Civil Rights, Cold War, and Vietnam War Flashcards

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to Civil Rights, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Ruled that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Refusal to use the bus transportation system in Montgomery, Alabama, sparked by Rosa Parks's arrest for not giving up her seat to a white man.

Civil Rights Act (1964)

Landmark legislation outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Selma March

A march for voting rights that led to violence against protesters and eventually the Voting Rights Act.

Voting Rights Act (1965)

Outlawed discriminatory voting practices, such as poll taxes and literacy tests.

Cold War

A period of time in which the US and USSR were not communicating and held proxy wars. Great nuclear threats between the two countries to control communism.

Domino Theory

The theory that if one country falls to communism, many neighboring countries will also fall to communism.

America’s dilemma

Whether to support Vietnam or France in the war. France would’ve fallen to communism if the US didn’t help.

Bay of Pigs

Eisenhower administration authorized the CIA to plan an invasion of Cuba to overthrow Castro. Kennedy gets into office and wants to implement plan which was then poorly executed which strengthens Castro’s position in Cuba. Turned many Cuban Americans against Kennedy.

Cuban Missle Crisis (1962)

US intelligence discover the Soviets building nuclear missle sites in Cuba.

Lyndon Johnson

Vice president during JFK administration then became president after his assassination. Reason America entered Vietnam. Champion of civil rights movement.

Great Society

Domestic programs for helping Americans economically. Lyndon Johnson

Gulf of Tonkin (1964)

August 2nd, 3 north vietnamese torpedo boats fired on the USS Maddox (August 4th, Maddox was reportedly attacked again though not confirmed.)

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

“The Blank Check” - Gave the president broad power to do whatever in Vietnam. Led to a huge escalation in Vietnam. beginning of the “war” (only called a police action)

Operation Rolling Thunder

The first sustained American assault on North Vietnamese territory. Escalation of troops, warfare, and fatality rates.

Communism

Collective ownership of trade and industry, often controlled by a dictator, with no class system and heavy government controls with no freedom.

Capitalism

Private ownership of trade and industry, with little government control and the presence of a class system.

Socialism

The government is involved in minimizing income inequality, while still maintaining a class system.

Democracy

The government is ruled by the people, who elect their leaders/representatives.

Dictatorship

The country is ruled by one person that controls everything with no freedom.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Gave the president broad power to do whatever he wanted in Vietnam, leading to a huge escalation of the war.

Operation Rolling Thunder (1965-1968)

Marked the first sustained American assault on North Vietnamese territory, escalating troops, warfare, and fatality rates.

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Trail from North Vietnam to South Vietnam used to transport supplies and personnel.

Napalm

Jellied gasoline; liquid fire.

Agent Orange

Herbicide meant to kill vegetation, causing cancers in American veterans and birth defects in Vietnamese people.

Tet Offensive (January 1968)

North Vietnamese attacked every major city in South Vietnam, leading to disbelief, anger, and distrust of President Johnson's administration in the US.

My Lai Massacre (March 1968)

Mass murder of unarmed Vietnamese villager citizens by US troops in South Vietnam, which further depleted morale of the troops and fueled anti-war sentiment.

Domino Theory

If one country falls to communism, many neighboring countries will also fall to communism.

Viet Minh

North Vietnamese communist party / army fighting for independence against France.

Viet Cong

Communist guerilla army fighting in the south against the US and ARVN.

Ho Chi Minh

Communist leader in North Vietnam.

Ngo Dinh Diem

Served as president of South Vietnam but had dictatorial power. Wanted to create a democratic country of Southern Vietnam. Reluctantly backed by the US. His brother Ngo Dinh Nhu was the corrupt de facto-ruler.

26th Amendment

Made the voting age 18 from 21. Old enough to go to war, old enough to vote.

Outcome of Vietnam (1973)

Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam would all fall to communism after. Led to the 26th amendment being passed and the “credibility gap” (mistrust of government).

Credibility Gap

Americans’ mistrust of government due to them not fulfilling promises, lying, etc..