Cold War and Vietnam War Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the Cold War and the Vietnam War, helping students review essential terminology and events surrounding these historical periods.

Brain Drain

The emigration of skilled labor or intellectuals from one country to seek better conditions in another.

Khrushchev

Leader of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, he proposed the construction of an 'iron ring' around Berlin.

Berlin Wall

A barrier that divided Berlin, constructed in 1961, symbolizing the ideological divide between East and West during the Cold War.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

A resolution passed by Congress in 1964 that authorized President Johnson to take military action in Vietnam.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one country falls to communism, neighboring countries will follow, like a row of falling dominoes.

Tet Offensive

A major surprise attack by North Vietnamese forces in January 1968, targeting multiple cities in South Vietnam.

Vietnamization

Nixon's strategy of gradually withdrawing U.S. troops from Vietnam and transferring the responsibility of the war to South Vietnamese forces.

Diem

The leader of South Vietnam supported by the United States until his assassination in 1963.

Ho Chi Minh

Leader of the North Vietnamese independence movement and key figure during the Vietnam War.

Decolonization

The process through which colonies gained independence from their colonizing countries, particularly following World War II.