Vietnam War

Indochina

Region controlled by France from 1858 until WW2, seized by Japan during the War.

Ho Chi Minh

Leader of nationalist movement in Vietnam; founded the Vietminh to resist Japan during WW2.

Democratic Republic of Vietnam

Declared independence by Ho Chi Minh after WW2; led to French attempts to regain control.

U.S. Involvement Begins

Beginning of U.S. support for French forces against the Viet Minh during the First Indochina War.

Domino Theory

Eisenhower's analogy explaining containment, suggesting that if Vietnam fell to communism, other Southeast Asian countries would follow.

Geneva Accords

Peace conference in July 1954 that temporarily divided Vietnam into North and South, granting independence to Laos and Cambodia.

Viet Cong

Communist insurgency in South Vietnam formed in response to the division of Vietnam and Diem's leadership.

National Liberation Front

Formalized in 1960 by Ho Chi Minh to unite Vietnam and demand a democratic government.

My Lai Massacre

March 16, 1968, incident where U.S. soldiers killed between 347 and 504 unarmed civilians believed to be Viet Cong supporters.

Kent State Massacre

May 4, 1970, event where National Guard fired into anti-war rally, killing 4 students and wounding 11.

Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers

In 1971, Ellsberg leaked a classified report that raised doubts about the justification for the Vietnam War.

Vietnamization

Nixon's strategy to gradually transfer war responsibilities to South Vietnam and withdraw U.S. troops.

Watergate

Scandal involving a complex web of political cover-ups and illegal activities during the Nixon presidency.

Hawks and Doves

Hawks support military action in Vietnam, while Doves advocate for peace and opposition to the war.

Summer of Love

Summer of 1967 marked the peak of the hippie movement with 200,000 people converging in San Francisco.

Stagflation

Economic condition of stagnation combined with inflation and high unemployment.

The Drug Culture

Counterculture movement in the 1960s characterized by experimentation with drugs, especially hallucinogens.

The Teach-In Movement

A form of organized discussion regarding political issues, particularly the Vietnam War, held on college campuses.

Ford's Domestic Policy

Included the Southern Strategy and New Federalism aimed at revenue sharing to local governments.

Antiwar Movement

Grassroots protests against the Vietnam War that gained traction as public discontent grew.

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

1964 Congressional resolution giving President Johnson authority to prevent further aggression in Vietnam.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

August 1964 eventwhere U.S. destroyers were alleged to have been fired upon by North Vietnamese boats.

Paris Peace Accords

Agreements signed in January 1973 to establish peace in Vietnam and withdraw U.S. troops.

Apollo 11

July 20, 1969 mission in which Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Agency established in 1970 to oversee environmental regulations and clean-up efforts.

Gerald Ford's Pardon of Nixon

Decision to grant Nixon a full pardon following his resignation in 1974.