Cold War & Vietnam War Flashcards

Flashcards about the Cold War and Vietnam War

Containment

U.S. policy to stop the spread of communism.

Deterrence

Other countries feared nuclear warfare, this was the thought of using it and scaring them

Flexible Response

Resisting communism with appropriate force, which led to proxy wars like Vietnam.

NSC 68

talk about where to go with war, promoted deterrence

Domino Theory

The theory that if one country falls to communism, others nearby will too.

Monolithic Theory

The idea that all communism is the same and directed by the USSR.

Korean War

North Korea invaded South Korea; U.S. and allies pushed back, ending in stalemate (1950–1953).

Marshall Plan / Truman Doctrine

Financial and military aid given to Europe to resist communism.

Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech

Winston Churchill Speech warned about the division between communist and non-communist Europe.

Tet Offensive

Surprise attack by North Vietnam. Although a U.S. military win, it shifted public opinion against the war (1968).

My Lai

U.S. soldiers killed a village of Vietnamese civilians, worsening public opinion.

Rolling Thunder

Largest U.S. bombing campaign to pressure North Vietnam to negotiate.

Fall of Saigon

North Vietnamese captured South Vietnam’s capital, marking the end of the war (1975).

McCarthyism

Senator Joseph McCarthy accused people of being communists without evidence.

HUAC

Investigations by House Un-American Activities Committee.

Counterculture

Young people who rejected traditional values and questioned the government.

Suburbanization

Post-WWII movement to suburbs; middle-class migration.

Baby Boom

Large population increase post-WWII.

Kent State

National Guard killed four college students protesting the Vietnam War (1970).

Détente

Period of easing Cold War tensions between U.S. and USSR (1970s).

China

Civil war end in 1949, communists won

1950’s Red Scare

A period of intense fear of communism in the United States

Vietnam War

We were advisors to South Korea from 54-75, combatnence from 65-72, advisors again 72-75

Khe Sanh

Seize of American marines which lasted for 77 days, marines were outnumbered more than 10:1, then the Marines escape