section 4 Flashcards
(49 cards)
where did the US become involved in step by step?
Vietnam
Vietnam is a narrow country that stretches along the South China Sea. since the late 1800s, what colony has it been?
a French colony
who led a fight for independence?
Ho Chi Minh, a Vietnamese nationalist and a communist.
an international peace conference divided Vietnam into two countries. what two?
- communist north Vietnam
- non communist south Vietnam
who led south Vietnam?
Ngo Dinh Diem
what did many peasants begin to join?
the Vietcong- guerrillas who opposed Diem
why did Diem loose popular support?
people said he favored wealthy landlords and was corrupt
what are guerrillas?
fighters who make hit and run attacks on the enemy
in time, who were the Vietcong supported by?
communist north Vietnam
American leaders thought that if South Vietnam fell to Communism, neighboring countries would follow, like falling dominoes. What did this idea became known as?
the domino theory
During the 1950s and 1960s, Pres. Eisenhower and Kennedy sent financial aid and military advisers to South Vietnam. Why?
to help train the south Vietnamese army
What happened a few weeks after Diem was assassinated?
Pres. John F. Kennedy was assassinated
Who became president when John F. Kennedy was assassinated?
Lyndon Johnson
Even though Johnson increased aid to South Vietnam, what did the Vietcong continue to make?
gains
In August 1964, what did Pres. Johnson announce that north Vietnamese had done?
North Vietnamese torpedo boats had attacked an American ship patrolling the golf of Tonkin off the coast of North Vietnam
What did Congress pass as a result of the North Vietnamese torpedo boats?
The golf of Tonkin resolution
What did the golf of Tonkin resolution allow the president to do?
“To take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack or to prevent further aggression”
What did Johnson order?
The bombing of North Vietnam and Vietcong-held areas
The role of Americans had changed from advisers to…?
active fighters
the war in Vietnam escalated, or _____.
expanded
Why did the Vietnam War differ from other wars that Americans had been?
Rather than trying to gain ground, Americans attempted to destroy enemy positions
When Americans found any positions, the guerrillas disappeared into the jungle. When Americans left, what did the enemy do?
return
What couldn’t American soldiers tell?
Which villagers were Vietcong
What faded as American casualties mounted?
Public support for the war
