Vietnam War

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to the Vietnam War, providing definitions and context to aid understanding.

Vietnam War

A conflict in Vietnam from 1955 to 1975 between communist North Vietnam and non-communist South Vietnam, involving significant U.S. military engagement.

Containment

U.S. policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism during the Cold War.

Domino Theory

The idea that the fall of one country to communism would lead to the subsequent fall of neighboring countries.

Ho Chi Minh

Leader of North Vietnam who fought for Vietnamese independence and communist ideals.

Guerilla Warfare

A form of irregular warfare where small groups use surprise attacks and ambushes against larger traditional forces.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

A series of events in August 1964 that led to the U.S. escalation of military involvement in Vietnam.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

1964 Congressional resolution that granted President Johnson the power to use military force in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war.

Tet Offensive

A major offensive launched by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces against South Vietnam in January 1968.

Credibility Gap

The public skepticism about the government’s statements and policies, especially during the Vietnam War.

Agent Orange

A herbicide used by U.S. forces in Vietnam that caused severe environmental damage and health issues.

Napalm

A flammable liquid used in incendiary weapons during the Vietnam War to destroy vegetation and military targets.

Vietcong

South Vietnamese communist guerrillas who fought against the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces.

Ngo Dinh Diem

First President of South Vietnam whose corrupt regime led to widespread discontent.

William Westmoreland

U.S. Army General who commanded U.S. forces during the Vietnam War.

Lyndon B. Johnson

U.S. President who escalated American involvement in the Vietnam War.

Robert McNamara

U.S. Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War, key in shaping U.S. military strategy.

Dien Bien Phu

A decisive battle in 1954 where French forces were defeated by the Vietminh, leading to the end of French colonial rule in Indochina.

Geneva Accords

Agreements in 1954 that temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel, intending to reunite the country after free elections.

Ambushes

Surprise attacks by guerrilla forces in warfare, commonly used by the Vietcong.

Search and Destroy Missions

Military strategy aimed at seeking out and destroying enemy forces, often resulting in collateral damage.

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Supply route used by North Vietnam to transport troops and supplies through Laos and Cambodia.

South Vietnam

The non-communist state that existed from 1955 until its fall in 1975.

North Vietnam

The communist state led by Ho Chi Minh that fought to unify Vietnam.

Buddhist Protest

Acts of protest by Buddhist monks in South Vietnam against the oppressive government of Ngo Dinh Diem.

Overthrow of Diem

The 1963 coup led by South Vietnamese generals, supported by the U.S., resulting in Diem's assassination.

Tet Holiday

The Vietnamese New Year, during which the Tet Offensive occurred.

Psychological Victory

A win that affects the morale and perception of a group or nation, despite physical losses.

Civilian Population

Non-military citizens living in a conflict area, who often suffer from the consequences of war.

International Negotiations

Discussions between nations to resolve conflicts or establish agreements, such as those held in Geneva.

Military Advisors

U.S. personnel sent to assist South Vietnamese forces without direct combat roles.

Protest Movements

Organized demonstrations against the Vietnam War, reflecting public opposition to U.S. involvement.

War Powers Act

Legislation passed in 1973 to limit the President's ability to engage U.S. troops without congressional approval.

Vietnamization

Nixon's strategy to reduce U.S. troops in Vietnam and transfer more responsibility to South Vietnamese forces.

Saigon

The capital of South Vietnam, which fell to North Vietnamese forces in 1975.

Vietminh

The League for the Independence of Vietnam, founded by Ho Chi Minh to fight for independence from France.

Paris Peace Accords

The 1973 agreement to end the Vietnam War and restore peace in Vietnam.

Proxy War

A conflict where two opposing countries support combatants in a third country to avoid direct confrontation.

Political Assassination

Killing for political reasons, exemplified by the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy during the Vietnam War era.

Jungle Warfare

Military operations conducted in forested areas, characterized by ambush tactics and use of terrain.

Chemical Warfare

The use of chemical agents in combat, including Agent Orange and napalm during the Vietnam War.

Civil Rights Movement

A movement aimed at securing equal rights for African Americans, which gained momentum during the Vietnam War.

National Liberation Front

The political arm of the Vietcong, which aimed for the reunification of Vietnam.

Coalition Forces

Military forces from multiple countries that united to fight against a common enemy in Vietnam.

Reunification Talks

Discussions aimed at bringing North and South Vietnam together post-war, often hindered by political disagreements.

Alternative Perspectives

Different viewpoints on the Vietnam War, reflecting both pro-war and anti-war sentiments within the U.S.

Cold War Context

The geopolitical environment during which the Vietnam War occurred, marked by tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union.

Propaganda

Information, often biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause or point of view about the Vietnam War.

Draft Resistance

Actions taken by young Americans to avoid conscription into the military during the Vietnam War.

Refugees

People forced to flee their home country due to war or persecution, including those from Vietnam post-war.

Counterinsurgency

Efforts aimed at defeating guerrilla warfare through military and political strategies.

War Crimes

Severe violations of the laws of war, often alleged against U.S. forces during the Vietnam War.

Coup d'état

A sudden overthrow of a government, as seen in the coup against Ngo Dinh Diem.

Decolonization

The process of former colonies gaining independence, relevant in the context of Vietnam's struggle against French control.

Peace Activism

Movement aimed at promoting peace and ending the Vietnam War.

Militarization

The process of arming and organizing forces, which increased in Vietnam during U.S. involvement.

Civilian Casualties

Non-military individuals who are harmed or killed during armed conflict.

