Notes for World History
THE WARS IN VIETNAM (3)
Why did USA fail?
- The Vietcong and the National Liberation Front had widespread support among the ordinary people.
- The Vietcong were experts at guerrilla warfare and were fighting on familiar territory which Americans found it difficult to deal with.
- The Vietcong received important help from North Vietnam and from China and Russia.
- The North Vietnamese were dedicated to unification of their country.
Impact of the war
- Vietnam was united.
- Millions of civilians killed and left homeless.
- South Vietnam was destructed enormously
- Blow to American prestige.
- Profound effect on American society which saw US involvement in war as a terrible mistake.
- US President Nixon had to resign.
- War veterans, instead of being treated as heroes, often found themselves shunned.
- The war was a victory for the communist world.
