Unit 10 History: Vietnam and the 1970s

Define "Domino Theory":

if one country falls to communism, they'll all fall

List who the U.S. supported in the conflict in Vietnam after WWII:

The U.S. supported France, getting their colony back.

Describe the U.S.’s main goal in Vietnam:

Was to contain communism.

List the terms of the 1954 Geneva Accords:

1- Temporarily split Vietnam at 17th parallel. 2-North Vietnam=communists. 3- South Vietnam=pro american gov.

Define the Tonkin Gulf Resolution (including which president asked Congress for it):

Congress gave LBJ complete freedom to run any operations in Vietnam. And the president was Lyndon B Johnson.

Define what the Ho Chi Minh Trail was:

It was how Vietcong got supplies from North to South Vietnam, partly through Cambodia.

Describe “napalm” and its effects:

Napalm were gasoline based bombs. Burned down jungles and innocent peoples homes. Many people were burned.

Describe “Agent Orange” and its effects:

Was a leaf killing toxic chemical. Killed the jungle. It got into the ground/water and caused massive birth defects and illness in people.

List who most soldiers were who served in Vietnam (demographics):

Majority were poor minorities.

Explain why Vietnam was called a Living Room War:

Information and reporting from the war was seen on tv.

Explain the significance of the Tet Offensive:

Major campaign of attacks launched through south Vietnam in early 1968 by the north Vietnamese and the Vietcong, turning point in the war, it exposed the war's reality.

Define who “hawks” and “doves” were:

Hawks-supported war. Doves-against war.

Explain the role that music played in the War:

Much of the war was protested through music.

List the candidates for each party in the Presidential Election of 1968:

Democratic=hubert h. repub=richard nixon. 3rd party=george wallace.

Explain the presidential candidates’ platforms (positions on issues):

Hubert=promised to keep fighting in Vietnam.
Nixon=promised law and order, wanted to fight communism.
Wallace=campaigned about law and order.

List what new country the U.S. invaded and bombed in 1970 during Nixon’s Presidency:

The U.S. invaded Cambodia. Triggered student anti-war protests, more than 1.5 mil students participated.

Define the 26th Amendment:

Lowered the voting age to 18.

Describe Nixon’s strategy to end the Vietnam War:

Would use "Vietnamization"- reduce u.s. troops and turn over ground fighting to the south Vietnamese "peace with honor" strategy.

Explain the significance of the Pentagon Papers:

Contained top secret, negative information about the Vietnam War and it made the American public question continuing to be in Vietnam.

Define the War Powers Act:

Restricted the presidents ability to send troops w/o congresses approval.

Define “Détente.":

Policy of having less tension with the Soviet Union and openness with China.

List examples of détente in the Cold War:

Nixon visited China, televised trips, said they could peacefully coexist.

Define the Watergate Scandal:

The name of a scandal which involved a break in at the Democratic National Committees headquarters, and resulting cover up, one of the worst scandals performed by Richard Nixon.

List the effects/outcome of the Watergate Scandal:

Many lost faith in the gov, Nixon resigned, led to long term changes in the gov, and Gerald Ford took over.

List causes of the economic decline of the 1970s:

Causes- inflammation from military spending, high gas prices, great society spending, and unemployment.

Explain what OPEC is:

Formed 1960 by oil rich countries, and controlled the price of their oil.

Explain what caused the energy crisis in the U.S:

Conflicts between Israel and other Arab states, Arab states in Opec made an oil embargo against the U.S in 1973, they would not sell the U.S. their oil.

List the effects of the energy crisis on the U.S:

Gas prices increased, new speed limit of 55, inflation prices of goods rose 20%.

Describe how the 1970s focused on environmentalism:

Earth Day, EPA, and national energy act.

Define “deindustrialization":

Means less manufactoring, economy switched from Industrial to services.

Explain what happened in the Iran hostage crisis:

Iranian students took hostages from the U.S. embassy in Tehran until the Shah was returned.

Define “affirmative action":

Consider the history of disadvantages and discrimination for minority groups (people of color and women).

Explain who Harvey Milk was:

First openly gay man to be elected to public office.

Explain what women’s activism in the 1970s focused on:

Focused on rights for the female body. And passing the Equal Rights Amendment.

Explain the ruling of Roe v. Wade:

Ruled abortions performed during 1st trimester were protected by rights of privacy.