Focus Question

1. Focus Question What do you know about the Vietnam War?

2. Vietnam and Moving Toward Conflict In 1965, America’s fight against communism has spread to Southeast Asia, where the U.S. is becoming increasingly involved in another country’s civil war. Unable to claim victory, U.S. generals call for an increase in the number of combat troops. Facing a shortage of volunteers, the president implements a draft.

3. Are you smarter than a 5th grader? • What is the fastest bird on foot? • Ostrich • What planet is closest to the sun? • Mercury • What is the largest South American country by area? • Brazil • What animal classification is a turtle? • Reptile

4. Truman • France re-established itself as colonial power over Vietnam after WWII • Truman pumps nearly $1 Billion into France’s effort to defeat the Vietminh and Ho Chi Minh (Communist sympathizers) • French lose! • Geneva Conference (1954)-divides country (17th parallel) into North and South with hopes of having a unified election in 1956

5. Eisenhower • Continued supplying aid to the French • Supplied Ngo Dinh Diem who refused to hold a national election in 1956 • Diem’s regime was brutal and corrupt • U.S. supplied training and military aid to his government

6. Kennedy • In order to look like Democrats were tough on communism, JFK decides to stick with Diem • Increased aid to Diem’s regime and sent thousands of military advisers (16,000 U.S. troops) to help train South Vietnamese troops • JFK begins to think about U.S. involvement in Vietnam • 1963, Diem is assassinated

7. Johnson • Convinced Congress to pass the Tonkin Gulf Resolution giving the president broad military powers in Vietnam • Unleashed bombing campaign • 1965 50,000 U.S. combat troops are sent to battle the Vietcong and NVA

8. U.S. Involvement and Escalation Ch 30 Sec 2

9. Focus Question What does it mean to have “home field advantage” in sports?

10. Major Players in Vietnam Conflict • Lyndon B. Johnson-Made decision to escalate war after re-election • Robert McNamara-Advised Johnson on escalation (Sec of Defense) • Dean Rusk-Advised Johnson on escalation (Sec of State) • William Westmoreland-General in charge of Vietnam that asked for more soldiers • U.S. Congress-Approved Johnson’s policy (Tonkin Gulf Resolution) allowing him to escalate war • American public opinion-Approved of Johnson’s policy in the beginning

11. U.S. military strategies result in bloody stalemate Military advantages Americans had over Vietcong? • Superior weaponry Military advantages Vietcong had over Americans? • Knowledge of terrain • Ability to blend in with civilians • Willingness to pay any price for victory (fighting for existence)

12. U.S. military strategies result in bloody stalemate Military strategies Americans used against Vietcong? • Bombings • War of attrition • Preventing Vietcong support by South Vietnam’s rural population • Use of Napalm/Agent Orange • Search and Destroy mission Military strategies Vietcong used against Americans? • Hit and run ambushes • Booby traps and land mines • Surprise attacks • Guerrilla warfare

13. Public support for the war begins to waiver as a “credibility gap” grows • U.S. Economy-Cost of war led to an increase in inflation and taxes as well as a reduction in funding “Great Society” programs • T.V.-Brought the war into U.S. living rooms and contradicting the Johnson administration optimism • Fulbright Hearings-Senator who questioned Johnson’s war. This contributed to the average American’s growing ambivalence about the war

14. 1968-A Tumultuous Year Ch 30 Sec 3-4

15. Focus Question How would you feel if student privileges at BGHS (best classes, schedules, parking) were awarded according to wealth or prominence of the student’s family

16. Avoiding the War • Doctors gave medical deferment • Looked for Lenient draft boards • Joined the National Guard • Enrolled in College (only wealthy could afford) • 80% of U.S. soldiers came from low economic status

17. Opposing War • Known as Doves or people who thought the war was immoral • New “Left” Organizations • Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) • Free Speech Movement (FSM) • Mostly young college students (Johnson revoked college deferments for those not in good academic standard) • Held antiwar demonstrations, burned draft cards, and fled to Canada

18. Defending War • Known as Hawks or people who supported U.S. involvement • Felt that Johnson should escalate the war

19. Tet Offensive Causes Effects A military defeat for the Vietcong BUT a moral victory for North Vietnam A dramatic fall in the popularity of the war • The Vietnam War • Vietcong’s push to capture cities in the South of Vietnam

20. Johnson’s poor showing in the N.H. primary Causes Effects Robert Kennedy’s decision to run for president Johnson decides not to run for reelection • Tet Offensive and unpopular Vietnam policy • Growing movement of antiwar message across the country

21. Assassination of MLK and Robert Kennedy Causes Effects Feelings of anger, despair and hopelessness Violent riots in 100 cities because of MLK assassination • Atmosphere of violence that was growing in the U.S. • Racism toward MLK

22. Disorder of the Democratic Convention in Chicago Causes Effects Negative image of democratic party Republican victory (Nixon) • Disagreements among democrats over Vietnam • 10,000 antiwar protestors in the city of Chicago • Mayor Daley’s handling of the situation by using violence to put down protestors

23. Richard Nixon election Causes Effects Eventually decrease U.S. troop levels in Vietnam Continue to bomb North Vietnam Have controversial presidency which will lead to scandal and his resignation • Negative image of democrats • The publics desire for peace and law and order that Nixon promised • Promise to end Vietnam War • Entry of Wallace (Dem) into race

24. The End of the War and Its Legacy Ch 30 Sec 5

25. Focus Question Why are political leaders unable to keep promises they make? Do we as a public hold political leaders responsible for what they promise?

26. Legacy Nixon adopts a policy of Vietnamization My Lai massacre shocks nation 200 innocent Vietnamese murdered by U.S. soldiers Went public and shocked U.S. • To replace U.S. troops with South Vietnamese troops (Vietnamization) • Establish peace with honor

27. Legacy Nixon orders invasion of Cambodia Kent State incident Student protests reignited in the United States in protest of the invasion into Cambodia National Guard fire upon student protestors (killing 4) • To remove Vietnamese and Vietcong supply centers from Cambodia

28. Legacy Congress repeals the Tonkin Gulf Resolution The “Christmas Bombings” start To force a negotiated peace settlement • To protest Nixon’s bombings and invasion of Cambodia without notifying Congress • To gain greater Congressional control over U.S. policy in Vietnam

29. Legacy South Vietnam surrenders to North Vietnam Vietnam Veterans receive a cold homecoming Americans very torn and bitter about the war • North Vietnam full scale invasion of South Vietnam and the capture of Saigon • No U.S. troops there to prevent the North’s victory • U.S. starts a more realistic approach to dealing with the spread of communism

30. Legacy Cambodia erupts in civil war Congress passes the War Powers Act To curb the president’s war-making powers If the President of the United States sends troops into a foreign country he/she has 48 hours to tell Congress • The U.S. invasion of Cambodia lead to a brutal communist regime under Pol Pot • Over 1 million Cambodians will be executed

31. Legacy The draft is abolished Americans loose faith in their government The Pentagon Papers, which revealed that the Johnson administration was lying, about the war Thepeoplerespond by protesting Watergate scandal • The extremely unpopular draft is ended in 1973