NewMexicoF2011

1950'sTeenagersNMNF



The Vietnam War Unit: Study Guide

People:

- Became president after Kennedy's assassination - Began sending large numbers of American troops to fight alongside the South Vietnamese.
 * LBJ**

- Became president in 1969 and announced the first U.S troop withdrawals from Vietnam.
 * Richard Nixon**


 * JFK***

- JFK's brother - Secretary in NY
 * Robert Kennedy**

- a civil rights leader - assassinated
 * MLK**

- Secretary of defense and send thousands of troops to Vietnam in 1965
 * Robert McNamara**

- North Vietnam communist leader
 * Ho Chi Minh**

- South Vietnam President - strong anti- communist
 * Ngo Dinh Diem**

- commander; in charge of american troops
 * William Westmoreland**

- an SDS veteran and founded the students for democratic society along with Al Haber
 * Tom Hayden**

-founded the students for a democratic society along with Tom Hayden
 * Al Haber**

- singer during Vietnam War
 * Bob Dillon**

- singer of "Ohio" about what happened at Kent State
 * Neil Young**

- ran against Johnson in the 1964 Presidential election
 * Barry Goldwater**

-
 * David Harris***

- took over McNamara's spot as defensive of security
 * Clark Clifford**

- Helped negotiate America's withdraw from the war
 * Henry Kissinger**

- served under Johnson as vice- president
 * Hubert Humphrey**

- served in disproportionate numbers as ground combat troops
 * African Americans**

-10,000 women served in Vietnam; most as nursesRed Cross & services org.
 * Women**

- many protested against war & some against violence
 * College students/ youths**

- those who strongly believed the US should withdrawal from the war
 * Doves**

- Those who strongly believed that US should unleash its military force from the war
 * Hawks**

- lacked weaponry - used hit and run and ambushed tactics (guerilla warfare) - knowledge of terrain - easily disguaised - booby traps and mines - Vietcong tunnels
 * Vietcong**

- an organization whose goal it was to win Vietnams independence from foreign rule
 * Vietminh**

- took up 70% of the population in Vietnam (Still had no say)
 * Buddists**

- organization founded in 1960 - by Tom Hayden and Al Haber - group charged that cooperations and large government institutions had taken over America
 * Students for Democratic Society**

- (FSM) - Gained at the University of Cali. at Berkley - grew out of a clash between students and administration over free speech - led by Mario Savio
 * Free Speech Movement**

TERMS

- Declaration passed by congress to give power to leaders
 * Tonkin Gulf Resolution:**

-when countries are on the brink of communism waiting to fall on one another
 * Domino Theory**

-What was created when Johnson's administration reported different things that were actually happening
 * Credibility Gap**

-The name giving to the Vietnam War because of the combat footage that was televised in the US
 * The Living Room War**

- All males over 18 had to register with their local draft boards - all registrants were screened& all between the ages 18-26 would be called into the military service - men found way around the draft -some sought out medical reasons - some changed residences in order to stand before a more lenient draft board - many of the men were lower class whites and minorities
 * The Draft-**


 * The Department of Defense***

- Election between Johnson and anti- communist, Barry Goldwater. - Goldwater wanted to push the US into war with the Soviet Union - Johnson's speeches were more moderate while Goldwater had warlike language - Johnson won
 * The 1964 Presidential election**

- was a democratic race against Eugene McCarthy and and Hubert Humphrey (Johnson's vice- president) - McCarthy had little chance of beating Humphrey - There were many protesters at the Democratic convention of 1968 where Chicago police attempted to disperse antiwar demonstrators.
 * Presidential election of 1968**


 * Public Support 1964/1968***

- Stated that a president must inform congress within 48 hours of sending forces into a hostile area without a declaration of war - troops may remain there no longer than 90 days unless congress apporoves the presidents actions or declares war
 * War Powers Act**

- On jan 30 was the Vietnam New Year, North Vietnam launched a surprise attack of South Vietnam - Public opinions change from The Tet Offensive - less Americans supported the war & Johnson - Walter Cronkite- a very respected journalist reporter that reported the war would only end in Stalemate - Clark Clifford- A New Defense Secretary- felt that the war was unwinnable
 * Tet Offensive**

- Total number of people killed - Vietcong death= Success of war
 * Body Count**

- Where students protested the war which ended with 4 deaths & 9 people injured
 * Kent State**

- North- western Vietnam - Where French surrenedered
 * Dien Bien Phu**

- Lieutenant William Calley had massacred innocent civilians in this small village - My Lai is located in South Vietnam - Where Calley's orders killed innocents thinking they were the Vietcong
 * My Lai**

- in Chicago: protestors gathered around outside which increased violence
 * 1968 Democratic National Convention**

- a gasoline based bomb that set fire to jungles
 * Napalm**

- a leaf killing toxic chemical
 * Agent Orange**


 * Vietnam Goals***

- divided nation between doves and hawks - draft was abolished - War Powers Act - Hesitant to intervene in other nations - lack of trust and faith in government and its leaders
 * Vietnam Effect on America**

- Nixon and Henry Kissingers plan to end americas involvement in Vietnam - It called for withdraw of US troops in order for South Vietnam to take on a more active combat role in the war
 * Vietnamization**

-very low -war seemed un-winable -Alcohol & drugs -Killing superior officers
 * Soldier Moral**

"Ohio" - Neil Young
 * Vietnam Music**

- The network of paths along the borders of Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia that was used by Ho Chi Minh to supply arm to the Vietcong
 * Ho Chi Minh Trail**