The Vietnam War Flashcards

1
Q

What was the U.S still engaged in during the Vietnam War?

A

The Cold War

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2
Q

What would happen if Vietnam fell to communism?

A

The Domino Theory

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3
Q

Why did America lose the war?

A

The objective of the war was no achieved

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4
Q

Fixed tours of duty

A

Only one year of duty

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5
Q

What reduced a soldiers chance from dying?

A

Medical techniques, helicopter

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6
Q

What was success measured with?

A

Body counts

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7
Q

What were the North communists masters at?

A

Bush craft, hit-and-run tactics

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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

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9
Q

Guerilla fighter doesn’t have to ___ to ____; he wins by not ______.

A

win
win
losing

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10
Q

Indochina three colonies

A

Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam

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11
Q

Who took control of Indochina during WW2?

A

Japan

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12
Q

Ho Chi Minh

A

Leader of Viet Minh

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13
Q

Capitol city of North Vietnam

A

Hanoi

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14
Q

international conference held where?

A

Geneva Switzerland in 1954

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15
Q

Divided where

A

17th parallel

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16
Q

SEATO

A

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization

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17
Q

Ngo Dinh Diem

A

Controlled the south

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18
Q

Capitol city of South Vietnam

A

Saigon

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19
Q

6 presidents involved in the Vietnam War

A

Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford

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20
Q

Viet Cong

A

Stayed in the South undercover and began to commit acts of terrorism

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21
Q

Enemy of South Vietnam and U.S nickname

A

Victor Charlie

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22
Q

ARVN

A

Army of the Republic of Vietnam

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23
Q

Nov. 2, 1963

A

Diem was assassinated

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24
Q

Nov. 22, 1963

A

Kennedy was assassinated

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25
Q

Aug. 2, 1964

A

Tonkin Gulf Incident

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26
Q

Explain Tonkin Gulf Incident

A

The USS Maddox was on an intelligence gathering mission and then was attacked by 3 N. Vietnamese Torpedo boats

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27
Q

Aug. 7, 1964

A

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

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28
Q

The Blank Check

A

President is given authority to “Take all necessary measures” including the use of armed forces to help S. Vietnam

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29
Q

Democratic Senator Wayne Morse

A

From Oregon
One of the two dissenting senators

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30
Q

March 8, 1965

A

When the Vietnam War started (non-officially)

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31
Q

Average age of a Vietnam soldier

A

19

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32
Q

Selective Service System

A

drafting system, unfair, loopholes (health reasons and college)

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33
Q

Lottery System

A

Drafted based on birth dates, chosen at random, made it more fair

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34
Q

Mechanical “horses”

A

Helicopters

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35
Q

Airmobile Operations

A

New style of fighting, based on Helicopters

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36
Q

Huey

A

workhorse of the bunch out of 20 types of helicopters

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37
Q

What did helicopters help do?

A

Carry troops to isolated areas
provide close treetop-level fire support
quick evacuation
search-and-rescue mission of downed pilots

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38
Q

where did the first major direct U.S military action take place?

A

Air

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39
Q

General Curtis LeMay

A

Air Force Chief of Staff

40
Q

Operation Rolling Thunder

A

Bombing campaign over North Vietnam

41
Q

What was Johnson’s plan

A

Weaken the enemy’s ability and will to fight
Interrupt the flow of supplies and troops

42
Q

Main target of Operation Rolling Thunder

A

Ho Chi Minh Trail

43
Q

What did the Operation Rolling Thunder fail to do?

A

End the war quickly

44
Q

Agent Orange

A

Most famous defoliant used in the war to spray the jungle

45
Q

Napalam

A

Jellied form of gasoline, made fire bombs

46
Q

Cluster bombs

A

Sprayed sharp metal fragments when they exploded

47
Q

Carpet Bombing

A

strategy where strings of bombs were dropped from high altitudes

48
Q

POW

A

Prisoners of war

49
Q

Hanoi Hilton

A

Hoa Lo located in North Vietnams capital city

50
Q

Was Operation Rolling Thunder successful?

