unit 1 and 2

Question 1

Ho Chi Minh

Answer 1

Ho Chi Minh was a Vietnamese revolutionary and politician who is widely regarded as the founder and first leader of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). He was a key figure in the Vietnamese independence movement, particularly known for leading the fight against French colonial rule and subsequently against the United States during the Vietnam War.

Question 2

Le Duan

Answer 2

Lê Duẩn was a Vietnamese communist politician. He rose in the party hierarchy in the late 1950s and became General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party

Question 3

Domino Theory

Answer 3

The Domino Theory was a Cold War-era concept that suggested if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would also fall like a row of dominoes.

Question 4

dien Bien phu

Answer 4

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was a pivotal moment in the First Indochina War, fought between the French Union and the Viet Minh, which led to the French withdrawal from Vietnam

Question 5

Geneva Accords

Answer 5

The Geneva Accords, signed in July 1954, aimed to end the First Indochina War and establish peace in Indochina. They resulted in a temporary division of Vietnam along the 17th parallel, with a plan for reunification through elections in 1956. However, these elections were never held,

Question 6

Vietcong

Answer 6

The term “Viet Cong,” short for Vietnamese Communist, refers to the communist-led guerrilla force and military movement in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War

Question 7

NVA

Answer 7

The NVA, or North Vietnamese Army, was the main branch of the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) during the Vietnam War

Question 8

ARVN

Answer 8

The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was the ground forces of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) during the Vietnam War

Question 9

Strategic hamlets

Answer 9

The Strategic Hamlet Program was a South Vietnamese initiative, assisted by the US, to combat the Viet Cong by concentrating rural populations into fortified villages

The goal was to isolate villagers from communist influence and provide them with protection and some amenities. However, the program faced significant challenges and ultimately failed due to a lack of support, forced relocation, and widespread resentment among the villager

Question 10

south vietnamese stop communism

Answer 10

While the communist forces ultimately prevailed, many South Vietnamese fought against communist rule, either in the South Vietnamese military or as part of anti-communist resistance groups. These efforts included military actions, political opposition, and efforts to build and maintain a non-communist government and society.

Question 11

Buddhist uprising

Answer 11

several periods of unrest and protests, primarily in South Vietnam, where Buddhist monks and civilians protested against government policies and the Vietnam War

many set themselves on fire

Question 12

Diem’s overthrow

Answer 12

Ngo Dinh Diem, the President of South Vietnam, was overthrown and assassinated by a military coup

overthrown because of favriotism toward catholics, and buddhist crisis

Question 13

Gulf of Tonkin

Answer 13

USS navy ship maddox was attacked by north Vietnamese ships

Question 14

Search and destroy missions

Answer 14

used by US military to find and destroy enemy forces
goal was to force them to surrender or fight

Question 15

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Answer 15

network to send supplies and troops from NV to SV. went through laos and cambodia so US could not intervene

Question 16

Ia Drang Valley

Answer 16

first major fight between US and NV. US won

Question 17

napalm

Answer 17

fire bombing,

Question 18

agent orange

Answer 18

Agent Orange is a herbicide and defoliant used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. It was sprayed on forests and crops to remove foliage and disrupt enemy operations

as a result many had birth defects for generations and cause disease

Question 19

guerilla warfare

Answer 19

small groups ambush and raid to fight larger groups. viet Cong usually ambushed us. lots of booby traps and blended w civilians.

Question 20

Teach-ins

Answer 20

a form of protest on college campuses. first was help at Umich

lectures, debates, movies and more

susually anti war demonstrations, faculty and students would discuss war

Question 21

Anger at the draft

Answer 21

many would burn draft cards, draft was quite unfair bc college students were not drafted so many poor people to the war

Question 22

Hawks and doves

Answer 22

hawks = for war and wanted to escalate conflict
dove= anti war

Question 23

Tet Offensive

Answer 23

surprise attacks from Vietcong to US and SV. contributed to the US withdraw. during TET holiday. big impact of ar opinion in the US.

Question 24

DNC 1968

Answer 24

democratic national convention in chicago. there were a series of protests against vietnam, drew 10k protests, LOTS of police brutality and violence,

Question 25

LBJ drops out

Answer 25

decided to drop out bc he was repeatedly lying about the military status and after the TET offensive and overall war.

Question 26

Nixon wins

Answer 26

during his campaign he promised to end the war, he didn't completely end it

Question 27

Credibility gap

Answer 27

growing public distrust of the Johnson and Nixon administrations' claims about the war's progress and the government's intentions. This gap emerged due to inconsistencies between the government's optimistic statements and the realities of the war, especially after the Tet Offensive and the release of the Pentagon Paper

Question 28

DMZ

Answer 28

demilitarized zone was 17th parralel

Question 29

aftermath of gulf of tonkin

Answer 29

the US Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing President Lyndon B. Johnson to take all necessary measures to defend US forces in Southeast Asia, effectively giving the president a blank check to expand the war. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident:

Question 30

Bobby Kennedy assasinated

Answer 30

killed by Sirhan Sirhan while running for democrating candidate. many AA felt sad bc was a big help in civil rights especially after MLk was shot.