Question

Topic 10 The Vietnam War


1. ____ Cambodia

2. ____ domino theory

3. ____ guerrilla

4. ____ Huey

5. ____ My Lai

6. ____ Indochina

7. ____ Pentagon Papers

8. ____ Tet Offensive

9. ____ Vietcong

10. ____ Vietnamization





a. the belief that if one nation in Asia fell to the Communists, neighboring countries would follow

b. armed fighters who carry out surprise attacks

c. a colony consisting of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, ruled by France in the second half of the nineteenth century

d. a country attacked by the U.S. because of hidden Vietcong bases

e. a helicopter widely used by U.S. troops to transport soldiers and weapons and used to overcome Vietnamese terrain

f. the process of making South Vietnam assume more of the war effort by slowly withdrawing American troops from Vietnam

g. secret documents that revealed the extent to which the U.S. government had been lying about the war

h. the site of the massacre of Vietnamese civilians by U.S. troops

i. a rebel army organized to oppose the South Vietnamese
government and unify the country

j. The Vietcong and North Vietnamese offensive that
undermined U.s. credibility





Summarizing Information

DIRECTIONS: Short Answer Answer each of the following questions in the space provided.

11. Describe the terms "containment policy" and "domino theory" with regard to the war in Vietnam.

12. How did Ho Chi Minh's actions following World War II lead to the roots of the Vietnam War?






Reteaching Activity (continued)

The Vietnam War

13. How did the overthrow and execution of Diem affect the United States' involvement in Vietnam?

14. In what ways did the Vietnam War draft reflect social inequalities?

15. What is a "war of attrition"? How was this concept applied during the Vietnam War?

16. Define credibility gap, and describe its role in public opinion regarding the Vietnam War.

17. What were the causes and effects of the shootings at Kent State and Jackson State?

18. What were the effects of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy?

Answer 1

### Matching Terms with Definitions

1. **d.** a country attacked by the U.S. because of hidden Vietcong bases - **Cambodia**

2. **a.** the belief that if one nation in Asia fell to the Communists, neighboring countries would follow - **domino theory**

3. **b.** armed fighters who carry out surprise attacks - **guerrilla**

4. **e.** a helicopter widely used by U.S. troops to transport soldiers and weapons and used to overcome Vietnamese terrain - **Huey**

5. **h.** the site of the massacre of Vietnamese civilians by U.S. troops - **My Lai**

6. **c.** a colony consisting of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, ruled by France in the second half of the nineteenth century - **Indochina**

7. **g.** secret documents that revealed the extent to which the U.S. government had been lying about the war - **Pentagon Papers**

8. **j.** The Vietcong and North Vietnamese offensive that undermined U.S. credibility - **Tet Offensive**

9. **i.** a rebel army organized to oppose the South Vietnamese government and unify the country - **Vietcong**

10. **f.** the process of making South Vietnam assume more of the war effort by slowly withdrawing American troops from Vietnam - **Vietnamization**

### Summarizing Information

11. **Containment policy** aimed to prevent the spread of communism beyond where it already existed, particularly in Southeast Asia. The **domino theory** suggested that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would also fall like dominos, leading to a wider spread of communism throughout the region. This theory was a significant justification for U.S. involvement in Vietnam, as American leaders feared the consequences of a communist victory in Vietnam on the rest of Asia.

12. Following World War II, **Ho Chi Minh** sought independence for Vietnam, leveraging nationalist sentiments against French colonial rule and pressing for a communist-led government. His establishment of the Viet Minh resistance movement and efforts to unify Vietnam under communist leadership created a polarized environment that set the stage for conflict with the United States, which was committed to stopping the spread of communism in Asia.

### Reteaching Activity (continued)

13. The **overthrow and execution of Diem**, the South Vietnamese president, in 1963 led to increased U.S. involvement in Vietnam as the United States sought to bolster a succession of stable governments against the communist influence. His removal created a power vacuum and instability, which further complicated the U.S. commitment to supporting South Vietnam.

14. The **Vietnam War draft** disproportionately affected lower-income and minority communities, often leading to higher enlistment rates among these groups while middle- and upper-class individuals could often avoid service through deferments, leading to perceptions of inequality and injustice.

15. A **"war of attrition"** refers to a strategy aimed at wearing down the enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses. During the Vietnam War, this concept was applied as U.S. forces aimed to inflict heavy casualties on North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces in hopes that they would eventually lose the will to fight.

16. The **credibility gap** referred to the public's growing skepticism about the U.S. government’s statements on the Vietnam War, especially after revelations about the realities of the conflict contradicted official accounts. This gap significantly influenced public opinion and fueled anti-war sentiment in the U.S.

17. The **shootings at Kent State** and **Jackson State** in 1970 were responses to escalating anti-war protests, resulting in the deaths of students. These incidents highlighted tensions over the Vietnam War and sparked national outrage, leading to increased protests and a further questioning of U.S. military involvement.

18. The **assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.** and **Robert F. Kennedy** had profound effects on the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement. King’s death in 1968 led to widespread riots and intensified demands for racial justice, while Kennedy's assassination further polarized the political climate and diminished hope for progressive change. Both events contributed to a sense of disillusionment among many Americans during this era.