Vietnam War
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70 Terms
Contrast the Vietnam War era with the World War II era
During the World War II era there was public support and a united country, while during the Vietnam war era there was protests and division.
Define ‘War of Attrition’
a prolonged war to see who gives up first
Describe Ho Chi Minh and explain what he tried to do at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference
Vietnamese leader/first president of North Vietnam that wanted to unite the country under communist rule and wanted independence from France. During the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, he shows up to encourages Wilson to let go of Vietnam, his request was ignored.
Define Viet Minh and describe how they fought the Japanese
Vietnamese nationalist and communist group that fought for Vietnam's independence. They used guerrilla tactics, got support from the Allies, and rallied the people to resist Japanese occupation during World War II.
13 Explain how “The Domino Theory” guided US foreign policy at this time
The domino theory was the idea that if one nation fell to communism, it would lead to collapse of neighboring countries too. The US developed the policy of trying to contain communism in the countries it was already in and keep it from spreading.
Define ARVN and explain what president Kennedy did to support the ARVN
Army of the Republic of Vietnam (army of S. Vietnam) Kennedy increased US military aid to help ARVN comvat the communist forces in South Vietnam, Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces.
Describe and explain the significance of the Ho Chi Minh Trail
The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a network of supply routes used by North Vietnam to transport troops and supplies through neighboring countries, primarily Laos and Cambodia, to support the Viet Cong in South Vietnam, playing a crucial role in the North's war effort.
Explain the Tonkin Gulf Incident. Identify the role of Robert McNamara as it relates to The Tonkin Gulf Incident.
Two U.S. destroyers stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam radioed that they had been fired upon by North Vietnamese forces. McNamara went on television and lies saying, ‘The USS Maddox was fired upon in an unprovoked attack’
Define Napalm
Jelly gasoline that fire bombed suspected hiding places of Vietcong
Define Agent Orange
blend of tactical herbicides the U.S. military sprayed from 1962 to 1971 during the Vietnam War to remove the leaves of trees and other dense tropical foliage that provided enemy cover.
Define “ Search and Destroy mission“
sending out platoons, companies, or larger detachments of US troops from a fortified position to locate and destroy communist units in the countryside.
Define and explain the Tet Offensive.
Vietnam/North Vietnamese attack every military base in South Vietnam, including the American embassy
Define ‘fragging’
Killing your own officer and saying ‘Charlie’ or Vietcong did it
Explain the My Lai Massacre
American soldiers went on a “search and destroy” mission to a village they dubbed ‘Pinkville’. They killed the entire population of 507 people.
Identify Henry Kissinger
The secretary of state and ended the war. He met with ambassadors in Paris to discuss the Paris peace accords.
Identify “The Hanoi Hilton”
The most notorious POW camp for Americans in Vietnam
Identify the significance of the return of the POWs in 1973. Identify John McCain.
It was a happy moment for the soldiers to come home to their families after not receiving much recognition during the rest of the war. John McCain was the most famous Hanoi Hilton prisoner.
Explain the Kent State shootings of May 4, 1970.
Members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of protestors at Kent State University, killing 4 students
Define The Silent Majority
Americans who didn’t want protests and hippies in American society. silent majority is an unspecified large group of people in a country or group who do not express their opinions publicly.
Identify and explain the significance of The Hardhats
Protested the protesters. They were pro Nixon and pro-war. Violent
Identify General William ‘Westy’ Westmoreland and what he said to congress in November 1967
He was a United States army general during the Vietnam war. Westmoreland says “ we are winning in the end is near” He didn’t realize the Vietcong were being quiet because they were preparing for battle.
Identify the role of Walter Cronkite during Tet Offensive.
Walter Cronkite was the host of the CBS evening news. He was the most respected broadcaster in America and was known for being unbiased. Except, once he was home from reporting on the Vietnam War, he biasly says, “ we can’t win the war.” In response, LBJ says “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost middle America”
Explain how Nixon’s plan of Vietnamization was supposed to work and evaluate its actual effectiveness.