A

Boosted North moral and resolve
rebuilt damaged roads and buildings
tunnels protected soldiers and supplies

51
Q

General William Westmoreland

A

U.S military leader in the war, WW2 and Korean veteran

52
Q

Search and Destroy

A

Missions to drive enemy forces out of their hideouts and then call air strikes to bomb them

53
Q

Guerilla warfare

A

strike then melt back into the jungle

54
Q

Punji Stakes

A

sharpened bamboo sticks that are concealed in a hole or mud, covered in dirt or feces to infect soldiers

55
Q

Viet Cong tunnels

A

extended for miles

56
Q

“Living room war”

A

Television reports of the war led to protests at home

57
Q

Jan. 31, 1968

A

Tet Offensive Begins

58
Q

Tet

A

Vietnam’s New Year

59
Q

What always happened on Tet during the war?

A

A ceasefire

60
Q

Tet Communist Assault

A

simultaneously attacked 100 Southern cities and 12 U.S military bases

61
Q

The Tet Offensive was seen as what by the American Public?

A

An American defeat

62
Q

Walter Cronkite

A

Anchor of CBS news

63
Q

What did Johnson announce in March 1968?

A

He would not seek reelection as president

64
Q

Election of 1968

A

Hubert Humphrey (D)
Robert Kennedy (D)
Richard Nixon (R)
George Wallace (Independent)

65
Q

June 6, 1968

A

Robert Kennedy assassinated

66
Q

Who was Robert Kennedy assassinated by?

A

Sirhan, Sirhan

67
Q

Democratic Convention in Chicago

A

10,000 protestors gathered to pressure candidates into a quick war

68
Q

Richard Nixon’s promise (2 things)

A

Law and Order in the U.S
End the war with Peace and Honor

69
Q

Who did Nixon have support from?

A

Silent Majority

70
Q

What reason was Richard Nixon elected?

A

Large part to his promise to end the Vietnam war

71
Q

William Rogers

A

Secretary of State

72
Q

Melvin Laird

A

Defense Secretary

73
Q

Anti- War Movement

A

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
Q

Nationwide day of protest

A

Oct. 15, 1969

75
Q

Nov. 1969

A

Largest anti-war protest in Washington, D.C

76
Q

What does it mean when the veterans threw down their medals?

A

They didn’t care, it means nothing to them

77
Q

What was the most famous anti-war protest?

A

Kent-State University

78
Q

May 4th, 1970

A

Anti-war protest at Kent-State University

79
Q

James Rhodes

A

Ohio Governor

80
Q

What did the guardsmen do at Kent State?

A

They fired their guns

81
Q

What song was based of the Kent State?

A

“Ohio”

82
Q

Jan. 27, 1973

A

The Ceasefire and Paris Peace Accords signed

83
Q

Nixon’s National Advisor

A

Henry Kissinger

84
Q

August 1974

A

Nixon resigned

85
Q

What did the Paris peace accords call for?

A

Remaining troops removed
complete ceasefire
release of U.S POW
Negotiate political settlement
reunification of Vietnam

86
Q

November 1974

A

Stopped all aid to Vietnam

87
Q

Jan 8, 1975

A

Offensive against South Vietnam

88
Q

Operation Babylift

A

evacuation of orphans

89
Q

Operation Frequent Wind

A

Final evacuation of U.S personnel

90
Q

April 30, 1975

A

South Vietnam surrendered, war is over

91
Q

Boat People

A

Vietnamese fled onto crowded boats and went across the South China Sea

92
Q

The Costs

A

Lost the war, Under-funding of the Great Society, lost trust of their government, disregard for veterans

93
Q

26th Amendment

A

18 year old can vote

94
Q

What did Nixon abolish?

A

the draft

95
Q

War Powers Act

A
  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
Q

The Lessons

A

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