Vietnam war 1950-1970

Flexible Response

kennedys cold war strategy using diplomatic, economic, and conventional military methods instead of massive retaliation.

Peace Corps

program sending U.S. volunteers to help with education, farming, and development in other countries to prevent communism.

Hot Line

Direct communication line between washing D.C and Moscow to avoid misunderstandings and crisis

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

1963 treaty between U.S., Soviet Union, and Great Britain banning nuclear tests above ground to reduce tensions and protect environment.

North vietnam allies

soviet Union and china

south Vietnam allies

united states and other anti-communist countries

vietnam was one major conflict from what

the cold war

U.S. involvement in Vietnam

to stop the spread of communism

containment policy

aka Truman doctrine: U.S. strategy to stop the spread of communism worlwide

Domino Theory

Idea that if one country falls to communism neighboring countries will too

communist leader in north vietnam

Ho Chi Minh

president sending 700 advisors

Dwight D. Eisenhower

JFK’s Vietnam actions

increased U.S. advisors and involvment in vietnam

JFK’s succesor

Lyndon B. Jhonson

Jhonsons Secretary of Defense

Robert McNamara

Gulf of Tonkin incident

1964 alleged attacks on U.S. ships that led to expanded U.S. military involvment

Gulf of tonkin SIGNIFICANCE

gave jhonsons authority to escalate U.S. involvement without declaring war

U.S. troops by 1965 and 1968

1965: 200,000 soldiers

1968: 500,000

U.S. enemy in Vietnam

Vietcong

Vietcong tactics

Guerilla warfare: ambushes, traps, hiding during daytime

U.S. Ground Commander

General William Westmoreland

U.S. Air power strategy

heavy bombing campaigns against North Vietnam and Vietcong

napalm

chemical bomb used by the U.S. to destroy thick jungle vegetation and enemy hiding spot

Operation Rolling Thunder

Bombing campaign launched in 1965 targeting north Vietnamese infrastructure and supply routes

johsonson re-election decision

jhonson chose NOT to run for re-election in 1968

pentagon papers

documents revealing the united States government had misled the public about Vietnam war

nixon as president

richardo nixion replaced jhonson

nixon Vietnam goal

“peace with honor”- he wanted to end the war without appearing to lose

My Lai Massacre

1968 killing hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians by U.S. troops which turned the public against the war

changes in early 1970

U.S. began withdrawing troops and shifting the fighting burden to South Vietnamese forcesas part of "Vietnamization."

janurary 1973 Vietnam event

signing of the Paris peace accords

final U.S. troops withdrawl

march 1973

after U.S. exit

North Vietnam conquered south Vietnam in 1975

vieetnamese death toll

about 2 million Vietnamese deaths

american casualties

over 58,000 american soldiers killed; 300,000 wounded

vietnam war cost

$168 billion

survior impact

psychological trauma, including PTSD for many American veterans

vietnam war controversy reasons

draft issues, unclear goals, government mistrust, high death toll, graphic media coverage

cultural impact

deepend skepticism of government which inspired anti-war protests, music, and movies

political impact

led to new limits on presidential power like the war powers act (1973)

escalations of the war

LBJ increased the number of American troops and launching operation rolling thunder

Napalm

a jelly like substance used in bombs that explodes and sticks to surfaces causing massive fires (used to clear vegetation)

Amerian confidence

believed they would win quickly because Vietnam was a third world country and America had better weapons more money and advanced technology

ho chi Minh's strat

attack only when victory was certain. used underground tunnels to hide during the day and described their strategy as tigers slowly eating away at the U.S. which they saw as an elephant

Americas frustration

showed little progress, the economy was suffering and the number of American deaths kept increasing

Hawks vs. Doves

american society was divided. the “hawks” supported the war and jhonsons policies while the “doves” wanted peace and were against the Vietnam war

opposition to the war

many Americans opposed the vietnam war because they hadn't directly harmed the U.S. and people didn't fully understand where it was or why the U.S. was invovled

anti-war protest

americans prodomenitally aged 18 to 24 burned draft cards and holding rallies. they were protesting the draft, unclear war goals, and U.S. involvement

results of protest moments

created the SDS: students from democratic society and eventually helped pass the 26rh amendment in 1971 which allowed 18 year olds to vote since they could be drafted

credibility gap

the term used to describe what you're being told and whats actually being shown in the media. as trut in the government fell military enrollment dropped

nixons slogan and audience

peace with honor: he wanted to leave the Vietnam without looking weak. he aimed his message at the silent majority or average Americans who weren't protesting

nixons inherited problems

faced a struggling economy and a divided American society. he also had to figure out how to end the Vietnam war without making the U.S. look like it lost.

Tet offensive *

a surprise attack by vietcong in south vietnam during tet, a Vietnamese holiday, in 1968. South and U.S. won the attack had major psychological impacts on amerian trops and marked the beginning of the end of U.S. involvement in the war.

Paris peace accords *

officially ended the Vietnam War. The U.S. had to leave Vietnam, but South Vietnam was allowed to stay non communist. North Vietnamese troops were still allowed to visit the south

pentagon papers *

leaked government documents that showed the U.S. had lied about many parts of the war, including the cost and death toll. the government couldn’t stop the release because it would violate first amendment rights and prior restraint.

effects of Vietnam war on america *

left sliders with physical and psychological trauma. vets were often shamed instead of honored. the economy suffered,trust in the government dropped, and the U.S. began stepping back from international affairs.

War powers act *

replaced the gulf of Tonkin resolution. It limited the presidents power by requiring congressional approval for military action AFTER 60 days from being sent to war without congress’s approval.