Glossary
17th parallel
The provisional military demarcation line established by the Geneva Accords in 1954, dividing Vietnam into North Vietnam (communist) and South Vietnam (non-communist). [22]
Example:
The division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel was intended to be temporary, but it solidified into a political boundary that fueled the subsequent war. [4]
Cold War
A geopolitical rivalry between the United States and its allies and the Soviet Union and its satellite states, lasting from the end of World War II until the early 1990s. It was characterized by ideological conflict, proxy wars, and an arms race, without direct large-scale military conflict between the two superpowers.
Example:
The fear of global communism spreading during the Cold War heavily influenced U.S. foreign policy decisions, including intervention in Vietnam. [21]
Dien Bien Phu
A decisive battle in 1954 where Vietnamese forces, led by the Viet Minh, besieged and defeated the French garrison at Dien Bien Phu. This defeat marked the end of French colonial rule in Indochina. [3]
Example:
The stunning victory at Dien Bien Phu forced France to negotiate an end to its colonial presence in Vietnam, setting the stage for the country's division. [20]
Domino Theory
A Cold War foreign policy principle, popularized by President Eisenhower, which posited that if one country in a region fell to communism, then surrounding countries would also fall, like a chain of dominoes. [21]
Example:
The Domino Theory was a primary justification for U.S. intervention in Vietnam, as policymakers feared a communist takeover of Southeast Asia. [12]
Fall of Saigon
The capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the North Vietnamese Army on April 30, 1975. This event marked the end of the Vietnam War and the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule. [13]
Example:
The dramatic Fall of Saigon symbolized the ultimate defeat of the U.S. and South Vietnamese efforts to prevent a communist takeover of Vietnam. [3]
French Imperialism
The colonial rule of France over Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century. Vietnamese resistance to this rule fueled nationalist and communist movements.
Example:
The legacy of French Imperialism in Southeast Asia created a fertile ground for nationalist movements seeking independence, like the Viet Minh. [36]
General William Westmoreland
The commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam from 1964 to 1968. He advocated for a strategy of attrition and consistently requested more troops, believing that superior American firepower would eventually defeat the enemy. [12]
Example:
General William Westmoreland's optimistic reports about the war's progress were severely challenged by the Tet Offensive, leading to a 'credibility gap' with the American public. [12]
Geneva Conference
A diplomatic meeting held in 1954 to resolve issues related to the First Indochina War. It resulted in the temporary division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel and called for nationwide elections to unify the country. [22]
Example:
The Geneva Conference's decision to temporarily divide Vietnam ultimately led to two hostile governments and the escalation of conflict. [3]
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
A disputed naval confrontation in August 1964 between U.S. destroyers and North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. This incident served as the primary justification for increased U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. [8]
Example:
The alleged attacks during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident provided President Johnson with the pretext he needed to escalate U.S. military action in Vietnam. [5]
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
A joint resolution passed by the U.S. Congress in August 1964, which authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to take 'all necessary measures' to repel armed attacks against U.S. forces and prevent further aggression in Vietnam. It served as a broad legal basis for the escalation of the war. [8]
Example:
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution effectively gave President Johnson a 'blank check' to commit U.S. military forces in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war. [5]
Ho Chi Minh
A Vietnamese communist revolutionary leader who was the prime minister and president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). He was a key figure in the Vietnamese independence movement against French colonial rule and later against the United States. [11]
Example:
Ho Chi Minh's leadership inspired Vietnamese nationalists and communists alike to fight for a unified, independent Vietnam. [4]
Lt. William Calley, Jr.
