Reasons for the USA's Failure

What caused the USA to fail in Vietnam?

The American government and public lacked a clear understanding of, or the motivation and adaptability to succeed, in Vietnam. They were also at a disadvantage culturally, politically and militarily, as they were not Vietnamese.

What were the main reasons the USA failed in Vietnam?

The 4 main reasons that contributed to the USA's failure in Vietnam were:

• ❖ The tactics and resolve of the Vietcong.
• ❖ The cultural weaknesses of the USA in Vietnam.
• ❖ The political and public opposition to the war in the USA.
• ❖ The military weaknesses of the American forces.

Why did cultural weaknesses lead to the USA failing in Vietnam?

Cultural weakness was a key reason of the USA's failure in Vietnam due to the following:

• ❖ Many Americans had racist attitudes towards the Vietnamese, meaning they did not always treat local civilians well. This led to atrocities like the My Lai Massacre. US forces needed the support of the locals, but mostly alienated them.
• ❖ It was hard to gain support from the locals because they didn't speak their language and needed interpreters.
• ❖ Most Americans had no idea what the country was like. They didn't understand why villagers were unwilling to leave the lands where their ancestors were buried. This led to feelings of hatred from the local population and increased support for the Vietcong.
• ❖ The Americans didn't realise most Vietnamese villagers were unable to read, so dropping leaflets warning them to leave before bombing raids happened didn't work. Millions of innocent civilians were killed during the conflict.
• ❖ Many South Vietnamese saw the USA as occupiers imposing their ideas - just as the French and Japanese had - and not advocates for democracy. They helped the Vietcong, creating further difficulties for the US forces.

Why did political and public opposition lead to the USA's failure in Vietnam?

Political and public opposition led to the USA's failure in the Vietnam War for the following reasons:

• ❖ The USA backed the South Vietnamese government, which was corrupt. Many officials had worked for the French, making America even more unpopular. Political figures and the American public objected to the USA fighting a war that defended a corrupt regime.
• ❖ The USA faced opposition at home in the form of anti-war protests, and restricted funding from Congress after 1971. This placed President Nixon under huge pressure to withdraw from Vietnam.
• ❖ The US public questioned the legitimacy of the war, meaning the US government no longer had a mandate to fight.
• ❖ Americans were horrified by media coverage of the war, and this led to a growth in the anti-war movement. By 1971, many surveys showed the majority of American people wanted US troops brought home immediately and an end to the conflict. The US government could not fight a war its people did not want.

Why did weaknesses in the USA's military lead to its failure in Vietnam?

Military weaknesses in the US forces led to failure in Vietnam for the following reasons:

• ❖ The military believed the war could be won with more troops and through bombing campaigns in North Vietnam, which was not the limited war the government wanted. US forces also failed to adjust their tactics to suit Vietnam's terrain and climate.
• ❖ US tactics alienated locals and caused resentment. 'Search and destroy' included soldiers burning the homes of villagers.
• ❖ As the war progressed more soldiers were needed, so the draft became increasingly important. It meant many young and inexperienced soldiers were posted to Vietnam - and, as they returned home after a year, they left just as they were learning how to fight in the country's tough conditions. This contributed to the high number of casualties.
• ❖ Soldiers lacked training in how to combat guerrilla tactics. Their weapon and methods were ineffective in the jungle. One key problem faced by inexperienced GIs was the inability to recognise the enemy, leading to the deaths of innocent civilians and demoralised troops.
• ❖ Discipline among US soldiers was inadequate. Drug taking and desertion - where a soldier would leave his post - were rife. Approximately 30 per cent of US troops in Vietnam used heroin, further impacting their competency to fight effectively.
• ❖ The US military did not adapt their approach to combat the Vietcong's guerrilla tactics, and therefore could not beat it.
• ❖ Their tactics often killed innocent civilians and sometimes their own troops. This led to low morale among the US forces which made it difficult for them to fight.
• ❖ With 12,000km between the USA and Vietnam, it meant US forces often had problems with their equipment and weapons.
• ❖ Racial inequalities in the US Army led to low morale and significant opposition back home. By 1970, black Americans made up 11 per cent of soldiers in Vietnam but almost 25 per cent of the casualties. Black soldiers questioned why they were fighting a war in the name of a freedom they did not have themselves.

How did the strengths of the Vietcong lead to the USA's failure in Vietnam?

The strength of both the Vietcong's tactics and its resolve led to US failure in Vietnam for the following reasons:

• ❖ They knew the landscape, culture and language of the south, and so could easily navigate their way around undetected. They could also garner the support of the locals.
• ❖ The Vietnamese had a history of fighting foreign invaders, namely France and Japan. They were determined to remove all foreign influences from their country.
• ❖ The Vietcong was already well established in the south, so North Vietnam could work with them and send supplies using the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Many North Vietnamese fighters were originally from the south, before the 1954 Geneva Accords, and so had family and contacts they could use.
• ❖ They had international support. Between 1954 and 1967, China and the USSR sent $3 billion in aid, weapons, and equipment. Laos and Cambodia allowed the Ho Chi Minh Trail to run through their countries, and there was little America could do to stop this without further conflict.
• ❖ The North Vietnamese and Vietcong troops were used to jungle conditions. They used guerrilla tactics and fought small skirmishes, although they could also fight large battles. These tactics were perfect for the terrain, and the USA could not fight effectively.
• ❖ The Vietcong used a system of tunnels and bases to move supplies, troops and equipment. They were well-organised and experienced. The USA continuously failed at destroying the Vietcong's supply lines.
• ❖ The North Vietnamese and Vietcong troops were fighting for their country. They had a clear motive to achieve victory and fought with fierce determination. The US troops, however, were fighting 12,000km from home for a cause they increasingly cared less about.