Vietnam War study guide

Chapter 30 (textbook pgs. 866-890)

Who is?

Ho Chi Minh – communist leader of North Vietnam

John Glenn – 1st American to orbit the Earth in 1962

Robert Kennedy – democratic senator that ran for his party’s nomination for president and opposed the war

Richard J. Daley – Mayor of Chicago that feared violence from the demonstrators

Robert McNamara – US secretary of defense

Fidel Castro – leader of Cuba that established a communist government

Eugene McCarthy – antiwar candidate also seeking the democratic nomination

Doves – opponents of war

Hawks – supporters of war

Richard Nixon – republican that won election of 1968 promising to end war

Green Beret – created by John F. Kennedy that fought guerilla warfare

What was?

Sputnik – 1st satellite sent into space by the Soviet Union

Geneva Accords – Divided Vietnam into communist North Vietnam and non Communist South Vietnam

Bay of Pigs Invasion – southern Cuba where Cuban exiles landed to try and overthrow Fidel Castro. Cuban forces stopped the invasion and the US was embarrassed.

Tet Offensive – On the Vietnamese New Year, also known as Tet, North Vietnamese targeted US military troops in South Vietnam’s major cities. This was the turning point in the war for the US.

Kent State Incident – In Ohio, Students burned a military building down protesting the war. Martial Law was declared by the governor. 4 students ended up dead and 9 wounded as a result of the Martial Law.

Jackson State Incident – In Mississippi, violence also broke out at this university as a result of anti war protest by college students. 2 students were killed .

Define:

Executive order– rule issued by chief executive that becomes law

Peace Corp – American volunteers to help other countries

Exile – forced to leave his or her country

Flexible response – used to fight guerrilla warfare

Coup – overthrow of government

Blockade – cut off supplies from coming into a country or going out from a country

Vietcong – communist supporters of Ho Chi Minh living in South Vietnam – also known as National Liberation Front

Escalate – to increase or expand

Vietnamization – Nixon’s plan for South Vietnam to take more responsibility in the war

Hotline – direct telephone line for emergency use

Possible short answer & essay questions:

1.  Who were the opponents and supporters of the Vietnam War? Opponents = doves supporters = hawks

2.  What was the turning point of the Vietnam War? Tet Offensive

3.  Who won the election of 1968? Richard Nixon

4.  What country launched the first satellite into space? Soviet Union

5.  What is vietnamization? Giving South Vietnam more responsibility in the war

6.  What did the Geneva Accords do in Vietnam? North Vietnam became ruled by communist

7.  What were 4 difficulties (problems the soldiers faced) in fighting the war in Vietnam? 1. dense jungles 2. not knowing who enemy 3. weather 4. vietcong kept coming

8.  What officially ended the Vietnam War? The Fall of Saigon

9.  Be able to locate different places on a map of Vietnam.