topic 9 test review

Cuban Missile Crisis

Cuba installing missiles from Soviets, JFK issues naval quarantine around Cuba, barely avoided nuclear war, we removed missiles from Turkey in exchange for Soviets removing missiles from Cuba.

Berlin Wall

Built by Soviets to stop people from fleeing communist East Berlin for free West Berlin.

Bay of Pigs

CIA attempt to arm/train Cuban rebels to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro, complete failure, huge embarrassment for JFK.

Flexible Response

JFK's plan to build up conventional military forces allowing the US to fight limited wars around the world of any size or type.

Alliance for Progress

JFK's plan to provide money to Latin America to better improve relations, did not work.

Peace Corps

Organization started by JFK to send volunteers to help developing nations and create a positive US image in those countries.

Geneva Accords

Ended France's involvement in Vietnam, divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel, communist North and free South.

Robert McNamara

Secretary of Defense, agreed with strategy of Americanization.

Americanization

US forces more active in actually fighting the war not just training Vietnamese soldiers.

William Westmoreland

Commander of US forces in Vietnam, wanted Americanization and more troops.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Passed after the Gulf of Tonkin incident, gave the President the power to commit troops to foreign involvements instead of needed Congressional approval.

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Trail through Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, allowed North Vietnam to get supplies to the Vietcong in the South.

Vietcong

Resistance fighters in South Vietnam that support Ho Chi Minh (leader of North Vietnam) and want all Vietnam to be communist.

Operation Rolling Thunder

Sustained bombing of North Vietnam by Johnson, goal was to bomb communist into submission, ineffective.

Napalm

Explosive gasoline based bomb that set surrounding area on fire, very hard to put out.

Agent Orange

Chemical agent used to kill foliage (trees/jungle plants) in Vietnam, later linked to causing cancer.

Selective Service and 'Working Class' War

Selective Service criticized, most men drafted from poor/working class/minority backgrounds, wealthy families sent their kids to college as a way to avoid the draft.

Doves

Americans against the war in Vietnam.

Hawks

Supporters of the war in Vietnam.

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 in response to the war, if old enough to be drafted should be able to vote.

Tet Offensive

Major Vietcong offensive during the Tet celebration in 1968, coordinated attack across South Vietnam, turned many Americans against the war by showing them an enemy that was not going to give up.

Robert Kennedy

JFK's brother, Democrat presidential candidate, assassinated in 1968.

Eugene McCarthy

The other Democrat presidential candidate running on an anti-war platform.

1968 Democratic Convention

Held in Chicago, very chaotic, violence among the delegates, violence outside due to clash between anti-war protests and police, showed Democrat Party falling apart.

Clark Clifford

New Secretary of Defense after McNamara resigns, thought war was unwinnable.

Credibility Gap

Big difference between official government reports of success in Vietnam and what people saw on TV ('living room' war), caused people to doubt the government.

Kent State

Students were killed at this university when National Guardsmen opened fire on anti-war protestors, many people turned against war.

Vietnamization

Nixon's plan to end the war by gradually bringing our troops home and turning the fighting over to the South Vietnamese army, weakened any chance the South had to win - couldn't do it without us.

War Powers Act

Passed by Congress, revoked the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, put war powers back under the control of Congress, President needs Congressional approval to send troops into any military action.

Pentagon Papers

Classified document leaked by Daniel Ellsberg that showed the government purposefully lied about the war.

Silent Majority

Term by Nixon for group of Americans that he believed still supported the war.

My Lai

Vietnamese village where 500 Vietnamese civilians were killed by US troops, government unsuccessfully tried to keep it quiet, public found out, many Americans turned against the war and the troops.

Cambodia

Neighboring country of Vietnam, part of Ho Chi Minh trail passed through it, Nixon bombed Cambodia to try and cut off supplies down the trail, did not work.

Khmer Rouge

Group led by Pol Pot that gained power in Cambodia, committed genocide against anyone they believed had association with the West.

Nixon's Christmas bombings

Major bombing of North Vietnam in December of 1972, part of Nixon's plan to force North Vietnam negotiate a peace treaty.

Roy Benavidez

Vietnam War hero, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Hispanic.