Major Events
What year did the Gulf of Tonkin Incident Occur?
1964
Who was the President at the start of the First Indochina War?
Dwight D. Eisenhower
What was the primary goal of U.S. involvement in Vietnam?
To prevent the spread of communism (domino theory)
What was the name of the bombing campaign conducted by the U.S. over North Vietnam in 1965?
Operation Rolling Thunder
What is the significance of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
Gave overwhelming power to President Johnson to fight and undeclared war.
What year did the U.S. first send combat troops to Vietnam?
1965
Who was the leader of North Vietnam during the Vietnam War?
Ho Chi Minh
What did Ho Chi Minh describe his military as? What was the Americans?
Minh's forces: tigers, Americans: elephants. Bleed out the elephant!
Which city was the capital of South Vietnam during the war?
Saigon
Who were the "hawks" and "doves" in the U.S. during the Vietnam War?
"Hawks" supported the war and its escalation, while "doves" opposed it and called for de-escalation or withdrawal.
What major battle in 1965 marked the start of "Search and Destroy" missions in Vietnam?
Battle of Ia Drang Valley
Who was the United States commander of troops in South Vietnam?
William Westmoreland
How did the media impact U.S. public opinion about the war in the 1960s?
The media showed the brutality of the war and the failure of U.S. military efforts, which led to growing anti-war sentiment. Credibility gap!!!
Where did the Americans think the Tet Offensive was originally?
Khe Sanh
What was the "living room" war meant to symbolize?
The idea that Vietnam was televised to the homes of Americans, showing the brutality of the war and led to antiwar movements growing.
What year was Ngo Dinh Diem assassinated?
1963
Who was the South Vietnamese President during the early years of the Vietnam War?
Ngo Dinh Diem
What was the "domino theory" and how did it relate to Vietnam?
The belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would also fall, leading to the spread of communism.
What is the capital of North Vietnam?
Hanoi
What was the outcome of the 1954 Geneva Accords regarding Vietnam?
Vietnam was temporarily divided at the 17th parallel into North Vietnam and South Vietnam.
What was the significance of the Tet Offensive?
It was a surprise attack by North Vietnam that shook American confidence in the war and changed public opinion.
Who was the United States Secretary of Defense during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations?
Robert McNamara
How did the Tet Offensive change American public opinion about the war?
It led to a loss of confidence in the U.S. government and military, showing that the war was not close to being won.
What was the significance of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in the context of the Vietnam War?
It was a decisive battle in 1954 that led to the defeat of French forces and the division of Vietnam.
How much money was spent per year fighting the Vietnam War? (within 2 of the correct number gets this correct)
30 billion (28-32 billion acceptable)