Vietnam War
Longest US War
Terms
Containment- The US trying to prevent the spread of communism
DMZ- Demilitarized zones
Domino Theory- Theory that if we let one nation fall to communism more will
Draft- Forcing American citizens to participate in the war
General Westmoreland- Commander of us army at the peak of the Vietnam war
Ho Chi Minh- Leader of North Vietnam, Communist
My Lai Massacre- Massacre of vietnamese village by american troops
National Liberation Front- AKA Vietcong, helped North take control of South
Pentagon papers- Papers that led people to know that the Us enlarged the scale of the war and bombed not only Vietnam but surrounding countries.
Ngo Dinh Diem- Leader of south Vietnam, Non Communist
Tet offensive- Surprise military attacks led by North Vietnam and Vietcong.
Viet Cong- people in south Vietnam, that were pro communist
Vietnamization- Policy by Nixon to end the US involvement in the Vietnam war
War Begins
Time Line 10 events
1946: French and Vietminh Reach Accord France recognizes Vietnam as a "free state" within the French Union. French troops replace Chinese in the North.
1947: Valluy Fails to Defeat Vietminh French General Etienne Valluy attempts, and fails, to wipe out the Vietminh in one stroke.
1950: US Pledges $15M to Aid French: The United States sends $15 million dollars in military aid to the French for the war in Indochina. Included in the aid package is a military mission and military advisors.
1954: Battle of Dienbienphu Begins.
1964: Gulf of Tonkin incident, Us sends military forces to Vietnam.
January 1968: North vietnamese forces launch the TET offensive.
February 1968: Hundreds of vietnamese were killed in the My Lai massacre.
1972: Secret Peace talks with vietnamese leaders take place, and President Nixon pulls 70,000 troops out of Vietnam.
1973: Last of American troops leave Vietnam and a cease fire is signed in Paris, ending the Vietnam War.
Oral History - Veterans
Songs of the Vietnam War
2. Signs
3. Woodstock
4. People got to be Free
5. Get Together
6. Draft Dodger Rag
7. Give Peace a chance
8. Times are a changing'
9. Blowin' in the Wind
10. It better end soon