Vietnam War Vocabulary and Key Terms

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Who was the communist leader of North Vietnam in the 1950s and 60s, known for using guerilla warfare and brilliant strategy to fight anti-communist, American-funded attacks under the Truman Doctrine?

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Ho Chi Minh

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What was the name of the organization of Vietnamese Communists and other nationalist groups that fought for Vietnamese independence from the French between 1946 and 1954?

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Vietminh

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Which theory stated that if one nation comes under Communist control, then neighboring nations will also come under Communist control?

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Domino Theory

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What was the name of the town in northwest Vietnam near the Laos border where the French military base fell to Vietminh troops in 1954, leading to the end of France's involvement in Indochina?

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Dien Bien Phu

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What was the name of the 1954 peace agreement between Ho Chi Minh's communists and the French that divided Vietnam into communist-controlled North and non-communist South until unification elections could be held?

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Geneva Accords, 1954

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Who was the American ally in South Vietnam from 1954 to 1963 whose repressive regime caused the Communist Viet Cong to thrive and required increasing American military aid to stop a Communist takeover?

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Ngo Dinh Diem

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What was the name of the group of Communist guerrillas who, with the help of North Vietnam, fought against the South Vietnamese government in the Vietnam War?

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Vietcong

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What was the network of paths used by North Vietnam to transport supplies to the Vietcong in South Vietnam called?

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Ho Chi Minh Trail

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What was the name of the 1964 Congressional resolution that authorized President Johnson to commit US troops to South Vietnam and fight a war against North Vietnam?

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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution