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Vietnam - Present. Vietnam. Former French colony Gain independence – 1950’s Led by Ho Chi Minh Split in half Communist North Democratic South U.S. fear of “Domino Theory” U.S. sends advisors to South Gulf of Tonkin Incident – 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 1 st U.S. troops - 1965
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Vietnam • Former French colony • Gain independence – 1950’s • Led by Ho Chi Minh • Split in half • Communist North • Democratic South • U.S. fear of “Domino Theory” • U.S. sends advisors to South • Gulf of Tonkin Incident – 1964 • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • 1st U.S. troops - 1965 • Tet Offensive – 1968 • Coordinated attacked by NVA and Viet Cong • Vietnamization – turn war over to South Vietnamese • Ho Chi Minh Trail – NV supplies VC in South • U.S. withdraws - 1973
Watergate • Members of CREEP are caught breaking into Democratic Election Headquarters • Washington Post investigates Nixon involvement • Nixon covers up knowledge of break in • Justice Dept. requests Oval Office tapes and transcripts • Nixon refuses to turn over • Nixon eventually turns over edited copies • Nixon resigns – 1974 • VP Gerald Ford becomes President
Iran Hostage Crisis • 1979 – Jimmy Carter’s Administration • 52 Americans taken hostage in U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran • Taken hostage by Iranian militants • Failed attempt to rescue • Released in 1981 once Ronald Reagan takes office
Ronald Reagan • Reaganomics – Supply side economics, cut taxes to increase spending • Increased defense spending • “Star Wars” missile defense system • Labels Soviet Union as “Evil Empire” • Challenger disaster - 1986 • Berlin Wall comes down - 1989
Persian Gulf War • President George H. W. Bush • Iraq invades Kuwait • Saddam Hussein • U.S. bombs and invades Iraq • One-sided war • U.S. air dominance – Stealth bomber • 100 day ground war
9/11 • Terrorist attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon • Hijacked aircraft, 4 total • Orchestrated by Osama Bin Laden • President George W. Bush declares “War on Terror”