Nixon wanted to better train he ARVN to defend S. Vietnam so that the USA could remove troops. Then they could fight for Democracy with U.S equipment. The plan didn’t really work, and Nixon was just trying to fulfill “Peace with Honor”
Describe the Fall of Saigon in 1975.
North Vietnamese forces captured the capital of South Vietnam, marking the end of the Vietnam war. Many South Vietnamese tried to flee into the American Embassy and Americans helped get them out. This led to reunification of Vietnam under communist control and America losing the war.
Identify what Robert McNamara stated in the film ‘The Fog of War’ and his memoir ’In Retrospect.’
In his ‘Fog of War’ memoir, McNamara states that the Domino Theory was an incorrect model for how to deal with the Vietnam war. In his documentary, he reflects on his poor decision making and the importance of learning from past mistakes.
Identify and define the “Incursion” into Cambodia.
The “Incursion” into Cambodia was a military operation and it aimed at disrupting N. Vietnamese and Vietcong supply lines.
Explain the phrase, ‘The Enemy is Everywhere and Nowhere’ and how it influenced the American military strategy in Vietnam.
This phrase refers to the difficulty US forces had in identifying hiding spots of the Vietcong, as they used “guerilla warfare.” This led to aggressive military strategies like search and destroy missions.
Define Operation Rolling Thunder. Identify its scope and purpose.
The American bombinh campaign of North Vietnam destroys military and government facilities and forces the Vietnamese to negotiate. American pilots are captured and placed in The. Hanoi Hilton.
Identify the O.S.S. and explain how they related to the Viet Minh.
The Office of Strategic Services was sent by the U.S to parachute into Vietnam and assist the Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh guerrilla fighters to throw Japanese troops out of Indochina.
What is the argument that the USA could not have ever won the Vietnam War?
The U.S. didn’t understand the land, the people, or the enemy, and the Vietnamese fighters wouldn’t give up no matter what.
What is the argument that the USA could have won the Vietnam War?
Some say the U.S. could have won if they used more force earlier or didn’t hold back because of political limits.
Identify and describe the cultural effects of French colonization.
The French brought their language, religion, and way of life, which changed Vietnamese traditions and made some people upset.
Explain what Japan did to French Indochina during World War II.
Japan took control of French Indochina during World War II, using it for resources and as a base for military operations.
Identify General Giap (communist)
Vietnamese military leader and strategist who played a key role in the Viet Minh's fight against both the French and the Americans, leading battles like the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
Explain the significance of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu of 1954.
Decisive victory for the Viet Minh over French forces, leading to the end of French colonial rule in Vietnam and the signing of the Geneva Accords, which divided Vietnam into North and South.
Identify the conditions established for North Vietnam and South Vietnam by 1954 Geneva Convention.
split Vietnam into two zones: North Vietnam, controlled by the communist Viet Minh, and South Vietnam, under a non-communist government, with a plan for reunification elections in 1956 (which never happened).
Describe the leadership and personal qualities of South Vietnamese President Diem.
authoritarian leader, known for his strong anti-communism, nationalism, and reliance on family and loyalists. He was unpopular for his repression of opposition and discrimination against Buddhists, which led to widespread unrest.
Explain why the U.S.A. would support a leader like Diem.
was an anti-communist leader who seemed to be a strong ally in the fight against the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, aligning with the Domino Theory.
How did General Maxwell Taylor counsel President Kennedy about how to handle the situation in South Vietnam.
General Maxwell Taylor advised President Kennedy to increase U.S. military and economic support to South Vietnam, but not send combat troops initially, suggesting a focus on strengthening the South Vietnamese army and government.
Explain how Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara looked at the situation in South Vietnam.
viewed the situation in South Vietnam as critical to stopping the spread of communism, believing that increased U.S. involvement, including military support and advisors, was necessary to stabilize the government and defeat the Viet Cong.
