Untitled Flashcards Set

Vietnam War

A war between the Communist armies of North Vietnam who were supported by the Chinese and the non-communist armies of South Vietnam who were supported by the United States.

Lyndon B. Johnson

Became president of the U.S. after the assassination of JFK; escalated the war in Vietnam and created government programs that became known as the Great Society.

Great Society

Lyndon B. Johnson’s programs that addressed social problems including healthcare, civil rights, and urban decay.

Vietcong

North Vietnamese fighting group that fought against South Vietnamese and US forces.

Detente

Easing of hostility or strained relations between countries.

Kent State Massacre

Event where the National Guard shot at and killed four students during an anti-Vietnam War protest.

Medicaid

Federal health insurance program for people with limited income and resources; part of LBJ’s Great Society Programs.

Medicare

Federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older; part of LBJ’s Great Society Programs.

Miranda v. Arizona

Supreme Court case that established that police must inform person of their constitutional rights before questioning them in custody.

New York Times Company v. United States

Supreme Court case that expanded freedom of press and limited government censorship of the press by allowing the release of the Pentagon Papers.

Pentagon Papers

Leaked government documents that were publishing showing that several presidents had lied to the American public about what was happening in Vietnam.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Begins undeclared war in Vietnam; gave the executive branch of the US Government power to use military force without official declaration of war from Congress.

Escalation

The United States continuously sent more and more troops to fight in Vietnam.

Domino Theory

The belief that if a nearby nation becomes communist, surrounding nations will follow suit. This theory was used as a rationale for containment.

Draft

Mandatory enrollment of persons for military service.

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 in responses to protests against the Vietnam War.

Hawks

Supporters of the Vietnam War who believed the U.S. should increase military force in order to win the war.

Doves

Critics of the Vietnam War who believed the U.S. should withdraw.

Tet Offensive

Catastrophic military failure on the part of North Vietnam and the communists; considered a turning point in the war.

Anti-War Movement

Led primarily by students and Civil Rights activities across the country.

Credibility Gap

Gap between what the government was reporting about the war and what the media was reporting.

Silent Majority

President Nixon’s term referring to the people who supported the war but were not speaking out about their support to the media.

Vietnamization

Giving more control to South Vietnamese forces to allow the gradual removal of U.S. troops.

War Powers Act

A law that limited the President’s right to send troops into battle without Congressional approval.

Roy Benevidez

Medal of Honor winner due to his heroism in the Vietnam War.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Failed attempt by the United States to overthrow the Communist dictator of Cuba, Fidel Castro.

Cuban Missile Crisis

The United States and the Soviet Union were on the brink of nuclear war in 1962 after the USSR placed nuclear weapons in Cuba.

Berlin Wall

The USSR built a wall that divided Berlin and prevent people from leaving Communist East Berlin.

New Frontier

John F. Kennedy’s program that addressed social and international concerns and the expansion of the space program.

NASA

The United States’ space agency that sent Americans into space.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Supreme Court cause that establishes students’ first amendment rights to free speech.

Guerilla Warfare

Military strategy where small groups of fighters use surprise attacks and ambushes to weaken a stronger military force.