War in Vietnam Review

American involvement Desire to maintain American credibility as having the resolve to halt communist aggression. Part of Containment Policy

France European country controlled Vietnam as a colony for over 60 years.

Dien Bien Phu North Vietnam city where a French military outpost was overrun by the communist Vietminh

Ho Chi Minh Leader of the Vietminh Fought against the French and then the U.S.

Domino Theory Theory stating that if South Vietnam fell to communism, the other nations of Southeast Asia would fall Coined by Eisenhower

1956 Elections Established by the Geneva Conference The United States feared a communist victory Cancelled

Buddhist monks Set themselves on fire in protest in 1963 Convinced the Kennedy Administration that Ngo Dinh Diem was an unpopular leader and had to be replaced.

Ngo Dinh Diem Unpopular leader of South Vietnam Initially supported by U.S. Assassinated in November, 1963

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident Congress granted wide-ranging war power to President Johnson and allowed him to widen the Vietnam conflict as a result of a supposed attack by North Vietnamese forces on US ships.

Operation Rolling Thunder The massive bombing campaign of North Vietnam. In response to VC attack at Pleiku

The Vietcong Strategy Preferred to use guerilla warfare tactics Hit and run and ambush Knew they needed to out last the U.S.

Hearts and Minds Attempt by the U.S. and South Vietnam to win the support of peasants

The Ho Chi Minh Trail Extended from North Vietnam through “neutral” countries into South Vietnam to supply the Vietcong.

William Westmoreland Commander of US troops in Vietnam.

U.S. Soldiers recent high school graduates single lower to middle class

Tet Offensive Viewed as a military failure, but political success for the Communist Forces More Americans began to doubt the war

Robert McNamara The Secretary of Defense under Lyndon Johnson until 1968.

Clark Clifford Became Secretary of Defense after McNamara

Tet Offensive Media portrayal led to an erosion of support from the American public for the war in Vietnam.

Hubert Humphrey Johnson’s VP LBJ attempted to help his presidential campaign by halting bombing of North Vietnam.

War Opposition Some Americans- Burned their draft cards Refused to register Claimed to be conscientious objectors

The My Lai Massacre The military attempted to cover up the atrocity Shocked many Americans into believing the U.S. needed to withdraw from Vietnam.

The SDS A U.S. group that radically opposed the Vietnam War Responsible for burning the ROTC building at Kent State

Hubert Humphrey 1968 Democratic Candidate for President For continuing the war in Vietnam

Doves were against the war Hawks were supportive of the war

Vietnamization Policy of having the South Vietnamese troops taking over more of the fighting Bought time for the Nixon administration to seek a negotiated peace.

Richard Nixon Wanted to end the war with “Peace with Honor”. Ordered the secret bombings of Laos and Cambodia.

Da Nang In March of 1965 U.S. ground forces landed.

The Pentagon Papers Were critical of President Lyndon Johnson’s handling of the Vietnam War.

Kent State Demonstrations Resulted from the discovery of Nixon’s secret bombings and invasion of Cambodia.

War protesters were killed at Kent State and Jackson State.

The Paris Peace Talks The successful negotiations between Henry Kissinger (U.S.) and Le Duc Tho (North Vietnam)

Christmas Bombings Bombings in late 1972 intended to pressure the North Vietnamese to negotiate.

Silent Majority Term Richard Nixon, called Americans who supported the War in Vietnam but tended to be less vocal than anti-war activists

Agent Orange The U.S. sprayed on the thick triple canopy jungle of Vietnam so bombers and troops could see the enemy

Ho Chi Minh Trail A network of dirty roads & muddy trails used to supply the enemies of the U.S. in South Vietnam

Vietcong South Vietnamese communists

Charlie The nickname given to South Vietnamese communists.

Deferment A postponement of military service

Henry Kissinger Nixon’s foreign policy advisor who negotiated a peace settlement for the U.S.

Viet Minh North Vietnamese communists that fought the French

Lyndon B. Johnson Used the Gulf of Tonkin Incident as a reason to deepen US involvement in the Vietnam War.

Nixon Doctrine US would be less willing to send ground troops into foreign conflicts

US Advantages Mobility Air Superiority Artillery and tanks Wanted large scale battles

Communist advantages Knowledge of terrain Support of peasants Preferred guerilla tactics