Social Studies Quiz 3-21-25

Confusion about who the Vietnamese are, what they believe and what they have been through 

Religion, world views, who has been to Vietnam before us, fighting for independence, leader confusion

USS Maddox Incident 

Shot 3 torpedoes and hit nothing - boat was okay

Johnson Air war and how effective it was 

Operation Rolling Thunder - Systematic air assault

Johnson Strategy 

Aimed to increase U.S. military involvement to support South Vietnam against communist forces from the North to prevent the spread of communism

Dear America Film 

Film about young men during Vietnam War and their personal letters

Nixon’s approach to the war 

"Vietnamization," which aimed to gradually withdraw American troops

1968 Bad News

Tet Offensive, MLK getting shot, RFK getting shot, My Lai Massacre, etc.

Negative Coverage and impact of Television on the war 

Showed graphic images and disturbing scenes, which led many Americans to become increasingly opposed to the war and question the government.

Tet Offensive 

surprise attack by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong

Agent Orange 

powerful herbicide used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War to destroy vegetation, but it also caused severe health problems

What happens after we leave Vietnam 

South Vietnamese government fell to the communist North in 1975

Credibility Gap 

growing mistrust among Americans towards the government during the Vietnam War, as people felt that officials were misleading them about the war's progress

Guerrilla Warfare 

surprise attacks, ambushes, and hit-and-run tactics

Soldier Frustration and difficulties 

harsh conditions, unclear objectives, and the challenges of fighting an enemy that used unconventional tactics in a dense jungle environment.

Measuring progress with Body Counts

this method was criticized for being misleading and oversimplifying the war's complexities

Psychological Warfare 

propaganda, misinformation, and other tactics to influence the morale and perceptions of both the enemy and the civilian population

Pentagon Papers 

secret government report released in 1971 that revealed the U.S. government's misleading statements about the Vietnam War

Johnson compared to Nixon 

Johnson: escalated Vietnam war/increased troops numbers while Nixon:Vietnamization/reducing troops

Trust in government 

many Americans became skeptical of official statements and policies after revelations about military setbacks

Female movement in the 1970;s 

advocating for women's rights in areas such as employment, education, and reproductive freedom

HIspanic Movement in the 1970’s

advocating for the rights and equality of Latino Americans, highlighting issues such as immigration, education, labor rights

Native American Movement of the 1970’s 

protect Native rights, and draw attention to issues such as land disputes and cultural preservation, leading to protests and the establishment of organizations advocating for Indigenous rights.

Environmental Movement of the 1970’ 

raise awareness about environmental issues, promote conservation, and advocate for policies to protect natural resources (Earth day established)

Detente - Cold War cool down 

reduced tensions and improved diplomatic relations, marked by arms control agreements and increased communication

Nixon wedge between China and Soviet Union 

improving diplomatic relations with China, which weakened the unity of the communist bloc

Watergate Scandal 

scandal in the 1970s involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters (Led to Nixon’s resignation)

Ford Pardons 

Gerald Ford, forgave Richard Nixon for any crimes he may have committed during his time in office, letting him go without punishment.

Ford Presidency

Gerald Ford was the 38th president of the United States after Richard Nixon resigned following the Watergate scandal.