The Vietnam War Era (1954-1975)

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, events, and strategic aspects of the Vietnam War's escalation, conclusion, and aftermath.

Napalm

A jellied gasoline dropped in large canisters that exploded on impact, covering large areas in flames and clinging to everything it touched.

Agent Orange

A chemical herbicide used during the Vietnam War to kill plant life, which had a devastating impact long after the conflict ended.

Da Nang

The location where U.S. Marines arrived on $\text{March 8, 1965}$, to defend the airbase, marking the arrival of American ground troops in South Vietnam.

Search-and-destroy missions

Operations conducted by U.S. soldiers to kill as many Vietcong guerrillas as possible.

Operation Rolling Thunder

A bombing campaign that began in $\text{March 1965}$ during which American pilots dropped more than $6 ext{ million tons}$ of bombs on enemy positions.

Vietcong Strategy

A strategy of wearing Americans down by traveling light, using tunnel networks, setting booby traps, and avoiding large-scale battles to ensure the Americans would eventually leave.

Hearts and Minds

The mission objective for the United States to help South Vietnam build a stable noncommunist nation and win the support of its citizens.

March 16, 1968

The date of the My Lai Massacre, during which Lieutenant William Calley’s unit killed between $400$ and $500$ unarmed Vietnamese civilians.

Pentagon Papers

Classified government documents published by The New York Times in $1971$ that revealed American leaders had not provided complete information to the public regarding the war.

Paris Peace Accords

A $1973$ agreement between the parties for a cease-fire, U.S. troop withdrawal from South Vietnam, and an exchange of POWs.

Fall of Saigon

The event in the spring of $1975$ when North Vietnamese forces, supported by the Soviets, took over the city, leading to the unification of Vietnam under one flag.

War Powers Act

A $1973$ act that restricted the President's war-making powers by requiring consultation with Congress within $48 ext{ hours}$ of committing American forces to a foreign conflict.

Khmer Rouge

A communist group that came to power in Cambodia and committed genocide against non-communists.

1973 Oil Embargo

An economic event that caused a severe shortage of gas, leading prices to soar from $40 ext{ cents}$ per gallon in $1973$ to $\$1.20$ by $1980$.

Stalemate

The state of the war by $1967$, characterized by a lack of clear progress and escalating costs in American lives and dollars.