People
President who allowed for Dien to be overthrown by the South Vietnamese Military.
John F. Kennedy
Theory adopted in the U.S. foreign policy after WWII according to which the fall of noncommunist governments in neighboring states. Eisenhower applied this to SE Asia, especially South Vietnam.
Domino Theory
This massacre occurred at the hands of American servicemen during the Vietnam War. It caused great debate about the United States` role in Vietnam.
My Lai
President at the end of the Vietnam War. Developed the idea of Vietnamization.
Richard Nixon
Name given to the opposing force that fought South Vietnam and the United States during the Vietnam War.
Viet Cong
President at the end of the Vietnam War. Developed at the idea of Vietnamization.
Richard Nixon
A 1954 peace conference at the end of the first Indochina war, prompted by the stunning French defeat at Dien Bien Phu. The conference issued the Geneva Accords which divided Vietnam into North and South Vietnam.
Geneva Conference
This gave President Johnson the power to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression."
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Protest against the Vietnam War in Ohio. A riot broke out, leaving 4 dead and 10 wounded.
Kent State
Chemical dropped from American planes in the Vietnam War in order to destroy Vietcong hiding places.
Agent Orange
President of the U.S. who was responsible for dramatically increasing American military involvement in Vietnam. He eventually became so unpopular he decided NOT to run for a second term.
Lyndon B. Johnson
The provisional military demarcation line established in Vietnam by the Geneva Accords. The line divided North and South Vietnam but did not actually coincide with the 17th Parallel.
17th Parallel/Demarcation Line
A bombing attempt that lasted 3 years by the United States, designed to force Ho Chi Minh to desert his goal of taking over South Vietnam.
Operation Rolling Thunder
Term used to describe President Nixon's plan for slow withdraw from the Vietnam War. It called for South Vietnamese to eventually fight the war against the Vietcong by themselves.
Vietnamization
This was an elaborate system of mountain and jungle paths and trails used by North Vietnam to infiltrate troops and supplies into South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos during the Vietnam War.
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Communist leader of Vietnam. He worked to remove the Japanese, the French, and the United States from Vietnam soil.
Ho Chi Minh
The French Colonial term for the area encompassing present day Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
French Indochina
A Confrontation between Vietnamese torpedo boats and the US destroyers Maddox and Turner Joy. The event was used by President Johnson to seek an increase in presidential power in order to escalate the U.S. military presence in Vietnam.
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Foreign policy statement made in 1969. It told Asian countries that the United States would only provide economic and military assistance (no U.S. troops) to keep its treaty commitments.
Nixon Doctrine
All black university where police shot and killed two students and wounded nine others after they fired on an all womens dormitory on the campus during a Vietnam War protest.
Jackson State
President of South Vietnam during the early years of the Vietnam War. He came to power in 1954 immediately after the Geneva Accords. Gained support of the U.S. because of his strong opposition to communism.
Ngo Dinh Diem
The French surrendered to Ho Chi Minh's forces at this location. The peace that was established marked the end of French influence in Vietnam and left the country split at the 17th parallel.
Dien Bien Phu
Major military offensive by the North Vietnamese that occurred during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year festival. The offensive was a turning point in the war. Support for the war in the United States dropped significantly after the event and contributed to the U.S. military withdraw from Vietnam.
Tet Offensive
Event associated with the end of America's involvement in the Vietnam War. The North Vietnamese's ability to take this city was a major step toward the North Vietnamese ability to control all of South Vietnam.
Fall of Saigon
Lt. William Callay was court-martialed because of his involvement in the events that happened at this location.
My Lai