Vietnam War - Chapter One Kernow

When did the Vietnam War take place?

1955-1975.

What event marked the official end of the war?

The fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.

How many Americans died in the war?

About 58,000.

How many Vietnamese were killed or wounded?

Over 4 million.

What country controlled Vietnam before 1954?

France.

What major 1954 battle forced France to leave Vietnam?

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu.

What agreement divided Vietnam into North and South?

The Geneva Accords (1954).

Who led Communist North Vietnam?

Ho Chi Minh.

Who was the leader of South Vietnam during the early years?

Ngo Dinh Diem.

What was the Vietminh?

A nationalist movement led by Ho Chi Minh that fought French colonial forces.

What was the “Domino Theory”?

The belief that if one nation fell to communism, neighboring nations would follow.

Which U.S. president sent the first advisors to Vietnam?

Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Under which president did U.S. troop levels peak?

Lyndon B. Johnson.

What year did U.S. Marines first land in Vietnam?

1965.

What resolution gave LBJ power to escalate U.S. involvement?

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964).

By 1968, about how many U.S. troops were in Vietnam?

Over 500,000.

What were “search and destroy” missions?

U.S. military operations designed to find and eliminate Vietcong forces.

What chemical was used to destroy jungle cover?

Agent Orange.

What role did helicopters play in the war?

They allowed rapid troop movement and medical evacuation.

Who commanded U.S. forces from 1965-1968?

General William Westmoreland.

What was the Tet Offensive?

A massive 1968 Communist attack on U.S. and South Vietnamese targets.

Why was Tet a turning point?

It shocked U.S. public opinion and eroded support for the war.

What massacre fueled anti-war sentiment in the U.S.?

The My Lai Massacre (1968).

What year did the U.S. begin withdrawing troops?

1969, under Nixon’s “Vietnamization” policy.

What agreement ended direct U.S. involvement?

The Paris Peace Accords (1973).

What countries did the U.S. secretly bomb during the war?

Cambodia and Laos.

What was “Operation Rolling Thunder”?

A sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam.

What scandal involved U.S. leaders misrepresenting progress?

The Pentagon Papers revelations (1971).

Which president called for “peace with honor”?

Richard Nixon.

What was “Vietnamization”?

Nixon’s strategy to transfer combat responsibility to South Vietnamese forces.

What was the “Vietnam Syndrome”?

U.S. reluctance to engage in future foreign conflicts after Vietnam.

What role did television play in shaping opinion?

It brought graphic war images into American homes.

Who were the “hawks” and “doves”?

Hawks supported escalation; doves opposed it.

What group protested heavily on college campuses?

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

Where did National Guard troops fire on student protesters in 1970?

Kent State University.

What slogan symbolized anti-war sentiment?

“Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?”

How did the draft affect public opinion?

Unfairness fueled resentment and protest.

What were the impact of Pentagon Papers?

They revealed U.S. officials had misled the public.

Who were the “boat people”?

Vietnamese refugees fleeing after the Communist victory.

How many refugees fled Vietnam after 1975?

Nearly 1 million.

What happened to South Vietnam after 1975?

It was unified under Communist control.

What were “re-education camps”?

Facilities where former South Vietnamese officials were imprisoned.

How many people were sent to these camps?

Between 50,000 and 100,000.

What was the economic situation in postwar Vietnam?

Severe poverty, famine, and dependency on Soviet aid.

What U.S. memorial honors Vietnam veterans?

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, dedicated in 1982.

How did Agent Orange affect veterans?

It caused cancer, birth defects, and other illnesses.

What psychological condition affected many veterans?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

How did the war influence U.S. foreign policy?

It made leaders cautious about future interventions.

What did the Gulf War in 1991 reveal about Vietnam’s impact?

The U.S. avoided prolonged ground wars to prevent “another Vietnam.”

How did the war affect trust in government?

It created widespread skepticism toward U.S. leadership.