Chapter 22 Vietnam War – Flashcards
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Ho Chi Minh
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1950s and 60s; communist leader of North Vietnam; used geurilla warfare to fight anti-comunist, American-funded attacks under the Truman Doctrine; brilliant strategy drew out war and made it unwinnable
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Domino Theory
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A theory that if one nation comes under Communist control, then neighboring nations will also come under Communist control. (Domino Effect)
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SEATO
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Southeast Treaty Organization: Includes USA, UK, France, Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand. Alliance formed to oppose Communism in Southeast Asia
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Vietcong
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A group of Communist guerrillas who, with the help of North Vietnam, fought against the South Vietnamese government in the Vietnam War.
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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
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1964 Congressional resolution authorizing President Johnson to take military action in Vietnam
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William Westmoreland
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American General who commanded American military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak from 1964 to 1968
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Napalm
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Highly flammable chemical dropped from US planes in firebombing attacks during the Vietnam War.
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Hawk
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Americans who pushed for increased military spending and involvement in the Vietnam War.
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Dove
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Person who opposed US involvement in the Vietnam War
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Draftee
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men drafted into military service
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SDS
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a student organization that opposed the war in Vietnam and held marches.
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Credibility Gap
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American public's growing distrust of statements made by the government during the Vietnam War
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Tet Offensive
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1968; National Liberation Front and North Vietnamese forces launched a huge attack on the Vietnamese New Year (Tet), which was defeated after a month of fighting and many thousands of casualties; major defeat for communism, but Americans reacted sharply, with declining approval of LBJ and more anti-war sentiment
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Eugene McCarthly
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1968, Minnesota Senator. The anti-war candidate for the Democratic party nomination.
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Robert Kennedy
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He was a Democrat who ran for president in 1968 promoting civil rights and other equality based ideals. He was ultimately assassinated in 1968, leaving Nixon to take the presidency but instilling hope in many Americans.
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Vietnamization
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A war policy in Vietnam initiated by Nixon in June of 1969. This strategy called for dramatic reduction of U.S. troops followed by an increased injection of S. Vietnamese troops in their place. A considerable success, this plan allowed for a drop in troops to 24,000 by 1972. . This policy became the cornerstone of the so-called "Nixon Doctrine". As applied to Vietnam, it was labeled "Vietnamization".
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My Lai
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1968, in which American troops had brutally massacred innocent women and children in the village of My Lai, also led to more opposition to the war.
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Pentagon Papers
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A 7,000-page top-secret United States government report on the history of the internal planning and policy-making process within the government itself concerning the Vietnam War.
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Paris Peace Accords
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1973 peace agreement between the United States, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Vietcong that effectively ended the Vietnam War.
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War Powers Act
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1973. A resolution of Congress that stated the President can only send troops into action abroad by authorization of Congress or if America is already under attack or serious threat.
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Henry Kissinger
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Awarded 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for helping to end Vietnam War and withdrawing American forces. Heavily involved in South American politics as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State. Condoned covert tactics to prevent communism and facism from spreading throughout South America.
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Realpolitik
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"realistic politics," practical politics, ends justified the means, power more important than principles (Idea by Henry Kissinger)
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Zhou Enlai
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A prominent and influential member of the Chinese Communist Party during the time of Mao. He played a large role in China's reestablishing ties with the West.
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Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
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series of meetings in the 70s, in which leaders of the US and the Soviet Union agreed to limit their nations' stocks of nuclear weapons.
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Detente
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A policy of reducing Cold War tensions that was adopted by the United States during the presidency of Richard Nixon. Policy from Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon.