Legacy of War

The long-term impacts, societal changes, and memories of the Vietnam War.

Nixon Doctrine

U.S. policy asserting that allies would be responsible for their own defense, coming from the Vietnam situation.

Fall of Saigon

The capture of Saigon by North Vietnamese forces in 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War.

Genocide

Deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, relevant in conflicts arising post-Vietnam.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A mental health condition impacting veterans after experiencing or witnessing traumatic events.

Veterans Affairs

U.S. government agency responsible for providing services and support to military veterans.

Imperialism

A policy where a country extends its power and influence over others, relevant to foreign involvement in Vietnam.

Political Asylum

Protection granted to individuals in a foreign country due to persecution in their home country, significant for Vietnamese refugees.

Social Upheaval

Significant disturbances in social structures, seen in the U.S. during the Vietnam War.

Draft Lottery

A system implemented to select individuals for military service in the U.S., particularly during the Vietnam War.

Military Industrial Complex

The relationship between a country's military and the defense industry that supplies it, examined critically during and after the Vietnam War.

Historiography

The study of how history is written, including interpretations of the Vietnam War.

Disinformation

False or misleading information spread intentionally, a tactic used during the Vietnam War to shape public opinion.

Counterculture Movement

A social movement in the U.S. opposing mainstream values, heavily influenced by the Vietnam War.

Military Draft

The conscription of citizens into military service, controversial during the Vietnam War.

Tactical Air Support

Military strategy involving air support in ground operations, extensively used in Vietnam.

Freedom of Speech

Constitutional right contested during the Vietnam War, particularly regarding anti-war protests.

Interventionism

The policy of intervening in foreign affairs, as seen in the U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Bipartisan Support

Political support from both major parties, relevant in early phases of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Military Support Services

Various forms of assistance provided to military personnel, relevant for troops in Vietnam.

Environmental Impact

The effect of war on natural environments, notably due to Agent Orange use during the Vietnam War.

Civil Unrest

Public unrest and protests against government policies, particularly regarding the Vietnam War.

Military Strategy

Plans and methods employed by military forces, often debated during the Vietnam conflict.

International Relations

The study of interactions between nations, significantly influenced by the events of the Vietnam War.

Public Diplomacy

The means by which governments communicate and promote their interests abroad, notably employed during Vietnam.

Strategic Bombing

Bombing campaigns aimed at demoralizing the enemy or disrupting supply lines, a hallmark of U.S. strategy in Vietnam.

Johnson’s Popularity

Dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%.

LBJ Quits

Johnson refuses to run for re-election in the election of 1968. "I shall not seek, and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your president." March 31, 1968

A Season of Violence, 1968

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4th, 1968. Robert Kennedy (JFK’s baby brother) was assassinated on June 5th, 1968.

Election of 1968 (Democrats)

At the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1968, Democrats chose Vice-President Hubert Humphrey as their candidate. But the biggest news was the rioting outside the convention when police beat hundreds of protestors

Election of 1968 (Republicans)

Republicans nominate former vice-president Richard Nixon as their candidate. Nixon makes a campaign promise to get the United States out of the Vietnam War.

Winner of 1968 Election

Richard Nixon becomes the 37th President of the United States.

Draft Lottery Begins (December 1^st, 1969)

Many Americans who were against the war believed the United States had an unfair draft system. Minorities made up a large percentage of soldiers in Vietnam. As the war continued, more people were drafted.

26^th Amendment ratified

Anger over the draft led to debates about the voting age. Demonstrators help with public rallies and marches. The average age of an American soldier in Vietnam was 19. Because you had to be 21 to vote, many people called for changes in voting laws, saying that if you’re old enough to fight in war, you should be old enough to vote. In 1971, the 26^th Amendment was ratified, lowering the legal voting age from 21 to 18.

26th Amendment Irony

During the Vietnam War, the average age of a US soldier was 19. Most soldiers were old enough to fight but not old enough to vote.

1967 American Camps

Doves - those who opposed the Vietnam War and advocated for peace negotiations, seeking to end American involvement in Vietnam.

Hawks - those who supported the Vietnam War and believed in military action to achieve victory.

Doves

Those who opposed the Vietnam War and advocated for peace negotiations, seeking to end American involvement in Vietnam.

Hawks

Those who supported the Vietnam War and believed in military action to achieve victory.

My Lai Massacre

An American platoon had massacred more than 200 South Vietnamese civilians whom they thought were members of the Vietcong in a village called My Lai. Most of the victims were old men, women, and children. The My Lai massacre increased feelings among many Americans that the war was brutal and senseless.

Nixon Invades Cambodia

In April of 1970, President Nixon announced that American troops had invaded Cambodia. He wants to destroy the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Anti-war protestors saw this as an escalation of the war, sparking violent protests on college campuses.

Kent State Massacre

At Kent State University in Ohio, protestors became violent. The Ohio National Guard was called in and fired upon the student demonstrators, killing four

War Powers Act (1973)

A federal law designed to check the president's power to commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of Congress. It requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops and limits military engagement to 60 days without congressional approval.

The Pentagon Papers

In 1971, a former Defense Department worker leaked what were known as the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times. The documents showed how various administrations deceived Congress, the media, and the public about how the war was going. The government had not been honest with the American people.

End of the War

The U.S. signs an agreement  “ending war and restoring peace in Vietnam.”

Conditions

• U.S. remove all troops

• North could leave troops already in the South

• North Vietnam would resume war

• “All” POW’s would be released

The war ends for the U.S. in 1973