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Vietnam 1955-1970 : Part I Trivia Quiz

This quiz covers the period when the French were exiting Indochina and American involvment was deepening.

A multiple-choice quiz by steve20. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
steve20

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
144,777

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
1958

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Due in large part to the efforts of this individual, the promised elections of 1956 never occurred. This person instead created a new government for the south, headed by himself.

Answer: (Three Words, clashed with Buddhists)

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Question 2 of 15

2. Beginning in 1955 American advisors helped to form and train South Vietnam's army, commonly referred to by this acronym. Hint

ARVN

VASS

NVA

AFSV

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Question 3 of 15

3. When did Ho Chi Minh announced the formation of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam? Hint

December 1962

August 1957

August 1958

December 1960

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Question 4 of 15

4. Ngo Dinh Diem was a member of this faith, making his relationship with much of Viet Nam's people very difficult. Hint

Presbyterian

Buddhist

Catholic

Hindu

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Question 5 of 15

5. What did several Buddhists do in order to protest their mistreatment by Diem and his army and police? Hint

Committed hari-kari

Set themselves on fire

Bombed police stations

Hanged themselves in public places

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Question 6 of 15

6. To coordinate US and ARVN military operations, President Kennedy established this in February of 1962, infusing more advisers, better communications and extra equipment. Hint

United States Forces, Vietnam (USFVN)

Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV)

South East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO)

Military Alliance Command, Vietnam (MACV)

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Question 7 of 15

7. In spite of nearly 5 to 1 odds, a cadre of American advisers and five American helicopters, this village was the site of a major defeat of ARVN by the Vietcong in January 1963. Hint

My Lai

An Lac

Phan Boi

Ap Bac

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Question 8 of 15

8. The "strategic" or "fortified" hamlet program was designed to pacify and protect the rural villagers.

True

False

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Question 9 of 15

9. When President Kennedy took office in January 1961 there were about 800 U.S. advisers in Vietnam. By November of 1963 that number had risen to over ___? Hint

9,000

11,000

19,000

16,000

10. Due to many reasons, (mistreatment of Buddhists, corruption, military reversals) Ngo Dinh Diem was "removed" from office in a bloody coup by several Vietnamese generals on this date. Which was it? Hint

1 November 1963

25 October 1963

1 November 1964

25 August 1964

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Question 11 of 15

11. After the demise of Diem, a military triumvirate took control in the south, headed by this general. Hint

Li Pac

Le Duc Tho

Duong Van Minh

Nguyen van Ky

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Question 12 of 15

12. Not wanting to appear "weak" towards China and Russia, President Johnson increased economic aid to Vietnam and by mid-1964 American advisers numbered ____? Hint

21,000

24,000

20,000

27,000

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Question 13 of 15

13. Eventually Vietnam's Premier, this man was commander of South Vietnam's Air Force in 1964

Answer: (Three Words)

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Question 14 of 15

14. These two ships were allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese gunboats in the Gulf of Tonkin in August of 1964 Hint

Bartlett and Compton

Maddox and Randolph

Maddox and C. Turner Joy

Dover and C. Turner Joy

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Question 15 of 15

15. On February 7, 1965 an attack on a U.S. helicopter base at this city prompted the insertion of Marines for security duty. Hint

Saigon

Hue

Pleiku

Da Nang

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Due in large part to the efforts of this individual, the promised elections of 1956 never occurred. This person instead created a new government for the south, headed by himself.

Answer: Ngo Dinh Diem

Diem was very independent and had not collaborated with the Japanese or the Viet Minh. His stubborness would eventually be his downfall.

2. Beginning in 1955 American advisors helped to form and train South Vietnam's army, commonly referred to by this acronym.

Answer: ARVN

Late in the war, as the North Vietnamese were advancing on Saigon some wag claimed the RVN stood for "really very nervous".

3. When did Ho Chi Minh announced the formation of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam?

Answer: December 1960

Although under Communist control, the NLF embraced all opponents of Diem.

4. Ngo Dinh Diem was a member of this faith, making his relationship with much of Viet Nam's people very difficult.

Answer: Catholic

Diem had little tolerance for Buddhists, and they had little for him.

5. What did several Buddhists do in order to protest their mistreatment by Diem and his army and police?

Answer: Set themselves on fire

Diem dismissed the self-immolations as publicity stunts, but some of the incidents were seen on television screens around the world, horrifying viewers.

6. To coordinate US and ARVN military operations, President Kennedy established this in February of 1962, infusing more advisers, better communications and extra equipment.

Answer: Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV)

MACV's first commander was General Paul Harkins.

7. In spite of nearly 5 to 1 odds, a cadre of American advisers and five American helicopters, this village was the site of a major defeat of ARVN by the Vietcong in January 1963.

Answer: Ap Bac

This incident and ARVN commanders' hesitancy to attack the enemy aggresively further fueled criticism of American involvment in South East Asia.

8. The "strategic" or "fortified" hamlet program was designed to pacify and protect the rural villagers.

Answer: True

Diem's brother Ngo Dinh Nhu helped establish this program which started with good intentions -- rendering medical care and protecting the peasants. But it was soon abused by the government and disillusioned even more of the populace.

9. When President Kennedy took office in January 1961 there were about 800 U.S. advisers in Vietnam. By November of 1963 that number had risen to over ___?

Answer: 16,000

Prior to his death, Kennedy had hoped to begin withdrawing many of those advisers.

Answer: 1 November 1963

Although not officially sanctioned by the U.S., the coup was a welcome relief from an embarrassing situation.

11. After the demise of Diem, a military triumvirate took control in the south, headed by this general.

Answer: Duong Van Minh

"Big" Minh was nominally in charge and was soon deposed by Nguyen Khanh. Minh would make a brief comeback at the end of the war.

12. Not wanting to appear "weak" towards China and Russia, President Johnson increased economic aid to Vietnam and by mid-1964 American advisers numbered ____?

Answer: 27,000

LBJ also wanted to increase the ARVN by 50,000.

13. Eventually Vietnam's Premier, this man was commander of South Vietnam's Air Force in 1964

Answer: Nguyen Cao Ky

Ky was a vocal supporter of the movement to take the war to the north in retaliation for communist aggression.

14. These two ships were allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese gunboats in the Gulf of Tonkin in August of 1964

Answer: Maddox and C. Turner Joy

This incident is viewed with skepticism by many historians since it is no secret that LBJ wanted to widen the war to the north.

15. On February 7, 1965 an attack on a U.S. helicopter base at this city prompted the insertion of Marines for security duty.

Answer: Pleiku

Eight Americans died, over 120 were wounded and ten aircraft were destroyed. LBJ's National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy was "in country" when the attack occurred.

Source: Author steve20

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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