Key Concepts of the Vietnam War

Ho Chi Minh

Leader of North Vietnam, also known as "Uncle Ho," he led the fight for Vietnamese independence and later against the U.S.-backed South Vietnam.

Domino Theory

The belief that the spread of communism in one country would trigger a chain reaction of communist takeovers in neighboring countries, The belief that if one country (like South Vietnam) fell to communism, neighboring countries (like Laos and Cambodia) would follow, justifying U.S. involvement.

Viet Cong

A communist-led guerrilla movement in South Vietnam that engaged in a protracted insurgency against the U.S.-backed government. Guerrilla fighters in South Vietnam who supported North Vietnam and fought against the South Vietnamese government and U.S. forces.

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

A joint resolution passed by Congress in 1964 giving President Lyndon B. Johnson the authority to use military force in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war, following incidents involving U.S. naval vessels in the Gulf of Tonkin. =+Passed in response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964), this granted President Lyndon B. Johnson unlimited "war powers" to escalate U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.

Tet Offensive

A coordinated series of attacks by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnamese New Year in 1968, which significantly impacted U.S. public opinion and escalated anti-war sentiment. = A massive, coordinated attack by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces in 1968, targeting U.S. bases and cities across South Vietnam, including Saigon.

Doves vs. Hawks

Doves refer to individuals or groups that oppose military intervention in conflict, advocating for peace and negotiation, while Hawks support aggressive military action to achieve victory. = The Doves were Americans who opposed the war, while the Hawks supported it and wanted to escalate U.S. involvement.

Kent State

refers to the tragic event in 1970 where National Guardsmen shot and killed four students during a protest against the Vietnam War at Kent State University, highlighting rising tensions and opposition to the conflict. = A 1970 anti-war protest at Kent State University where the Ohio National Guard shot and killed four students, further fueling anti-war sentiment.

Pentagon Papers

A classified government document released in 1971 that revealed misleading information about the U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam, contributing to public distrust in the government. = secret government documents leaked in 1971, revealing that U.S. officials had misled the public about the Vietnam War’s progress.

War Powers Act

• A 1973 law limiting the president’s power to send troops into combat without congressional approval, created in response to the overreach of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution.

Democratic National Convention, 1968

A political event in Chicago marked by violent clashes between anti-war protesters and police, exposing deep divisions over the Vietnam War.

My Lai

A massacre in 1968 where U.S. soldiers killed over 300 unarmed Vietnamese civilians, further eroding public trust in the war effort.

Paris Peace Accords, 1973

Officially called the "1973 Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam," this treaty led to the withdrawal of U.S. forces and a ceasefire between North and South Vietnam.