The Vietnam War Flashcards
(96 cards)
1
Q
What was the U.S still engaged in during the Vietnam War?
A
The Cold War
2
Q
What would happen if Vietnam fell to communism?
A
The Domino Theory
3
Q
Why did America lose the war?
A
The objective of the war was no achieved
4
Q
Fixed tours of duty
A
Only one year of duty
5
Q
What reduced a soldiers chance from dying?
A
Medical techniques, helicopter
6
Q
What was success measured with?
A
Body counts
7
Q
What were the North communists masters at?
A
Bush craft, hit-and-run tactics
8
Q
What was the war tactic for the North communists?
A
Holding out long enough and then the U.S would eventually tire of the struggle
9
Q
Guerilla fighter doesn’t have to ___ to ____; he wins by not ______.
A
win
win
losing
10
Q
Indochina three colonies
A
Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam
11
Q
Who took control of Indochina during WW2?
A
Japan
12
Q
Ho Chi Minh
A
Leader of Viet Minh
13
Q
Capitol city of North Vietnam
A
Hanoi
14
Q
international conference held where?
A
Geneva Switzerland in 1954
15
Q
Divided where
A
17th parallel
16
Q
SEATO
A
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
17
Q
Ngo Dinh Diem
A
Controlled the south
18
Q
Capitol city of South Vietnam
A
Saigon
19
Q
6 presidents involved in the Vietnam War
A
Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford
20
Q
Viet Cong
A
Stayed in the South undercover and began to commit acts of terrorism
21
Q
Enemy of South Vietnam and U.S nickname
A
Victor Charlie
22
Q
ARVN
A
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
23
Q
Nov. 2, 1963
A
Diem was assassinated
24
Q
Nov. 22, 1963
A
Kennedy was assassinated
25
Aug. 2, 1964
Tonkin Gulf Incident
26
Explain Tonkin Gulf Incident
The USS Maddox was on an intelligence gathering mission and then was attacked by 3 N. Vietnamese Torpedo boats
27
Aug. 7, 1964
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
28
The Blank Check
President is given authority to "Take all necessary measures" including the use of armed forces to help S. Vietnam
29
Democratic Senator Wayne Morse
From Oregon
One of the two dissenting senators
30
March 8, 1965
When the Vietnam War started (non-officially)
31
Average age of a Vietnam soldier
19
32
Selective Service System
drafting system, unfair, loopholes (health reasons and college)
33
Lottery System
Drafted based on birth dates, chosen at random, made it more fair
34
Mechanical "horses"
Helicopters
35
Airmobile Operations
New style of fighting, based on Helicopters
36
Huey
workhorse of the bunch out of 20 types of helicopters
37
What did helicopters help do?
Carry troops to isolated areas
provide close treetop-level fire support
quick evacuation
search-and-rescue mission of downed pilots
38
where did the first major direct U.S military action take place?
Air
39
General Curtis LeMay
Air Force Chief of Staff
40
Operation Rolling Thunder
Bombing campaign over North Vietnam
41
What was Johnson's plan
Weaken the enemy's ability and will to fight
Interrupt the flow of supplies and troops
42
Main target of Operation Rolling Thunder
Ho Chi Minh Trail
43
What did the Operation Rolling Thunder fail to do?
End the war quickly
44
Agent Orange
Most famous defoliant used in the war to spray the jungle
45
Napalam
Jellied form of gasoline, made fire bombs
46
Cluster bombs
Sprayed sharp metal fragments when they exploded
47
Carpet Bombing
strategy where strings of bombs were dropped from high altitudes
48
POW
Prisoners of war
49
Hanoi Hilton
Hoa Lo located in North Vietnams capital city
50
Was Operation Rolling Thunder successful?
Boosted North moral and resolve
rebuilt damaged roads and buildings
tunnels protected soldiers and supplies
51
General William Westmoreland
U.S military leader in the war, WW2 and Korean veteran
52
Search and Destroy
Missions to drive enemy forces out of their hideouts and then call air strikes to bomb them
53
Guerilla warfare
strike then melt back into the jungle
54
Punji Stakes
sharpened bamboo sticks that are concealed in a hole or mud, covered in dirt or feces to infect soldiers
55
Viet Cong tunnels
extended for miles
56
"Living room war"
Television reports of the war led to protests at home
57
Jan. 31, 1968
Tet Offensive Begins
58
Tet
Vietnam's New Year
59
What always happened on Tet during the war?
A ceasefire
60
Tet Communist Assault
simultaneously attacked 100 Southern cities and 12 U.S military bases
61
The Tet Offensive was seen as what by the American Public?
An American defeat
62
Walter Cronkite
Anchor of CBS news
63
What did Johnson announce in March 1968?
He would not seek reelection as president
64
Election of 1968
Hubert Humphrey (D)
Robert Kennedy (D)
Richard Nixon (R)
George Wallace (Independent)
65
June 6, 1968
Robert Kennedy assassinated
66
Who was Robert Kennedy assassinated by?
Sirhan, Sirhan
67
Democratic Convention in Chicago
10,000 protestors gathered to pressure candidates into a quick war
68
Richard Nixon's promise (2 things)
Law and Order in the U.S
End the war with Peace and Honor
69
Who did Nixon have support from?
Silent Majority
70
What reason was Richard Nixon elected?
Large part to his promise to end the Vietnam war
71
William Rogers
Secretary of State
72
Melvin Laird
Defense Secretary
73
Anti- War Movement
Over the years, America did not gain much ground and more troops were sent to that war. Many people began to question involvement in the war
74
Nationwide day of protest
Oct. 15, 1969
75
Nov. 1969
Largest anti-war protest in Washington, D.C
76
What does it mean when the veterans threw down their medals?
They didn't care, it means nothing to them
77
What was the most famous anti-war protest?
Kent-State University
78
May 4th, 1970
Anti-war protest at Kent-State University
79
James Rhodes
Ohio Governor
80
What did the guardsmen do at Kent State?
They fired their guns
81
What song was based of the Kent State?
"Ohio"
82
Jan. 27, 1973
The Ceasefire and Paris Peace Accords signed
83
Nixon's National Advisor
Henry Kissinger
84
August 1974
Nixon resigned
85
What did the Paris peace accords call for?
Remaining troops removed
complete ceasefire
release of U.S POW
Negotiate political settlement
reunification of Vietnam
86
November 1974
Stopped all aid to Vietnam
87
Jan 8, 1975
Offensive against South Vietnam
88
Operation Babylift
evacuation of orphans
89
Operation Frequent Wind
Final evacuation of U.S personnel
90
April 30, 1975
South Vietnam surrendered, war is over
91
Boat People
Vietnamese fled onto crowded boats and went across the South China Sea
92
The Costs
Lost the war, Under-funding of the Great Society, lost trust of their government, disregard for veterans
93
26th Amendment
18 year old can vote
94
What did Nixon abolish?
the draft
95
War Powers Act
1. President must notify congress within 48 hours of deploying military forces
2. President must withdraw forces unless he gains congressional approval within 90 days
96
The Lessons
Wars must be short
few casualties
restrict media on battlefield
gain support from congress and the public
set clear, winnable goals
Set a deadline for troop withdraw
