16.3_5 Flashcards
What was President Johnson’s stance on sending American troops to Vietnam during the 1964 election?
He vowed not to send American troops.
What was the percentage of Americans who supported the Vietnam War in 1965?
61%.
Who argued against the escalation of the Vietnam War, and what was his position?
George Ball, Under Secretary of State.
How many American soldiers were in Vietnam by the end of 1965 and by 1967?
180,000 by 1965; 500,000 by 1967.
Describe the tactics used by the Vietcong against American forces.
Hit-and-run, booby traps, underground tunnels.
What was the impact of Napalm and Agent Orange during the Vietnam War?
Destroyed foliage and civilian lives.
What issues led to low morale among American soldiers in Vietnam?
Difficulty identifying the enemy, drug use, fragging.
Why was the Vietnam War referred to as a “working-class war”?
Most soldiers were from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
What were some ways young men tried to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam War?
Deferments, National Guard, Coast Guard.
What was the New Left, and what did they demand?
A movement demanding societal changes and ending corporate rule.
What was the Free Speech Movement, and where did it originate?
Protest against censorship at UC Berkeley.
What were some common complaints about the Vietnam War among protesters?
Civil conflict, morally unjust, weakened the U.S.
What was the significance of the protest at the Lincoln Memorial in October 1967?
75,000 people protested the war.
What was Vietnamization, and who initiated it?
Gradual U.S. troop withdrawal, initiated by Nixon.
What was the My Lai Massacre, and how did it affect public opinion?
Mass killing of villagers, worsened public opinion.
