War in Vietnam Flashcards
Who was Lyndon B. Johnson?
President after JFK was assasinated, contain communism
Ngo Dinh Diem
South Vietnamese president, catholic, wasn’t the greatest because he stifled the rights of the people
Ho Chi Minh
North Vietnamese leader, communist, wanted Vietnamese unification, killed those who resisted.
North Vietnamese Army
Communist forces, fought against French rule, and now want to reunite Vietnam
Viet Cong
South Vietnam communist revolutionaries, went against Diem.
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Fight for the interest of South Vietnam, not communist.
Gulf of Tonkin
August 2, 1964. North Vietnam bombs US destroyer in the Gulf, US reports a second incident that never happened on August 4 (The first did). Johnson asks Congress for military action without a war.
Operation Rolling Thunder
The eight week bombing campaign to end support for Viet Cong, bombing not effective. March 1965
How did the US harm Vietnamese?
As the troops grew, South Vietnamese lost farms and saw large inflation. The US became the enemy.
What is the Tet Offensive?
A North Viet offensive on Vietnamese New Year. Despite a cease fire, NV forces destroyed SV cities. NV lost military but overall led to a destroyed SV. Psychological harm to US.
What was the My Lai Massacre
US Charlie Company search and destroy mission, they killed 300 villagers, covered it up for a year and a half, pushed the antiwar sentiment and questioning the strategy with the US
What was Agent Orange?
A chemical used in bombs that would kill jungle foliage, but caused genetic defects.
How did the US help refugees?
When Saigon fell in 1975, the US tried to rescue refugees but failed to keep the South. Vietnam became Communist and was called the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
