Background & Build Up
Cold War theory claimed if one Southeast Asian nation fell to communism, others would follow
Domino Theory
U.S. president that began sending money and advisors to South Vietnam in the 1950s
Eisenhower
Type of warfare the Viet Cong used against U.S. forces
Guerilla warfare
Group that opposed the war and protested on college campuses
Doves / Anti-War Movement
President at the end of the war, during the US troop withdrawal
Nixon
Agreement in 1954 split Vietnam at the 17th parallel
Geneva Accords
The South Vietnamese leader overthrown in 1963 with U.S. support
President Diem
This was used too transport supplies and troops from North to South Vietnam
What is the Ho Chi Minh Trail
Phrase used described the growing distrust in the government’s honesty about the war
What is the Credibility Gap
This agreement led to the withdrawal of U.S. forces
Paris Peace Accords
Leader of the communist North Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh
President Nixon’s plan to gradually withdraw U.S. troops
Vietnamization
Herbicide used by the U.S. to destroy jungle cover and crops, led to many disabilities and environmental problems
Agent Orange
These documents exposed government lies about U.S. involvement in Vietnam
Political ideology that spread through Indochina following US involvement in Vietnam
Communism
Cold War alliance that was formed in 1954 to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia
SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization)
This limited the president’s ability to deploy troops without Congressional approval
War Powers Act
Gel-based firebomb that burned intensely and was used by the U.S. to aid in deforestation of the battlefield
Napalm
This event led to the deaths of student protesters in 1970
What is the Kent State Shooting
This amendment lowered the voting age to 18, partially due to the war
What is the 26th Amendment
This event gave President Johnson broad military powers in Vietnam, directly led to an increase presence of US ground troops
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
U.S. bombing campaign against North Vietnam (1965–1968)
Operation Rolling Thunder
The surprise attack launched during the Vietnamese New Year in 1968 that shocked Americans and decreased the home front support of the war
This system of conscription was especially criticized as a “poor man’s war” because many chosen were of lower socio-economic status
Selective Service / Draft Lottery
This ultimately shaped the outcome of the war and set a precedent for future wars and events
Public Opinion