vietnam

Ho Chi Minh

(1890-1969) leader of the Communist Party in Indochina after WWII; led Vietnamese against the French, then North Vietnamese against the United States in the Vietnam War

Vietminh

an organization whose goal it was to win Vietnam's independence from Japan; originated 1945.

domino theory

the political theory that if one nation comes under Communist control then neighboring nations will also come under Communist control

Dien Bien Phu

A town of northwest Vietnam near the Laos border. The French military base here fell to Vietminh troops on May 7, 1954, after a 56-day siege, leading to the end of France's involvement in Indochina.

Ngo Dinh Diem

(3 January 1901 - 2 November 1963) was the first president of South Vietnam (1955-1963). Anti-communist dictator who repressed all opposition; backed by U.S. until assassinated in a coup de tat.

Vietcong

the guerrilla soldiers of the Communist faction in South Vietnam, also know as the National Liberation Front

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

a resolution adopted by Congress in 1964, giving the president broad powers to wage war in Vietnam

William Westmoreland

American General who commanded American military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak from 1964 to 1968

napalm

Highly flammable chemical dropped from US planes in firebombing attacks during the Vietnam War and other conflicts.

Agent Orange

a herbicide used in the Vietnam War to defoliate forest areas

search-n-destroy mission

an operation developed for United States troops in Vietnam; troops would move through a designated area destroying enemy troops as they found them; relied heavily on new modes of transportation

credibility gap

This was the gap between the people and the government that grew as the people became disillusioned with the Vietnam War.

dove

someone who prefers negotiations to armed conflict in the conduct of foreign relations

hawk

person who advocates immediate firm action, including the use of force, to resolve international crises

Tet Offensive

a massive surprise attack by the Vietcong on South Vietnamese towns and cities in early 1968.

Vietnamization

President Richard Nixons strategy for ending U.S involvement in the vietnam war, involving a gradual withdrawl of American troops and replacement of them with South Vietnamese forces

Pentagon Papers

secret government documents published In 1971; revealed that the u.s. government had misled americans about the vietnam war.

Henry Kissinger

The main negotiator of the peace treaty with the North Vietnamese; secretary of state during Nixon's presidency (1970s).

War Powers Act

Notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops; had to gain congress' approval to stay longer than 90 days; designed to curtail President's power

Guerrillas

Irregular troops who would blend in with the civilian population. They used hit-an-run and ambush tactics.

Japan

This country had control over Vietnam during WWII.

France

This country ruled Vietnam from the 1800s until WWII.

China

This country had ruled Vietnam and the surrounding area off and on for hundreds of years.

Operation Rolling Thunder

This was a sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam ordered by President Johnson.

Ho Chi Minh Trail

This was a network of jungle paths that wound through Cambodia, Laos, bypassing the border between North and South Vietnam.

Vietnamization

President Richard Nixons strategy for ending U.S involvement in the vietnam war, involving a gradual withdrawl of American troops and replacement of them with South Vietnamese forces

Kent State University (1970)

the National Guard was called out to police a protest on 4 May at the college → nervous soldiers fired into the crowd and killed 4 students

My Lai

a village in northern South Vietnam where more than 200 unarmed civilians, including women and children, were massacred by U.S. troops in May 1968

Sterling Hall Bombing

August 24, 1970, Madison WI, 4 young people protested against the Vietnam War and the University's research for the war by bombing the school and 1 person died.

Richard Nixon

Offered Peace with Honor and Vietnamization for dealing with the Vietnam War

Robert Kennedy

He was a Democrat who ran for president in 1968 promoting civil rights and other equality based ideals. He was ultimately assassinated in 1968, leaving Nixon to take the presidency but instilling hope in many Americans.

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

Vietnam War Memorial

Memorial in Washington DC that lists the names of the 58,000 plus Americans who lost their lives while fighting in Vietnam

$150 Billion

cost of war in Vietnam