-
US Involvement and the Domino Theory
Description: President Truman proposed the theory in the '50s but didn't gain popularity til President Eisenhower's presidency. He applied it to South Vietnam.
Significance: This fueled Americans' involvement with preventing the spread of communism, which led to sending troops and starting the Vietnam War in the '60s.
Citation: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "domino theory". Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Jan. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/topic/domino-theory. Accessed 23 April 2025. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Description: The U.S.S. Maddox encountered and was attacked by three Soviet-built North Vietnamese torpedoes on the Gulf of Tonkin.
Significance: Marked the start of the U.S's involvement in the Vietnam War.
Citation: Kreitner, Richard. "August 4, 1964: The Gulf of Tonkin Incident Sparks American Escalation in Vietnam". The Nation, 4 August 2015. https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/august-4-1964-the-gulf-of-tonkin-incident-sparks-american-escalation-in-vietnam/. Accessed 29 April 2025. -
Tent Offensive
Description: A series of surprise attacks from North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces against American and South Vietnamese soldiers.
Significance: This was effective, as many casualties occurred, leading to a change in military strategy.
Citation: Bowman, Tom. "Military Victory But Political Defeat: The Tet Offensive 50 Years Later". NPR, 29 January 2018. https://www.npr.org/2018/01/29/580811124/military-victory-but-political-defeat-the-tet-offensive-50-years-later. Accessed 29 April 2025.