF THE WAR/ NAVY
Why was the helicopter important for this war?
Provided air support for the ground troops. It became the workhorse of the U.S.
Army. Carried supplies and troops in and out of Vietnam
What is an herbicide? Which one was common during this war?
Herbicides are used to get rid of unwanted plant life. Agent Orange
What are some other weapons that were used during this war?
B-52 Bomber, M-16 Rifle, M-79 Grenade, M-60 Machine Gun, AK-47 Assault Rifle
What roles or major jobs did the Navy have during this war?
Three major jobs, one being to stop the flow of supplies by sea from North Vietnam
from getting to communist troops in the south. Two, was to provide artillery
support from the big ships’ guns. Third, was to use smaller and faster boats to
police and patrol the vast inland waterways and rivers.
MAJOR LEADERS
Which President sent troops over to Vietnam? Why did this President feel this should
happen? President John F. Kennedy. He believed in fighting against communism and
its spread.
Which President pulled troops from Vietnam? How did he pursue this task?
President Richard M. Nixon. Pursed “Vietnamization” where American troops
would be gradually replaced by Vietnamese troops.
How long did the war last? What years did it cover?
14-18 years, 1959-1975
TET OFFENSIVE
What is the Tet Offensive? Why is important?
A whole series of major battles occurred during the Tet Offensive. During the Tet
holiday and cease fire of January 1968 over 80,000 NVA and VC soldiers launched
coordinated attacks in major cities and hamlets all over South Vietnam including
Saigon and Hue. This is important because it proved to be a turning point in the
war.
ANITWAR MOVEMENTS/PROTESTS
Why was the Vietnam War considered controversial?
People wanted a reason for why so many American lives were being sacrificed in
Vietnam.
What did people do to protest the war?
Many lives were lost and the financial cost of the war for the U.S. was a lot.
How do we remember the war today?
The Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. , has the names of Americans who
were killed in the war.