17-1:

• China ruled the region for hundreds of years

• A rise in nationalism with political parties pushing for independence or reforms including the Ho Chi Minh indochinese communist party in 1930

• Containment- the goal was to keep communism contained, or to keep communism from spreading

• Domino theory- idea that if Vietnam fell to communism, the rest of Asia would follow

• French struggled against Vietnam’s guerilla tactics ( hit and run and ambushes from irregular troops who blend in)

• Anti-communist leader Ngo Dinh Diem loses support of his own people after persecuting Buddhism and crushed human rights

• Kennedy sent Special Forces to help South Vietnamese military and know of plan to remove corrupt Diem

• Diem is overthrown by military generals and executed soon after

• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: gave Johnson war powers to commit US troops without having congress declare war

• Vietcong begins attacking American advisor bases in South Vietnam

• 1965- Johnson orders bombing against North Vietnam and first US combat troops into Vietnam

• 90% of war was fought in South Vietnam

• U.S entered the war confident

• Vietcong lacked the firepower of American forces and instead used ambushes, booby traps, and other guerilla tactics that were greatly destructive

• the tunnels led to access to food, water, sleep, medical supplies, and munitions

• Claymor’s- small disc that would explode when stepped upon. They were easily hidden on the ground. If someone stepped on the mine, their chances for survival are slim to none

• Tripmines- Piano wire was strung across certain areas of the jungle. When tripped, several mines would go off at the same time

• Punji Pits- a pit with sharpened bamboo sticks. The sticks would be positioned straight up at the bottom of a pit, sometimes covered with poisons or fecal matter

• Punji Steps- sharpened bamboo sticks that were driven into the ground with a few inches sticking up.

• Punji Runs- stakes driven through a tree - a trip line would be buried on the ground, a soldier would trip, get caught, and swung into the tree.

• War of attrition- wear down the enemy through constant losses of soldiers and materials

• Search and destroy- Look for Vietcong, burn villages, and kill animals. If there were many young men in the villages, then it was a friendly village.

• Ho Chi Minh trail- the most popular trial. did not work well since most of the routes were in Laos and Cambodia

• Napalm- Gel that sets the forest on fire

• Agent orange- a defoliant that strips leaves off trees

• Women did not serve in combat, suffered from prejudice, and PTS once home

• African Americans were more likely to serve in combat and not become commissioned officers

• Linkage: improving relations with the Soviet Union and China to persuade them to reduce aid to North Vietnam

• Pentagon Papers: leaked to the NY times by an employee of the Department of Defense. Confirmed to Americans that the government was not being honest with them.

• To force North Vietnam to resume negotiations, Nixon began the most destructive air raids of the war Christmas Bombings

• Families were not convinced that the government was telling the truth about the POW/MIA policies

• War Powers Act- Established limits on executive power requiring the president to inform congress of any commitment of troops abroad within 48 hours and to withdraw them within 60 to 90 days.

• MLK is assassinated, and two months later, Robert Kennedy is too. A chaotic and publicized clash between the protestors and police at the Democratic National Convention. “ The whole world is watching”

• Nixon wins the presidency—promises to unify the nation and restore law and order.