Vietnam War and the United States Involvement

Vietnam War and the United States Involvement 1950-1973

French Indochina War

America's involvement in Vietnam began in 1950 during the French Indochina War, where the U.S. supported France to combat the spread of communism.

Ho Chi Minh

Leader of the Indochinese Communist Party and founder of the Vietminh, striving for Vietnam's independence from foreign rule.

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Network of paths supplying arms to the Vietcong, aiding their guerrilla tactics and destabilizing South Vietnam.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Response to the USS Maddox incident, granting President Johnson broad military powers in Vietnam.

Operation Rolling Thunder

Sustained bombing of North Vietnam in 1965, marking the Americanization of the Vietnam War.

War of Attrition

General Westmoreland's strategy to wear down the Vietcong through continuous harassment and tracking body counts.

Napalm and Agent Orange

U.S. usage of napalm and Agent Orange in Vietnam, causing devastation and long-term health issues.

Search-and-Destroy Missions

U.S. military operations targeting suspected Vietcong, leading to civilian displacement and refugee crises.

Sinking Morale

Decline in American morale due to frustrations of guerrilla warfare, jungle conditions, and lack of progress against the enemy in Vietnam.

Hearts and Minds

American strategy to win the support of South Vietnam's rural population and prevent Vietcong influence.

Spread of Communism

American soldiers firmly believed in halting the spread of communism during the Vietnam War.

Great Society

LBJ's plan aimed to reduce poverty, racial injustice, and improve the quality of life in the U.S.

Credibility Gap

Discrepancy between what the Johnson administration reported about the Vietnam War and the reality on the ground.

Selective Service System

System where males had to register and could be called into military service in the event of war.

New Left

Youth movement in the 1960s that aimed to move American society towards socialism.

Free Speech Movement

Emerged at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on free speech and criticizing powerful institutions.

Tet Offensive

Major military campaign during the Vietnam War that changed public opinion in the U.S.

Hawks and Doves

Terms used to describe those who supported (hawks) and opposed (doves) the Vietnam War.

Tet Changes Public Opinion

The Tet Offensive significantly altered American public opinion about the Vietnam War.

Vietnamization

Nixon's policy of gradually withdrawing U.S. troops from Vietnam and shifting the burden of combat to the South Vietnamese forces.

Vietnamization

Nixon and Kissinger's plan for the gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam while empowering South Vietnamese forces.

Peace with Honor

Nixon's goal to maintain U.S. dignity during the withdrawal from Vietnam and preserve negotiating clout.

Bombing of Laos and Cambodia

Nixon's secret orders for massive bombing campaigns in North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the Vietnam War.

Silent Majority

Nixon's appeal to moderate Americans who quietly supported U.S. efforts in Vietnam.

My Lai Massacre

The killing of innocent Vietnamese civilians by a U.S. platoon under Lieutenant Calley's command during the Vietnam War.

Invasion of Cambodia

Nixon's announcement of U.S. troops invading Cambodia to clear out North Vietnamese and Vietcong supply centers.

The Pentagon Papers

Leaked documents revealing the U.S. government's dishonesty about its war intentions in Vietnam, eroding support for the war.

"Peace is at Hand"

Kissinger's announcement in 1972, days before the presidential election, signaling a potential end to the Vietnam War.

The Fall of Saigon

The capture of Saigon by North Vietnamese forces in 1975, leading to the surrender of South Vietnam and the country falling under communism.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

A memorial in Washington, D.C., unveiled in 1982 to honor the men and women who served in the Vietnam War.