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U.S. Involvement in the Vietnam War

This article explores the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, including the reasons for intervention, key events such as the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the use of weapons, and the impact on public opinion.

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U.S. Involvement in the Vietnam War

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  1. U.S. Involvement in the Vietnam War

  2. http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history/videos/the-road-to-war\http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history/videos/the-road-to-war\ • Review & preview

  3. Review – Discuss • 1. Who fought in the First Indochina War? • 2. Explain containment • 3. Describe the leadership characteristics of Ho Chi Minh (N. Vietnam) & Ngo Dinh Diem (S. Vietnam)

  4. U.S. Involvement • Truman • Containment theory > sends $3 billion to French in 1st Indochina War • Eisenhower • Intervened in 1955 due to belief in the domino theory • Gave South Vietnam money & weapons; sent advisers to train army in the South • Kennedy • Believes in containment & domino theory • After Bay of Pigs & Berlin Wall, determined to show strength • Increases number of advisers & special forces (Green Berets) • 1961: 3,000 advisers, 1963: 16,000 advisers

  5. Diem’s Government in South Vietnam • Buddhist Response to Diem • Buddhists protestors were killed • Buddhist monks protested by setting themselves on fire • U.S. Response • Public was shocked • Privately leaders planned to overthrow Diem • Nov. 1963 Diem was murdered

  6. Gulf of Tonkin • March 1964 • Vietcong (VC) controlled 40% of South Vietnam • LBJ wanted to increase troops but needed Congress • Gulf of Tonkin incident (1964) • USS Maddox attacked in Gulf of Tonkin • LBJ misrepresented facts

  7. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • Resolution • Approved by Congress on August 7, 1964 • Gave President “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the U.S” • Ability to expand the war • Johnson’s policy = ESCALATION • Response • Only 2 Senators opposed Resolution • “I believe that history will record we have made a great mistake. We are in effect giving the President war-making powers in the absence of a declaration of war.” – Senator Wayne Morse

  8. Air War • 1st major DIRECT US military activity in air • Operation Rolling Thunder (1965) • Sustained bombing of North Vietnam • *We dropped more bombs on Vietnam than in WWII • Ho Chi Minh Trail • Supply route from North Vietnam through Laos, Cambodia to South Vietnam • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTxrq_Erw-k

  9. Weapons of War • Agent Orange • Destroyed jungle vegetation to see trail • Napalm • Jellied form of gasoline for fire bombs • Cluster Bombs • Sharp fragments exploding • Effects • Trail rebuilt quickly (with aid from USSR & China) • 1968 LBJ bombs Laos, Cambodia, South Vietnam • Discuss: • Which of these weapons do you think did the most damage? Justify/defend your response

  10. Ground War • General William Westmoreland • Commander of U.S. ground troops • Ordered “search & destroy” missions • Pacification • “pacify” or calm • Goal to win hearts & minds of South Vietnamese • Unsuccessful because it caused many to relocate without help • Due to infrastructure improvements or to search for Vietcong

  11. Declining Troop Morale • Faced same problems as French • Difficult to id enemy • Booby traps/tunnels • Resistance to fight • Home “field” advantage • Review: • Explain guerrilla warfare • What were some of the new weapons introduced/used in Vietnam?

  12. Mobilizing U.S. Forces • U.S. Troops ~ Approximately 2.5 million served • Soldiers were slightly younger than those who served in Korea & WWII • Most were not well educated (80% had some high school education or less) • Early troops in Vietnam were professional soldiers (volunteers) who enlisted • Draft • Defer for college > increase in university enrollment (30%) • Could get drafted if low grades • Defer for medical reasons (25%) • More poor Americans served • Large numbers of African Americans served • 3% dodged draft (Canada) • 1969 lottery system based on birthday was used • 1973 draft ended • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HO06__Z_So

  13. Public Opinion Shifts • Initial support • As deaths increased, so did questions of government • Media • TV crews on frontlines • “Living room” war • Images contradicted government reports • Two groups emerged: • Hawks: supported war vs. Doves: opposed war

  14. Anti-war Movement • Students, civil rights workers, doctors, homemakers, retirees, teachers… • Much of the anti-war activity took place on college campuses • Student for a Democratic Society (SDS) was the most vocal of the anti-war groups • April 1965 SDS let 1st national anti-war demonstration (20,000 attended) • Visible but small percentage of total population • Discuss: • Which group generally supported the war effort? • How did public attitudes toward the war change over time?

  15. Vietnam Pro/Con Chart

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