R EASONS FOR US DEFEAT

S OLDIERS Morale was low in the army Soldiers were conscripted at a very young age Inexperienced, usually sent back to US after a short time This meant soldiers in Vietnam were always inexperienced. Soldiers were also not committed, there was not much of an incentive.

L EADERSHIP US military leaders were incompetent and had no experience in Vietnam Couldn’t utilise US troops effectively High rank officers were constantly replaced Poor leadership Overall, leadership in the US army was poor during the war

A IRPOWER The US used: Helicopters B52s Spy planes These were used for carpet bombing, airlifting, dropping supplies and acquiring enemy positions. There was a measure of success, but it was expensive and it also just strengthened the Vietnamese army’s resolve

P UBLIC OPINION The first TV war The media showed the true nature of the war to the general public Atrocities in My Lai, etc. were shown Exposed cruelty of American tactics Showed taxpayers what they were paying for Stimulated peace protests, increased dove influence.

B ODY C OUNT North Vietnam: 1.1 million dead wounded US: 58,193 killed wounded South Vietnam: killed The sheer amount of casualties increased dove influence on the home front Troops were embarrassed at the slaughter, morale lowered.

D OMINO T HEORY The union between the USSR and China did not exist This was confusing for the US who thought they were allied Thought Vietnam was part of great “communist conspiracy”

T ECHNOLOGY Too much faith in modern technology This was ineffective against guerilla tactics of north Vietnamese. Influenced public opinion – they questioned whether the war was morally right High cost for advanced equipment, but at little benefit to the war effort

C ONCLUSION The war was broadcast on TV and the media exposed the truth in the US war effort Tax payers lost faith in the US ability to win the war Peace movements among many groups in the US joined in protest against the war