GCSE-ready- Home
- Lessons
- GCSE & IGCSE History
- The nature of the war in Vietnam, 1964 to 68
The nature of the war in Vietnam, 1964 to 68
🎬 The doodle video for this lesson is coming soon. Subscribe on YouTube to see it first.
The world's most powerful army struggled against a guerrilla enemy. By 1968, the Tet Offensive shook American confidence.
Vietcong tactics
Guerrilla warfare: small groups attacked, then disappeared into the jungle or among villagers.
Tunnels (such as at Cu Chi) and booby traps.
Supplies came down the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos and Cambodia.
They kept close to US troops so US air power could not be used ('hugging').
Tunnels (such as at Cu Chi) and booby traps.
Supplies came down the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos and Cambodia.
They kept close to US troops so US air power could not be used ('hugging').
US tactics
Operation Rolling Thunder (1965 to 68): massive bombing of the North.
Search and destroy, under General Westmoreland: troops found and killed Vietcong, often destroying villages.
Chemical weapons: Agent Orange stripped the jungle; napalm burned targets and people.
US troop numbers rose to over half a million by 1968. Many soldiers were young draftees serving one-year tours.
Search and destroy, under General Westmoreland: troops found and killed Vietcong, often destroying villages.
Chemical weapons: Agent Orange stripped the jungle; napalm burned targets and people.
US troop numbers rose to over half a million by 1968. Many soldiers were young draftees serving one-year tours.
The Tet Offensive, 1968
In January 1968, during the Tet new year holiday, the Vietcong and North Vietnamese attacked over 100 towns and cities, even the US embassy in Saigon.
The city of Hue was held for weeks; the US base at Khe Sanh was besieged.
Militarily it was a defeat for the communists, but politically it was a turning point: Americans no longer believed they were winning. Johnson decided not to stand for re-election.
The city of Hue was held for weeks; the US base at Khe Sanh was besieged.
Militarily it was a defeat for the communists, but politically it was a turning point: Americans no longer believed they were winning. Johnson decided not to stand for re-election.
Why was the Tet Offensive a turning point even though the communists lost militarily?
- US leaders had said the war was nearly won.
- Tet showed the enemy could attack everywhere, even the US embassy.
- This destroyed trust in the government and turned more Americans against the war.
Answer: It showed the war was not being won, destroying public confidence.
Vietcong: guerrilla tactics, tunnels, booby traps, the Ho Chi Minh Trail. USA: Rolling Thunder bombing, search and destroy, Agent Orange and napalm, over half a million troops. Tet (1968) was a military failure for the communists but a political turning point in the USA.
Check you have got it
Answer 7 quick questions with instant marking. If you get one wrong, GCSE-ready shows you why and gives you another go. It is free, and you do not need an account.