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US Involvement and the Domino Theory
Description: President Truman proposed the theory in the '50s but didn't gain popularity til President Eisenhower's presidency. He applied it to South Vietnam.
Significance: This fueled Americans' involvement with preventing the spread of communism, which led to sending troops and starting the Vietnam War in the '60s.
Citation: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "domino theory". Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Jan. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/topic/domino-theory. Accessed 23 April 2025. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Description: The U.S.S. Maddox encountered and was attacked by three Soviet-built North Vietnamese torpedoes on the Gulf of Tonkin.
Significance: Marked the start of the U.S's involvement in the Vietnam War.
Citation: Kreitner, Richard. "August 4, 1964: The Gulf of Tonkin Incident Sparks American Escalation in Vietnam". The Nation, 4 August 2015. https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/august-4-1964-the-gulf-of-tonkin-incident-sparks-american-escalation-in-vietnam/. Accessed 29 April 2025. -
Anti Vietnam War Protests
Description: Americans were outraged by America's involvement in South Vietnam and the casualties caused by the war. This led to many protesting for the war to end, especially on college campuses.
Significance: Protests around the United States showed the unpopularity of the war, which helped lead to the end of the U.S.'s involvement in the '70s. -
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Anti Vietnam Protest Citation
Citation: Hernson, Paul. Weldon, Kathleen. "Going Too Far: The American Public’s Attitudes Toward Protest Movements". University of Connecticut, 24 October 2025. https://today.uconn.edu/2014/10/going-too-far-the-american-publics-attitudes-toward-protest-movements/#. Accessed 29 April 2025. -
Tent Offensive
Description: A series of surprise attacks from North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces against American and South Vietnamese soldiers.
Significance: This was effective, as many casualties occurred, leading to a change in military strategy.
Citation: Bowman, Tom. "Military Victory But Political Defeat: The Tet Offensive 50 Years Later". NPR, 29 January 2018. https://www.npr.org/2018/01/29/580811124/military-victory-but-political-defeat-the-tet-offensive-50-years-later. Accessed 29 April 2025. -
Vietnam Peace Agreement & Troops Withdraw Citation
Citation: Bowie News, "1973 U.S. Withdraws from Vietnam". The Bowie News, 29 March 2017, https://bowienewsonline.com/2017/03/1973-u-s-withdraws-from-vietnam/. Accessed 29 April 2025. -
Vietnam Peace Agreement & Troops Withdraw
Description: In January, the U.S, North and South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong signed a peace agreement ending U.S. military involvement in the war. Troops then withdrew from Vietnam with the last group leaving in March.
Significance: These actions brought defeat to America as they were unsuccessful in helping the South win and resulted in 58,000 Americans dying in one of the most unpopular foreign wars in U.S. history.