USA and the containment of communism key terms

38th Parallel (korea)

The circle of latitude that separated Communist North Korea from pro-Western South Korea at the end of WW2.

Agent Orange

Chemical defoliant used in large quantities by US Air Force to remove vegetation concealing communist supply routes and bases.

Blockade

Use of naval power to isolate a state. Used by USA to prevent further Soviet ships reaching Cuba after discovery of missile sites.

Army of the Republic of Vietnam

The US-equipped and supported army of South Vietnam.

Batista

Corrupt and repressive US-backed Cuban Dictator, overthrown by Fidel Castro in 1959.

CIA

Central Intelligence Agency. The main US intelligence organisation, responsible both for intelligence gathering and 'covert operations' against anti-US leaders.

Containment

The US policy of seeking to restrict the spread of communism worldwide by political or military intervention

Domino Theory

The US fear that if one state 'fell' to communism it would trigger a series of communist takeovers in neighbouring states. Applied mainly to SE Asia

EXCOMM

'Executive Committee of the National Security Council'. The key US decision-making body during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

General MacArthur

Commander of the UN Forces in Korea - sacked in April 1951

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Supply route through Vietnam and neighbouring countries used by North Vietnam to get weapons and supplies into South.

ICBM

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.

Kim Il Sun

North Korea's Communist Leader during the Korean War

Inchon

The port city in Korea where UN forces landed in September 1950 to start the push back of Communist forces

MRBM

Medium Range Ballistic Missile. Max range 3,000 km.

North Vietnamese Army

US term for the Vietnam People's Army during the Vietnam War

Mao Zedong

Leader of Communist China following the revolution in 1949

Paris Peace Accords

Signed between USA, North and South Vietnam in 1973, theoretically ending the Vietnam War. In fact fighting continued until the South collapsed in 1975

Rolling Thunder

Major bombing campaign waged by US Air Force against North Vietnam, 1965-68.

Syngman Rhee

President of Pro-Western South Korea in Korean War

Viet Cong

The South Vietnamese communist guerrilla army

Vietnamisation

Term used by President Nixon to describe the transfer of responsibility to ARVN as US forces began to withdraw from Viet Nam from 1969.

Tet Offensive

1968 Viet Cong offensive within South Vietnam. Failed militarily despite initial successes, but helped undermine US will to fight on.