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President Truman
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Truman Doctrine
Stated that the US would provide, political, economic, and military assistance to any country under the threat from 'external of internal authoritarian forces'. Communists. :)
This was a cause of US involvement in Vietnam. -
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President Eisenhower
Domino theory -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
France vs Vietminh
15,000 vs 50,000
France wanted to lure the Vietminh into having an open battle - it backfired and the French surrendered on the 7th May.
This was the end of French involvement in Vietnam. -
Period: to
President Diem
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Viet cong (NLF) form
National Liberation Front, commonly known as the Viet Cong. -
Period: to
President Kennedy
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Strategic Hamlet Programme
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Period: to
*Operation Ranch Hand*
US used chemical weapons against Vietnam.
-Agent Orange - caused deformities which still effect people today.
-Agent Blue - killed crops
-Napalm - covered an area with highly flammable petroleum jelly; it sticks to the skin. -
Period: to
President Johnson
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Gulf of Tonkin incident
USS Maddox was shot at by the North Vietnamese. Led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Increased US involvement.
Supposedly, another attack occured on another US ship though this never happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Allowed Johnson to use full force to defend South Vietnam. -
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*Operation Rolling Thunder*
Bombing campaign over North Vietnam, focused on industrial areas and the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Not very effective - just got repaired, killed loads of civilians which made the US look bad -
The Tet Offensive
Tet - lunar new year.
A series of attacks on cities and US bases.
ARVN had the day off - made the VC look unpredictable and more intimidating.
3,000 people were killed in the city of Hue because they were suspected of supporting the US. -
My Lai Massacre
Search and destroy mission.
All 300-400 members of the village of My Lai were murdered under Lt. Calley. My Lai was what the American soldiers called Pinkville - pink dots on maps showed densely populated areas. -
Period: to
President Nixon
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Expansion into Cambodia
Bombing of the Ho Chi Minh trail in Cambodia, 100,000 died. Secret, it wasn't found out till May 1970 Led to Congress cancelling the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. -
Nixon Doctrine
Aka Vietnamisation.
Supplying training and money to the US' allies in Vietnam till they can take care of themselves. -
Kent State Shootings
Kent State University.
4 students killed in an anti-war protest - 2 were just walking between classes. -
Hard Hats Rally
Construction workers (hard hats) beat up anti-war protesters and held a pro-war rally in NYC. It involved 60,000 people. -
Expansion into Laos
Invasion to stop communist supply line. ARVN attacked city of Tchepone but failed - an embarrassment. Half their force was killed. -
Easter Offensive
Communist troops led an attack on the ARVN. Lasted till October. 100,000 North Vietnamese soldiers died. Cause: Expansion into Cambodia and Laos Consequence: VC gained 10% more land, proved that Vietnamisation wouldn't work as the ARVN relied heavily on US support -
Bombing of North Vietnam - Operation Linebacker
Operation Linebacker, heavy bombing of the North.
Cause: Easter Offensive - US response
Led to: Progress in peace talks -
Bombing of North Vietnam - Operation Linebacker II
US did this to force the VC into peace talks again -
Paris Peace Accords
"Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam."- US remove all its troops
- North and South split at 17th parallel, work together to reunite peacefully These were not honoured as in 1975, the North attacked the South and they surrendered, becoming a united communist government along with Cambodia and Laos.