Vietnam War (HUSH GALLET)

Geneva Conference 1954

International meeting that ended French colonial rule in Indochina

• Vietnam temporarily divided at 17th parallel w/ promise of reunification elections in 1956 → never happened

• US did not sign the final agreement but supported South Vietnam

Domino Theory

President Eisenhower popularized → if one nation fell to communism neighboring countries would follow

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

USS Maddox involved in minor incident with Vietnamese torpedos → Congress to approve escalation and involvement in the Vietnam war - gave President Johnson military powers to escalate involvement

Operation Rolling Thunder

Arial bombing campaign against North Vietnam targeting Ho Chi Minh Trial

• Marked start of Heavy American Military Involvement under Johnson

Ho Chi Minh

Communist NV leader & founder of Viet Minh → many Vietnamese saw him as a nationalist leader fighting for independence from foreign powers

Ngo Dinh DIem

US-backed anti-communist leader of South Vietnam

• Authoritarian & assassinated in US-approved coup in 1963

Viet Minh

Communist-led nationalist movement that fought against Japanese occupation & French colonial forces

Viet Cong

Communist group in South Vietnam allied w/ North

• Used guerrilla tactics

• Deeply imbedded in South Vietnamese population

• South struggled to identify & defeat them

Tet Offensive

Suprise attack by Viet Cong & NV during Tet (Lunar holiday) → military failure for communists but turning point in public opinion → undermined us claims of progress & led to growing anti--war sentiment

Vietnamization

President Nixon’s strategy to gradually withdraw US troops & shift burden onto South Vietnamese Army → reduce domestic opposition tow ar

Invasion of Cambodia

President Nixon expanded war by invading Cambia to target Viet Cong sanctuaries → sparked massive protests & Kent State shootings

War Powers Act

Limit the president’s power to commit US forces w/out congressional approval → response to unchecked authority given under Tokin Gulf Resolution

Pentagon Papers

Classified documents leaked that reveal US officials misled the public abt progress & intentions in Vietnam → undermined public trust in the government