Vietnam War

A prolonged conflict in Vietnam between communist North Vietnam and its allies and South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other countries.

Viet Cong: The communist-led insurgency and armed force that fought South Vietnam and its allies in South Vietnam. Its guerrilla campaign challenged the South Vietnamese government and U.S. forces.
French Indochina: A French colonial federation in Southeast Asia that included Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. French rule and its collapse shaped the political struggle that followed.
Ho Chi Minh: A Vietnamese communist revolutionary who led the independence movement and became president of North Vietnam. He led North Vietnam's drive for national reunification.
Gulf of Tonkin incident: The 1964 naval confrontations involving U.S. and North Vietnamese forces that preceded major congressional authorization of U.S. action. The incident helped Johnson secure authority for a major escalation.
Vietnam War protests: A broad protest movement opposing U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Growing demonstrations put pressure on policymakers to limit and end U.S. participation.
Ho Chi Minh Trail: A network of roads and paths used to move troops and supplies from North Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia. It sustained communist forces in the South despite repeated U.S. attacks.
First Indochina War: The 1946–1954 war between France and the Viet Minh over control of Vietnam. Its outcome ended French rule and preceded Vietnam's division.
Vo Nguyen Giap: A Vietnamese general and communist leader who commanded forces in the First Indochina War and Vietnam War. His strategy linked conventional campaigns with protracted warfare.
Tet Offensive: A large 1968 campaign by communist forces across South Vietnam during the lunar New Year holiday. Its battlefield outcome contrasted sharply with its effect on U.S. public confidence.
War Powers Resolution: A 1973 U.S. law intended to limit the president's ability to commit forces to armed conflict without Congress. Congress passed it amid disputes over presidential authority during the war.

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