What was the criticism of McNamara’s perspective?
argued that he underestimated the complexity of the conflict, overestimated the effectiveness of military aid, and failed to understand the cultural and political realities of Vietnam, leading to misguided U.S. involvement.
Identify Neil Sheehan and define his significance during the Vietnam War era.
journalist who played a significant role in exposing the Pentagon Papers, a classified study revealing the U.S. government's mismanagement and deception regarding the Vietnam War, which led to widespread public criticism of the war effort.
Explain what happened in the summer and fall of 1963, that drew the USA deeper into the Vietnam conflict. Provide specific details.
In the summer and fall of 1963, the political instability in South Vietnam worsened, marked by Diem's repression of Buddhists and growing protests. After a coup in November 1963 that overthrew and killed Diem, the U.S. feared further instability and the rise of communism, leading to increased military and advisory support under President Kennedy.
Explain how the fear of ‘appeasement’ worked against American military commanders in the 1960s. Explain how the goals of the Vietnamese communists were fundamentally different from those of the Nazis in World War Two.
In the 1960s, American military commanders feared appeasement would lead to broader communist expansion, while the Vietnamese communists sought national unification under communism, not global domination like the Nazis.
Explain the situation in Vietnam in 1964.
In 1964, Vietnam was deeply divided, with North Vietnam under communist control led by Ho Chi Minh and South Vietnam, supported by the U.S., struggling with a growing insurgency from the communist-backed Viet Cong.
Describe and explain the importance of the Vietcong Tunnels.
The Vietcong tunnels were a network of underground passages used by the Vietcong during the Vietnam War to hide, store supplies, and launch attacks, significantly aiding their resistance against American forces.
Identify the significance of Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th U.S. president, known for escalating the Vietnam War and promoting domestic reforms like the Civil Rights Act and Medicare.
Define The Great Society and The War on Poverty. Explain how the Vietnam War impacted those programs.
The Great Society was a set of domestic programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice, while the War on Poverty focused on reducing poverty; however, the Vietnam War diverted resources and attention, limiting the success of these initiatives.
Describe Robert McNamara’s 1964 visit to Vietnam. Identify Daniel Ellsberg and describe his impression of Secretary McNamara on that visit.
In 1964, Robert McNamara, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, visited Vietnam to assess the situation, and Daniel Ellsberg, who accompanied him, later described McNamara as overly optimistic, believing the U.S. could win quickly despite signs of deepening conflict.
Explain how Barry Goldwater and the 1964 election influenced Lyndon Johnson to do something bold in Vietnam.
Barry Goldwater's aggressive stance on Vietnam in the 1964 election pressured Lyndon Johnson to adopt a more forceful approach, leading him to escalate U.S. involvement to demonstrate strength and avoid being seen as weak on communism.
31 Explain the Tonkin Gulf Resolution and it’s impact on the roles of congress and the presidency at the beginning of the Vietnam War.
Authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson, to take all necessary measures to repel any arm attack against the forces of the United States and prevent further aggression. Significantly shifted power from Congress to the presidency in conducting war.
33 Identify the extent to which The Battle of Ia Drang was a victory for the Americans.
the first major battle between U.S. Army and People's Army of Vietnam forces during the Vietnam War. It took place in the Ia Drang Valley, near the border of Vietnam and Cambodia. The battle is notable for being the first large-scale air cavalry assault and the first use of strategic bombers in a tactical support role.
39 Explain how Hill 937 or ‘Hamburger Hill’ was a common type of battle in Vietnam and how that was different from previous wars in American history.
Was a brutal, costly battle, and sight of a fierce battle in 1969. Characterized by heavy fighting and high casualties, involved, taking and retaking the same territory.
