Flashcards: Cold War Proxy Conflicts and Vietnam — 24 cards

Cold War rivalry — definition?

A tense geopolitical struggle between US and USSR from 1947 to 1991.

Western bloc — role?

Allies aligned with the US during the Cold War.

Eastern bloc — role?

Soviet-aligned allies during the Cold War.

Peripheral conflicts — purpose?

Proxy wars supported by superpowers, avoiding direct conflict.

Containment strategy — aim?

Stop the spread of communism.

Mutual assured destruction — effect?

Created nuclear stalemate, preventing superpower war.

Proxy wars — reason?

Superpowers avoided direct conflict due to MAD.

US in Vietnam — policy?

Supporting South Vietnam to contain communism.

Domino theory — belief?

One fall to communism triggers others.

Indochina War — years?

1946–1954 between French and Viet Minh.

Military advisors — role?

Trained and supported South Vietnam before large troop deployment.

Ho Chi Minh Trail — function?

Supply route from North to South Vietnam.

Viet Cong — type?

Communist guerrillas in South Vietnam.

South Vietnam government — support?

US-backed pro-American regime.

US antiwar movement — growth?

Expanded among students and civil rights activists.

Draft resistance — cause?

Opposition fueled by casualties and draft calls.

Lottery selection — purpose?

Random conscription method.

Rolling Thunder — target?

North Vietnam’s transport, industry, and defenses.

Rolling Thunder — effectiveness?

Largely ineffective, failed to stop North support.

Tet offensive — impact?

Shocked US public, exposed war's limits.

Vietnamization — goal?

Transfer fighting to South Vietnam, withdraw US troops.

Paris Peace Accords — year?

1973, leading to US withdrawal.

Fall of Saigon — date?

30 April 1975, end of South Vietnam.

Media coverage — effect?

Increased public skepticism and anti-war protests.