The vietnam war

Lesson 4, Section 5

What was the Vietnam War?

A Cold War conflict between communist North Vietnam and non-communist South Vietnam involving the US

How long did the Vietnam War last compared to other US wars?

It was the second-longest war in US history

Which country controlled Vietnam before independence?

France

In what year did Vietnam gain independence from France?

1954

How was Vietnam divided after independence?

Into communist North Vietnam and non-communist South Vietnam

What US president first committed to protecting South Vietnam?

Harry Truman

What theory influenced US involvement in Vietnam?

The domino theory

Who led the Vietnamese independence movement?

Ho Chi Minh

What group fought against French and Japanese forces during World War II?

The Viet Minh

What battle ended French control of Vietnam?

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu

At what line was Vietnam divided?

The 17th parallel

Who was the leader of South Vietnam supported by the US?

Ngo Dinh Diem

Why was Ngo Dinh Diem unpopular?

He was corrupt and favored Catholics over Buddhists

What group did Ho Chi Minh create in South Vietnam?

The Viet Cong

What incident led Congress to give Johnson broad war powers?

The Gulf of Tonkin incident

What resolution gave the president a “blank check” to fight the war?

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

What was Operation Rolling Thunder?

A sustained US bombing campaign against North Vietnam

What supply route did the US bomb to stop communist aid?

The Ho Chi Minh Trail

What chemicals did the US use to remove jungle cover?

Agent Orange and napalm

Why was fighting difficult for US troops in Vietnam?

The enemy blended in with civilians

What were search and destroy missions?

Operations to find and eliminate Viet Cong forces

What was a Zippo Raid?

Burning villages suspected of aiding the Viet Cong

What strategy did General Westmoreland use?

A war of attrition

What major surprise attack occurred in 1968?

The Tet Offensive

Was the Tet Offensive a military victory for the US?

Yes

Why did the Tet Offensive hurt US morale?

It showed the war was far from over

How did public opinion change after Tet?

Opposition to the war increased sharply

What factors caused US troop morale to decline?

Rising casualties and unclear goals

What was fragging?

The killing of officers by fellow soldiers

What plan did Nixon introduce to end US involvement?

Vietnamization

What did Vietnamization aim to do?

Turn fighting over to South Vietnamese forces

What event involved the killing of Vietnamese civilians by US troops?

The My Lai Massacre

What campus protest ended with four students killed in 1970?

The Kent State Massacre

What were the Pentagon Papers?

Leaked documents revealing government deception about Vietnam

Who leaked the Pentagon Papers?

Daniel Ellsberg

What ended US combat involvement in Vietnam?

A ceasefire in January 1973

What happened to South Vietnam in 1975?

It fell to communist forces

What city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City?

Saigon

How many Americans died in the Vietnam War?

Over 55,000

What was the overall result of the Vietnam War for the US?

The US failed to achieve its objectives