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THE EXTENSION OF THE COLD WAR: CASE STUDY – VIETNAM The United States of America lost the war in Vietnam (1962 to 1975) due to unconventional strategies of guerrilla warfare and environmental factors on the battlefield - NSC History - Question 4 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 4
THE EXTENSION OF THE COLD WAR: CASE STUDY – VIETNAM The United States of America lost the war in Vietnam (1962 to 1975) due to unconventional strategies of guerrill... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:THE EXTENSION OF THE COLD WAR: CASE STUDY – VIETNAM The United States of America lost the war in Vietnam (1962 to 1975) due to unconventional strategies of guerrilla warfare and environmental factors on the battlefield - NSC History - Question 4 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
Focus on the strategies used both by the USA and the Vietcong.
Answer
First, the guerilla warfare tactics of the Vietcong presented a significant challenge to US forces. These strategies included ambushes and surprise attacks that leveraged their knowledge of the local terrain. The effectiveness of these tactics undermined the technological superiority of the US military, causing high American casualties ...
Step 3
Environmental Factors
Answer
In addition to guerrilla tactics, environmental factors, including the dense jungles and difficult terrain of Vietnam, further hindered US operations. The challenging conditions made it hard for US forces to locate Vietcong fighters and often led to strategic miscalculations ...
Step 4
Public Reaction and Support for North Vietnam
Answer
Moreover, public discontent in the United States over the escalating conflict led to anti-war demonstrations, which pressured the government to reconsider its military strategy. The abundant support received by North Vietnam from countries like the USSR and China also contributed to the prolonged resistance against US forces ...
Step 5
Conclusion
Answer
In conclusion, I agree with the statement that unconventional strategies of guerrilla warfare and adverse environmental factors were key reasons for the US's inability to secure victory in Vietnam. The US was unprepared for the complexities of the conflict, ultimately leading to their withdrawal by 1975.