41 Explain why The Vietnam War was “A Poor Man’s War.”
Disproportionally, poor people were drafted, lacking the resources to avoid service like going to college
42 Explain how the draft worked and how some young men attempted to avoid the draft.
The draft was often through lottery. Some men avoided being drafted by getting deferments for reasons like being in college or having medical issues while others flood to avoid service altogether.
43 Briefly explain how Bruce Springsteen’s experience with the draft encouraged him to write “Born In The U.S.A.”
he wrote the song based on his feelings about the Vietnam war the song reflects the struggles faced by veterans returning home and the isolation they felt.
46 Identify the role of the American Embassy in Saigon during the Tet Offensive.
Target of the Tet offensive and it was heavily attacked by N Vietnamese. The attack highlighted the vulnerability of American forces in South Vietnam. Many Vietnamese escaped on the helipad on top of the building.
47 Identify the role of T.V. and American culture during the Tet Offensive.
American media coverage showed the brutality of the war, which increased anti-war protests and shaped the public opinion.
49 Identify to what extent the Test Offensive was an American victory.
While the US military was able to repel the offensive, it was not considered an American victory. The intensity of the attacks revealed the strength and determination north Vietnamese forces, and Vietcong had. And it became clear the war was far from over. This changed the perception in the wars progress.
50 Identify the significance of Richard Nixon in 1968 and his campaign slogan, “Peace with Honor.”
Was designated to resonate with voters who were weary of the Vietnam war but still wanted to maintain US credibility. Nixon promised to end the conflict in a way that would not compromise American interest appealing to both hawks and doves.
51 Identify how the majority of Americans felt about both the war and the anti-war movement in 1968.
The American public was deeply divided over the Vietnam war, there were protesters and counter protesters. The draft led to widespread opposition among college students and activists, while others believed in the necessity of involvement to prevent the spread of communism.
55 Explain the scope and purpose of Nixon’s plan to increase bombing in North Vietnam while Henry Kissinger was in Paris.
His plan was intended to pressure the north into negotiations and demonstrate US resolve. Passengers involvement in the Paris peace talks was aimed at achieving a negotiated settlement, to pressure North Vietnam into negotiations, to counter North Vietnamese military buildup and troop movements, and to demonstrate his willingness to use force to achieve a "peace with honor".
58 Explain why Ohio Governor James Rhodes sent the Ohio National Guard to Kent State in May 1970
He sent the Ohio National Guard in response to growing protests against the Cambodian invasion. This decision escalated tensions on campus and ultimately led to tragic consequences in which 4 students were killed.
60 Explain the significance of the famous photograph of the Kent State Shooting.
This photograph became an iconic representation of the anti-war sentiment in America. It captured the horror and tragedy of the event.
61 Identify the significance of Bill Schroeder in the Kent State Shooting.
Bill Schroeder was a student at Kent State who was shot and paralyzed during the shootings.
63 Identify and explain the significance of “The Pentagon Papers.”
The Pentagon papers were a classified study of the Vietnam war that revealed government deception about the wars progress. They release fueled anti-war sentiment, leaked by Daniel Ellsberg.
68 Identify how and when the United States opened diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
This normalization of relations follow the end of the Vietnam war in a period of significant political and economic changes in both countries. The establishment of diplomatic ties marked a significant turning point in the relationship between the two nations, opening the way for increased cooperation in exchange in various countries.
66 Explain how Richard Nixon’s resignation of August 1974 inspired the Spring Offensive of 1975.
70 Identify the significant lessons of the Vietnam War.
Lessons from the Vietnam war include the need for clear war aims, the limitations of military power in political complex, the impact of public support, and the importance of understanding local culture before military intervention.
64 identify the Paris peace accords of 1973
Agreements aimed at ending the Vietnam war. They established a cease-fire, outlined the withdrawal of US troops, and aim to create a framework for peace in Vietnam. It allowed North Vietnam to maintain its presence in the country despite the agreements, fighting continued, ultimately leading to the fall of Saigon in 1975.