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The Vietnam War. Learning Targets. Explain how the U.S. got involved in the Vietnam War. Compare and contrast the U.S. and NVA/Vietcong strategies. Predict the effectiveness of each plan. A Soldier ’ s Experience. A Soldier ’ s Experience. THE VIETNAM WAR. 1954: Geneva Accords--1954.
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Learning Targets • Explain how the U.S. got involved in the Vietnam War. • Compare and contrast the U.S. and NVA/Vietcong strategies. • Predict the effectiveness of each plan.
A Soldier’s Experience A Soldier’s Experience
1954: Geneva Accords--1954 • Vietnam divided when French left • North Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh & communist • South Vietnam - Ngo Dinh Diem & anti-communist Ho Chi Minh Divided at 17th parallel Ngo Dinh Diem
Growing Problems 1. Diem’s leadership • Refused election • Persecuted Buddhists • Overthrown and followed by unstable gov’ts
Growing Problems 2. Growth of the Vietcong (VC) • communist guerillas in S.Vietnam • strategic hamlet plan (move villagers) failed • 80% of countryside supported • Vietcong
Whiteboard Moment! • If you lived in South Vietnam, would you have joined the Vietcong? Why or why not?
U.S. Aids South • Eisenhower sent aid b/c of domino theory • 1961: JFK follows with “military advisors” By 1963, 16,000 American troops are training in South Vietnam
Tonkin Gulf Resolution • August 2, 1964: U.S. destroyer Maddox “attacked” in Gulf of Tonkin
Tonkin Gulf Resolution • Congress gave Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) war powers Senate Vote: 88 to 2 “to take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force…”
Whiteboard Moment • In your opinion, should the U.S. have involved themselves in the conflict? Explain.
NVA/Viet Cong Tactics • Guerilla warfare (booby traps, tunnel system) • Ho Chi Minh Trail (transport supplies)
American Escalation • General William Westmoreland, U.S. Commander • 1968: 538, 000 U.S. troops
Operation Rolling Thunder • Bombing raids of North Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh Trail 643,000 tons of bombs 5 times Hiroshima 3 years Air Force Chief of Staff Lemey about bombing them“back to the stone Age.”
Ground War • Search and Destroy Missions: seek VC and destroyed villages • Jungle warfare, so defoliants used (Agent Orange/Napalm)
Whiteboard Time !! • Describe the U.S. fighting tactics in one word. Defend your choice.
Khe Sanh • Wanted info on Ho Chi Minh Trail • 40,000 NVA vs. 5,600 U.S. for over 2 mths. • U.S. win, shows NVA resolve
Tet Offensive • Massive attack by North on Vietnamese New Year • Military victory for South/U.S. • Morale victory for North 100 towns and cities Attacked; 12 air bases attacked 42,000Vietcong casualties
Final Reflection • Read “Vietnam War.” • Using information from your reading and notes, write as much as you can remember abut the Vietnam War. • DO NOT look at your notes or the reading.