Cold War Thinking
The U.S. policy aimed at stopping the spread of communism without directly attacking countries where it already existed.
What is containment?
This 1964 incident involving U.S. ships led to increased military involvement in Vietnam.
What is the Gulf of Tonkin Incident?
This U.S. general commanded American forces in Vietnam and supported increasing troop levels.
Who is William Westmoreland?
These individuals were required by law to serve in the military during the Vietnam War.
What are draftees?
This policy reduced U.S. troop involvement by transferring responsibility to South Vietnam.
What is Vietnamization?
This theory justified U.S. involvement in Vietnam by predicting nearby countries would fall to communism one after another.
What is the domino theory?
This congressional resolution gave the president authority to send troops without a formal declaration of war.
What is the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
This weapon caused intense fires and became controversial due to its effects on civilians.
What is napalm?
This student organization became a leading voice in anti-war protests.
What is Students for a Democratic Society?
This massacre involved U.S. soldiers killing unarmed Vietnamese civilians and shocked the nation when revealed.
What is the My Lai massacre?
This organization was created to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia through collective defense.
What is SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization)?
This type of warfare used surprise attacks and avoided direct battles with stronger forces.
What is guerrilla warfare?
This environment feature of Vietnam made it difficult for U.S. troops to locate and fight the enemy.
What is jungle terrain?
This term describes the growing gap between government statements and public belief during the war.
What is the credibility gap?
These leaked documents showed that U.S. leaders had misled the public about the war.
What are the Pentagon Papers?
This leader of North Vietnam combined the goals of nationalism and communism during the conflict.
Who is Ho Chi Minh?
This group of communist fighters operated in South Vietnam and used guerrilla tactics.
What is the Vietcong?
This major challenge in Vietnam made it difficult for U.S. soldiers to identify who the enemy was.
What is the Vietcong blending in with civilians?
This 1968 military offensive shocked Americans and shifted public opinion about the war.
What is the Tet Offensive?
This agreement officially ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
What are the Paris Peace Accords?
This economic program provided financial aid to Latin American countries to prevent the spread of communism.
What is the Alliance for Progress?
This incorrect U.S. assumption held that increasing enemy casualties would eventually force North Vietnam to surrender.
What is a war of attrition?
This key issue made it difficult for the U.S. to measure success in the Vietnam War.
What is lack of a clear objective?
This U.S. senator ran for president in 1968 primarily to oppose the Vietnam War and gained strong anti-war support.
Who is Eugene McCarthy?
This law limited the president's ability to send troops into combat without congressional approval.
What is the War Powers Act?