vietnam war

Ho Ching Mihn

Communist leader of North Vietnam who wanted all of Vietnam to be communist

Tet Offensive

Big surprise attack by the enemy in 1968 that made Americans think the war wouldn't end soon.

Conscientious objector

A person who refuses to fight in war because of their beliefs.

Wood Stock

A huge music festival where people supported peace and protested the war.

Draft

When the government forces people to join the army.

Domino Theory

The idea that if one country becomes communist, others nearby will too.

My Lai

A village where U.S. soldiers killed innocent people

Agent Orange

A chemical used to kill plants in the jungle; it made people sick too.

this was used so people could see their enemys easier

Muhammad Ali

A famous boxer who refused to fight in the war and got in trouble for it.

Ngo Dihn Diem

Leader of South Vietnam. Many people didn't like him because he cheated in elections, but the US backed him up in the election because he wasn't a communist

Vietnamization

The plan to have U.S. soldiers leave and let South Vietnam fight on their own.

Credibility Gap

When people stopped trusting the government because it wasn't honest.

Vietcong

People in South Vietnam who fought for the North and used surprise attacks.

Guerilla warfare

A way of fighting using quick, surprise attacks.

Counter Culture

A group of young people in the 1960s who didn't agree with normal American rules and protested the war

Jack Ruby

Killed the assassin of JFK known as Lee Harvey Oswald

Dealey Plaza

The place in Dallas, Texas, where President Kennedy was shot.

Gulf of Tonkin Resoultion

Gave the president power to use nuclear warfare in Vietnam

Lyndon Johnson

The president after JFK who sent more troops (military advisors) to Vietnam.

Napalm

A burning jelly used in bombs that caused big fires.

Pentagon papers

Secret papers that showed the government was not honest about the war.

Search and destory

Missions where U.S. soldiers looked for enemies and destroyed villages.

Student deferment

A rule that let students avoid being drafted if they stayed in school.

Zippo Raid

When soldiers burned villages using lighters.

Hawks

People who wanted to keep fighting in Vietnam.

Doves

People who opposed the Vietnam War.

Kent State

A protest where the National Guard shot and killed 4 students.

escalation

Sending more and more troops to the war.

Why did people protest the war

the war was super long

people were dying

the draft was unfair

people didnt want to get drafted

the government wasnt being honest

Do you think the U.S. government was honest in the way they handled the war?

No, lyndon johnson promised the us was almost out of war but after vietnam attacked more they knew they were far from done with war. people soon found out that the government was hiding things especially after the Pentagon papers came out.

What were three bad choices President Lyndon Johnson had in the war

1. Pull out of vietnam and admit defeat

2. Play a limited role and probably lose

3. Esalation or moving torwards complete war