Vietnam War Questions

French control of Vietnam

The French controlled Vietnam as a colony until they were kicked out in 1954.

Ho Chi Minh

The revolutionary leader of Vietnam, known for fighting for Vietnam’s independence.

Dien Bien Phu

The battle where Vietnamese forces defeated the French, ending French rule in Vietnam.

Geneva Conference decision

At the Geneva Conference, Vietnam was split into North and South at the 17th parallel.

Ngo Dinh Diem

The U.S.-backed leader of South Vietnam who was unpopular and killed in 1963.

Self-immolation

A form of protest involving setting oneself on fire, as done by some Buddhist monks.

Gulf of Tonkin incident

An event where the U.S. claimed North Vietnam attacked its ships, leading to increased U.S. involvement.

Operation Rolling Thunder

The name of the operation that carried out massive bombing runs in Vietnam.

Draft lottery

A system that randomly picked men to go fight in the Vietnam War.

Charlie

A nickname used by U.S. soldiers for the Vietcong (VC).

Ho Chi Minh Trail

The supply line from North Vietnam to the Vietcong in South Vietnam.

Vietcong tactics

They attacked U.S. forces and then disappeared using hidden tunnels and blending in with villagers.

Agent Orange

A chemical used in Vietnam to clear vegetation in the jungles.

Tet Offensive

A surprise attack by North Vietnam in 1968 that made Americans question the Vietnam War.

Johnson's announcement

President Johnson shocked the nation by announcing he wouldn't run for president again.

1968 Democratic Convention

Violent clashes occurred between protesters and police in Chicago.

Hawks

Those who wanted to continue fighting in the Vietnam War.

Doves

Those who wanted peace and to stop the Vietnam War.

Silent Majority

People who supported the war quietly without protesting.

1968 Presidential election

Richard Nixon won the election.

Vietnamization

Nixon’s plan to withdraw U.S. troops and allow South Vietnam to fight.

My Lai Massacre

An incident where U.S. soldiers killed many unarmed Vietnamese civilians.

Pentagon Papers

Documents revealing that the U.S. government had lied about the Vietnam War.

Kent State and Jackson State

Universities that experienced violence during Vietnam War protests.

26th Amendment

An amendment added during the Vietnam War that lowered the voting age to 18.

Henry Kissinger's role

He helped negotiate peace and end the Vietnam War.

War Powers Act

Reassured that only Congress can declare war, passed after the president gained too much power in Vietnam.

Hanoi Hilton

The name of the prison where many U.S. soldiers were held during the Vietnam War.

Watergate scandal

The event that led to the resignation of President Nixon.

Fall of Saigon

Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese in the year 1975.