Vietnam and the End of the Cold War

These flashcards cover key concepts, events, and terms related to Vietnam and the Cold War, helping to reinforce understanding before the exam.

Vietminh

The League for the Independence of Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, which fought for Vietnam’s independence.

Domino Theory

The belief that the fall of one nation to communism would lead to the fall of neighboring nations, as in a chain reaction.

Geneva Conference

A 1954 conference that temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel, creating North and South Vietnam.

Vietcong

South Vietnamese citizens who fought against the government of South Vietnam, supported by the North.

Agent Orange

A toxic chemical defoliant used by the U.S. in Vietnam, linked to severe health issues experienced by veterans and locals.

TET Offensive

A large-scale surprise attack by North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces on January 30, 1968, targeting multiple cities in South Vietnam.

Vietnamization

Nixon's policy to gradually withdraw U.S. troops from Vietnam while transferring the responsibility for the war to South Vietnamese forces.

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

The 1964 Congressional resolution that authorized President Johnson to take military action in Vietnam.

My Lai Massacre

A mass killing of between 347 and 504 unarmed South Vietnamese civilians by U.S. Army soldiers in March 1968.

War Powers Act

A 1973 law that limits the President's power to send U.S. troops into combat without congressional approval.

Napalm

A jellied form of gasoline used in incendiary bombs, creating firestorms, primarily used during the Vietnam War.

Guerrilla Tactics

A form of irregular warfare where small groups use ambushes, sabotage, and hit-and-run tactics against larger traditional military.

Pacification

U.S. military strategy aimed at gaining support from the rural South Vietnamese population through development programs and force.

Diem

The U.S.-backed leader of South Vietnam who was eventually overthrown due to increasing unpopularity and brutality.

SALT

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks aimed at curbing the arms race between the U.S. and the USSR.

Christmas Bombing

A bombing campaign conducted by the U.S. against North Vietnamese cities in December 1972.

Killing Fields

Locations in Cambodia where the Khmer Rouge executed large numbers of people, driven by the desire for ethnic purity.

Mujahadeen

Afghan rebels who fought against the Soviet invasion in the late 1970s, receiving support from the U.S.

Détente

A period of relaxed tensions and improved relations between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Glasnost

Gorbachev's policy of openness that allowed for more freedom of expression and public criticism of the government.

Perestroika

Gorbachev's policy aimed at restructuring the Soviet economy and political system to address inefficiencies.