Vietnam War Overview By Khan Academy

What group led the Communist liberation movement in Vietnam after WWII? Who was their leader?

• The People's Army, led by Vo Nguyen Giap.
• The Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh.
• The National Front, led by Ngo Dinh Diem.
• The Red Army, led by Mao Zedong.

Why was Vietnam divided at the 17th parallel in 1954?

• Vietnam was divided to establish a neutral zone for peace talks.
• Vietnam was split to create a buffer zone for foreign military presence.
• The division was based on ethnic differences between the regions.
• Vietnam was temporarily divided during the Geneva Accords to separate communist North from the anti-communist South.

Why were some Vietnamese in the South opposed to Ngo Dinh Diem, the president of South Vietnam?

• Some opposed Diem because he was autocratic, corrupt, and discriminated against Buddhists.

• Some believed Diem was too lenient on the Viet Cong insurgents.
• Opposition arose due to his strong ties with communist leaders in the North.
• Many supported Diem for his economic reforms and land redistribution.

The South Vietnamese were fighting a conventional war with​ (a)   and an unconventional guerilla force​ ​ (b)   .

• the Viet Minh in the North
• the Viet Cong in the South

What was the Gulf of Tonkin Incident?

• The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was a diplomatic meeting that attempted to end the Vietnam War in 1963.

• The Gulf of Tonkin Incident involved a naval battle between the Viet Minh and Viet Kong in 1970.

• The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was a supposed attack on the U.S.S. Maddox that escalated U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

• The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was a peaceful negotiation resulting in the unification of North and South Vietnam.

What was the Tet Offensive?

• The Tet Offensive was a naval blockade by the U.S. forces.
• The Tet Offensive was surprise attacks by North Vietnamese forces in 1968.

• The Tet Offensive was a peace treaty signed in 1968.
• The Tet Offensive was a political campaign for Vietnamese independence.

What was the Pentagon Papers?

• The Pentagon Papers were a public report on the U.S. progress fighting during WWII.

• The Pentagon Papers were documents suggesting the military was lying about the status of the Vietnam War.

• The Pentagon Papers were a series of military maps and manuals showing supply routes in Laos and Cambodia.

• The Pentagon Papers were a collection of diplomatic cables between France and the United States from the Cold War.

What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail?

• A series of military bases established by South Vietnam.
• A network of supply routes used by North during the Vietnam War.

• A highway built in South Vietnam to get supplies to U.S. forces.

• A trade route used for exporting goods to China.

What were the Paris Peace Accords signed in 1973?

• The Paris Peace Accords were treaties for economic cooperation in Europe.
• The Paris Peace Accords were agreements to promote cultural exchange in Asia.
• The Paris Peace Accords were military alliances formed during World War II.
• The Paris Peace Accords were agreements aimed at ending the Vietnam War and establishing peace in Vietnam.

Once the U.S. leaves Vietnam what happens to Saigon?

• Saigon was declared an independent republic.
• Saigon was divided into two separate cities, Communist North and Democratic South.

• Saigon fell to North Vietnamese forces and was renamed Ho Chi Minh City.
• Saigon became the capital of Vietnam and sanctuary for those escaping the Viet Cong.