A U.S. Army officer who was convicted for his role in the My Lai massacre. He was the only soldier found guilty of the killings, though his sentence was later reduced. [26]
Example:
The trial and conviction of Lt. William Calley, Jr. brought the horrors of the My Lai massacre to national attention, intensifying the debate over war crimes. [26]
Lyndon B. Johnson
The 36th U.S. President, who escalated American involvement in the Vietnam War significantly following the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. His presidency was largely defined by both his ambitious Great Society domestic programs and the growing unpopularity of the Vietnam War. [35]
Example:
Lyndon B. Johnson faced immense pressure as public opinion turned against the Vietnam War, ultimately leading him not to seek re-election in 1968. [33]
My Lai massacre
A horrific incident in March 1968 where U.S. Army soldiers, led by Lt. William Calley Jr., massacred hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians in the village of My Lai. The revelation of this atrocity shocked the American public and fueled anti-war sentiment. [9]
Example:
The My Lai massacre became a symbol of the war's brutality and significantly eroded public support for U.S. involvement in Vietnam. [26]
Ngo Dinh Diem
The U.S.-backed leader of South Vietnam from 1954 until his assassination in 1963. His authoritarian and repressive rule, particularly against Buddhists, alienated many South Vietnamese and contributed to instability. [4]
Example:
Despite significant U.S. support, Ngo Dinh Diem's unpopular policies and corruption undermined his government's legitimacy in South Vietnam. [39]
Nixon Doctrine
A foreign policy doctrine announced by President Richard Nixon in 1969, stating that the U.S. would support its allies with economic and military aid but would expect them to take primary responsibility for their own defense, particularly in Asia, without extensive use of U.S. ground forces. [19]
Example:
The Nixon Doctrine signaled a shift in U.S. foreign policy, moving away from direct military intervention and towards supporting allies through aid and training. [15]
Operation Rolling Thunder
A sustained aerial bombardment campaign conducted by the U.S. against North Vietnam from 1965 to 1968. Its goals were to impede communist supply lines and damage North Vietnam's economy, though it proved largely ineffective. [8]
Example:
Operation Rolling Thunder aimed to break North Vietnamese will through air power, but it failed to halt the flow of supplies or deter their resolve. [25]
Paris Accords of 1973
A peace treaty signed in January 1973 by the United States, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong, officially ending direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War. It called for a cease-fire, the withdrawal of U.S. troops, and the release of prisoners of war. [16]
Example:
Despite the signing of the Paris Accords of 1973, fighting between North and South Vietnam continued, ultimately leading to the fall of Saigon. [25]
Peace with honor
President Richard Nixon's stated goal for ending the Vietnam War, implying a withdrawal of U.S. troops while preserving the dignity of the United States and ensuring the survival of South Vietnam. [9]
Example:
Nixon's promise of 'peace with honor' aimed to reassure Americans that the U.S. would not abandon its allies or simply retreat from Vietnam. [25]
Richard Nixon
The 37th U.S. President, who took office in 1969 with a promise to achieve 'peace with honor' in Vietnam. He implemented the policy of Vietnamization to gradually withdraw U.S. troops while expanding bombing campaigns into Cambodia and Laos. [10]
Example:
Richard Nixon sought to end the Vietnam War without appearing to concede defeat, a goal he pursued through a combination of troop withdrawals and intensified bombing. [28]
Saigon
The capital of South Vietnam, which fell to North Vietnamese forces in April 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War and the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule. [13]
Example:
The dramatic evacuation of Americans and South Vietnamese allies from the U.S. embassy in Saigon symbolized the final moments of the Vietnam War. [36]
Search and destroy
A military strategy used by the U.S. in the Vietnam War, involving inserting ground forces into hostile territory to find the enemy, destroy them, and then withdraw immediately. This often led to high civilian casualties and alienated the local population. [25]
Example:
The controversial search and destroy missions often resulted in the destruction of villages and increased resentment among Vietnamese peasants. [25]
Tet Offensive
A series of surprise attacks by the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army on numerous cities and military installations across South Vietnam during the Lunar New Year (Tet) in January 1968. Though a military defeat for the communists, it was a major psychological and political victory that turned American public opinion against the war. [6]
Example:
The sheer scale and coordination of the Tet Offensive shattered the American public's belief that the U.S. was winning the war, despite heavy enemy losses. [5]
Viet Minh
A nationalist and communist coalition formed in 1941 by Ho Chi Minh to fight for Vietnamese independence from French colonial rule and later against Japanese occupation. [11]
Example:
The Viet Minh successfully employed guerrilla tactics to defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu, signaling the end of French colonial power in Vietnam. [3]
Vietcong
A communist-led army and guerrilla force in South Vietnam that fought its government and was supported by North Vietnam. They employed unconventional warfare tactics against U.S. and South Vietnamese forces. [38]
Example:
The elusive nature of the Vietcong guerrillas, often blending with the civilian population, made traditional military strategies difficult for American forces. [14]
Vietnam War
A prolonged conflict (1955-1975) fought primarily in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, involving North Vietnam and its allies (Viet Cong, China, Soviet Union) against South Vietnam and its main ally, the United States. It was a key proxy war of the Cold War era.
Example:
The Vietnam War deeply divided American society, leading to widespread protests and a significant shift in public trust towards the government. [4]
Vietnamization
President Richard Nixon's strategy for ending U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. It involved gradually withdrawing American troops and transferring responsibility for the war effort to the South Vietnamese army, while still providing U.S. financial and military aid. [9]
Example:
Vietnamization allowed the U.S. to reduce its troop presence in Vietnam, but it also placed a greater burden on the South Vietnamese forces to defend themselves. [10]
Walter Cronkite
A highly respected American broadcast journalist, known as 'the most trusted man in America.' His critical reporting on the Vietnam War after the Tet Offensive significantly influenced public opinion against the war. [5]
Example:
Walter Cronkite's televised declaration that the Vietnam War was unwinnable profoundly impacted President Johnson and many Americans, signaling a turning point in public sentiment. [5]
War of attrition
A military strategy in which a belligerent attempts to win a war by wearing down the enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel and material. General Westmoreland pursued this strategy in Vietnam. [30]
Example:
The U.S. strategy of a war of attrition in Vietnam aimed to inflict such heavy casualties on the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army that they would be unable to continue fighting. [30]