The Vietnam War (College Board AP® US History): Flashcards
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Who was Ho Chi Minh?
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Cards in this collection (18)
Who was Ho Chi Minh?
Ho Chi Minh was a nationalist and communist leader who became popular in Vietnam after World War II and later led communist North Vietnam.
What was Indochina?
Indochina was the former French colony of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, which Japan took during World War II.
What was the result of France's defeat at Dien Bien Phu?
Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel until an election could be held; the election never happened because the South feared the communists would win.
Define Domino Theory.
Domino Theory was the belief that if one state became communist, nearby states would fall too, like a row of dominoes.
How did Eisenhower and Kennedy support South Vietnam?
Eisenhower sent $1 billion in economic and military aid (1955-1961), and Kennedy sent 16,000 military advisors by 1963.
Which 1964 incident led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
North Vietnamese gunboats allegedly fired on US warships in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Define Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964).
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution let the president take "all necessary measures" to protect US interests in Vietnam, so he could send troops into combat without a declaration of war.
How quickly did Johnson escalate US involvement?
US troops rose from 184,000 at the start of 1966 to nearly half a million by the end of 1967.
Define Tet Offensive (1968).
The Tet Offensive was a surprise Vietcong attack on nearly every major South Vietnamese city and US base during the Lunar New Year.
True or False?
The Tet Offensive (1968) was a strategic military victory for the Vietcong.
False.
The Vietcong did not win a strategic victory, but TV footage of the destruction turned American opinion against the war, and Johnson soon announced he would not run for reelection.
Why did the Cambodia Incursion (1970) upset Americans?
Nixon had campaigned on removing US troops, yet he invaded Cambodia to destroy communist bases.
Define War Powers Act (1973).
The War Powers Act required the president to report to Congress within 48 hours of military action and get congressional approval for action lasting more than 60 days.
Why did Congress pass the War Powers Act?
It responded to debates over presidential war powers without a declaration of war, the Cambodia Incursion, and secret military actions in Southeast Asia.
Define credibility gap.
The credibility gap was public distrust of the government because televised battlefield images did not match what politicians said.
How did Hawks and Doves differ on Vietnam?
Hawks supported the war as a duty to stop the spread of communism; Doves saw it as a civil war the US did not need to join.
Why did many Americans oppose the war?
They objected to the lives lost and the money it cost, which they argued could be spent on problems at home.
Which group made up the largest share of Vietnam War protesters?
College students were the largest group protesting the war, since many of them would be drafted into military service upon graduation.
The Vietnam War was the first American war with an associated culture.
The Vietnam War was the first American war with an associated protest culture.
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