Vietnam and Civil Rights

Colonialism

Old problem impacting Vietnam post-World War II.

France

Colonized Vietnam in the 19th century.

Vietminh

Vietnamese guerilla group fighting against Japanese and French.

Ho Chi Minh

Leader of the Vietminh, gained popularity for aiding hunger.

French casualties

Over 100,000 French casualties by 1953 in Vietnam.

US support

Provided over $330 million to France during conflict.

Geneva Accords

Divided Vietnam into communist North and non-communist South.

Election

Planned to let Vietnamese decide on unification.

Vietcong

Insurgency aiming to unite Vietnam under communism.

Vietnamese Nationalism

Motivated Vietnamese resistance against French and Americans.

Ngo Dinh Diem

US-supported leader of South Vietnam, anti-communist.

Diem's governance

Characterized by jailing thousands and corruption.

Assassination of Diem

Removed from power with US approval in 1963.

US personnel escalation

Increased from 2,000 in 1961 to 500,000 in 1968.

Containment of communism

Main reason Americans fought in Vietnam War.

Crossover-point strategy

Westmoreland's plan to outpace enemy troop replacement.

Johnson's concerns

Doubted accuracy of enemy loss measurements.

Operation Rolling Thunder

Bombing campaign to pressure North Vietnam into negotiations.

McNamara's strategy

Gradually increase bombing to destroy enemy morale.

Ineffectiveness of Rolling Thunder

Failed to weaken North Vietnamese morale or logistics.

Vietnamese independence

Misunderstood by Americans as a Cold War struggle.

Buddhist majority

Diem's governance angered this significant demographic.

Logistical networks

North Vietnamese adapted quickly despite bombing campaigns.

Operation Rolling Thunder

Sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam.

Collateral Damage

Unintended civilian casualties during military operations.

Guerrilla Tactics

Unconventional warfare using ambushes and surprise attacks.

Agent Orange

Herbicide used to destroy jungle cover.

Search and Destroy

Strategy to engage and eliminate enemy forces.

War of Attrition

Strategy focusing on depleting enemy resources.

High Morale

Strong psychological commitment to fight among troops.

Sunk-Cost Thinking

Continuing a strategy due to prior investments.

Public Outrage

Widespread discontent regarding war policies.

Limited War

Conflict with controlled troop levels and objectives.

Hawks in Congress

Politicians advocating for increased military commitment.

Vietnam's Climate

Hot, humid, tropical with heavy monsoon rains.

Vietnam's Terrain

Rugged landscape with jungles and rice paddies.

Domestic Opposition

Public dissent against the Vietnam War.

Military Commitment

Engagement of armed forces in a conflict.

Visual Media Coverage

Graphic images influencing public perception of war.

Disguised Combatants

Viet Cong blending in with civilian populations.

Toxic Exposure

Health issues from harmful chemical agents.

Enemy Resolve

Determination of Viet Cong and NVA to continue fighting.

Political Survival

Maintaining power despite unfavorable circumstances.

Troop Vulnerability

Increased risk faced by soldiers in combat.

Morale Decline

Decrease in soldiers' psychological well-being.

Supply Line Disruption

Temporary interruption of enemy resources and logistics.

Search and Destroy

Military tactic aimed at eliminating enemy forces.

Clear and Hold

Mission to secure and maintain control over areas.

Ambush

Surprise attack by guerrilla fighters on patrols.

Zippo Raids

Burning villages as a tactic during the war.

Hearts and Minds

Strategy to win civilian support in Vietnam.

Vicious Circle

Cycle of aggression leading to local support for enemies.

Erroneous Assumption

Belief that killing would force enemy surrender.

North Vietnamese Resolve

Commitment that outmatched U.S. technology and firepower.

Body Counts

Metric used to measure success of missions.

Inflated Data

Misleading statistics resulting from body count measures.

Guerrilla Tactics

Unconventional warfare methods used by the enemy.

Malcolm X

Civil rights leader advocating for Black empowerment.

Black Separatism

Philosophy promoting separation from white society.

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Journey that influenced Malcolm X's teachings.

Ballots or Bullets

Slogan advocating for voting or armed resistance.

Stokely Carmichael

Civil rights leader promoting Black Power movement.

SNCC

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, civil rights group.

Black Power

Movement for Black self-determination and leadership.

John Carlos

Athlete who supported human rights with a salute.

Tommie Smith

Athlete who raised a fist for Black rights.

Black Panther Party

Founded to combat police brutality and inequality.

Huey Newton

Co-founder of the Black Panther Party.

Bobby Seale

Co-founder of the Black Panther Party.

Black Panthers

A revolutionary organization for African-American rights.

10 Point Program

A list of demands by the Black Panthers.

Freedom and Power

Desire for self-determination in Black communities.

Full Employment

Goal for job opportunities for African-Americans.

End Capitalist Robbery

Demand to stop exploitation of Black communities.

Decent Housing

Call for adequate living conditions for all.

Education Demand

Need for truthful education about American society.

FBI Targeting

FBI focused on suppressing the Black Panther Party.

Internal Problems

Issues within the organization affecting effectiveness.

Poverty Rate 1960-70

Almost 50 million Americans lived in poverty.

Great Society

Lyndon Johnson's initiative to combat poverty.

Medicare

Health insurance for senior citizens.

Medicaid

Health insurance for low-income individuals.

Child Nutrition Act

Improved school meal programs for children.

Project Head Start

Preschool program for disadvantaged children.

Office of Economic Opportunity

Job training programs to reduce poverty.

Housing Act

Funding for urban renewal and housing programs.

Clean Air Act

Regulates air quality standards and goals.

Vietnam War Impact

Diverted funds from domestic programs.

Johnson's Election 1964

Won over 61% of popular vote.

Great Society Challenges

Limited impact and rising budget deficits.

Medicare Challenges

Rising costs and budget consumption.

Critics of Great Society

Poverty rate not significantly reduced.

Mexican Immigration 1920s

½ million Mexicans immigrated to the US.

Mexican Population in LA 1930

150,000, faced segregation and discrimination.

Infant Mortality

High rates of infant deaths in impoverished communities.

Employment Discrimination

Limited to low-paying jobs for Mexican Americans.

The Great Depression

Increased hostility towards Mexican Americans amid unemployment.

Repatriation

Deportations of Mexicans and their American-born children.

The Bracero Program

Short-term labor contracts for Mexican farmworkers.

Eisenhower Administration

Deportation program targeting undocumented Latino immigrants.