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Ho Chi Minh
former president of North Vietnam, also known as uncle Ho
Vietminh
An organization of Vietnamese communists and other nationalist groups that between 1946 and 1954 fought for Vietnamese independence from the French.
Domino Theory
The idea that if a nation falls under communist control, nearby nations will also fall under communist control.
Dien Bien Phu
A French military outpost in northwestern Vietnam and the site of a decisive Viet Minh victory in 1954, which ended French colonial rule in Indochina.
Geneva Accords
A 1954 piece agreement that divided Vietnam into communist controlled north Vietnam and non-communist south Vietnam until unification elections could be held in 1956
Ngo Dinh Diem
South Vietnam president, a strong anti-communist, who refused to take part in the countrywide election of 1956.
Viet Cong (VC)
A communist opposition group in the south, who, with North Vietnamese support, fought against the government of South Vietnam in the Vietnam war.
Ho Chi Minh Trail
A network of paths used by North Vietnam to transport supplies to the Vietcong in South Vietnam
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
A resolution adopted by Congress in 1964, giving the president broad powers to wage war in Vietnam.
Robert McNamara
Secretary of defense
Dean Rusk
Secretary of state
William Westmoreland
The American commander in South Vietnam.
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
The southern Vietnamese soldiers with whom US troops fought against communism and forces in the north during the Vietnam war
Napalm
A gasoline based substance used in bombs that US planes dropped in Vietnam in order to burn away jungle and exposed Vietcong hideouts.
Agent Orange
A toxic leaf killing chemical sprayed by US planes in Vietnam to expose Vietcong hideouts
Search and destroy mission
A US military raid on a south Vietnamese village, intended to root out villagers with ties to the Vietcong, but often resulting in the destruction of the village and the displacement of its inhabitants.
Credibility Gap
A public distrust of statements made by the government
The Draft
mandatory conscription system that required young men, primarily aged 18-26, to serve in the military, leading to widespread protests due to its disproportionate impact on the poor and minorities.
New Left
A youth dominated political movement of the 1960s, embodied in such organizations as students for a democratic society and the free speech movement.
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
An anti-establishment new left group founded in 1960, that called for “greater” individual freedom and responsibility.
Free Speech Movement
an antiestablishment new left organization that originated in a 1964 clash between students and administrators at the university of cali at Berkeley
Hawks
A person who supported US involvement in Vietnam war and believe that US should use increased military force to win
Doves
A person who opposed to the Vietnam war and believe US should withdraw
Tet Offensive
A massive surprise attack by the Vietcong on South Vietnamese towns and cities in early 1968
Clark Clifford
US Secretary of defense in 1968–1969
Robert Kennedy
US Attorney General and later a senator
Eugene McCarthy
US senator and Democratic presidential candidate in 1968
Hubert Humphrey
US vice president in 1965–1969
George Wallace
Four term governor of Alabama and presidential candidate in 1968
Richard Nixon
37th president of US in 1969–1974
Henry Kissinger
US diplomat and secretary of state
Vietnamization
President Nixon strategy for ending US involvement in the Vietnam war, incivaling The gradual withdrawal of US troops and their replacement with South Vietnamese soldiers
Silent Majority
A name given by President Nixon to the moderate, mainstream Americans who quietly supported Vietnam war politics
My Lai
A village in northern south Vietnam, where more than 200 unarmed civilians, including women and children, were massacred by US troops in May 1968
Kent State University
An Ohio university were national guardsmen opened fire on students protesting the Vietnamese war on May 4, 1978, wounding nine and killing four
Pentagon Papers
A 7000 page document leaked to the press in 1971 by the former defense department, Daniel Ellsberg, revealing that the US government hadn’t been honest about it intentions in the Vietnam war
War Powers Act
Law enacted in 1973, limited 9 presidents right to send troops battle without consulting Congress
