SWBAT: Determine the causes and consequences of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War

1. SWBAT: Determine the causes and consequences of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War Do Now: Analyze the political cartoon and answer the discussion questions

3. The Cold War Continues: The Vietnam War (1954-1975) • Background: The Early Years of the Vietnam War: • Vietnam is a small country in Southeast Asia. • Its history is one of foreign invaders and occupations. • The Vietnamese are extremely nationalistic and have, for centuries, fiercely opposed the invading forces.

4. The Cold War Continues: The Vietnam War (1954-1975) • Vietnam was controlled by the French in the 1800s and the Japanese during World War II. • After the Japanese surrendered in WWII, the French returned to reclaim their territory. • Instead, the Vietnamese revolted for their independence under Communist leader Ho Chi Minh. In 1954 (just after the Korean War ended) • 12,000 French troops were surrounded by the North Vietnamese army and soon forced to surrender. • Vietnam was now independent.

5. Geneva Accords • The Geneva Accords of 1954 set a compromise by temporarily dividing Vietnam into two separate nations: • North Vietnam was a Communist nation whose forces were led by Ho Chi Minh. • South Vietnam was non-communist and ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem.

6. Domino Theory Domino Theory: U.S. leaders feared that if South Vietnam fell to Communism, other nations would quickly follow. Describe this cartoon in your own words.

7. Eisenhower and Kennedy • Ho Chi Minh formed a new guerrilla army including some South Vietnamese called the Vietcong • US sent military advisors to train S Vietnam • But the Vietcong were too powerful

8. Diem’s Reign of Terror • Corrupt administration • Very unpopular • Discriminated against Buddhism • One of the most popular religions in Vietnam • 9 people were killed by Diem’s police during religious protests

9. Diem’s Reign of Terror • Vietnamese Generals assassinated Diem with the support of the US • However unpopular Diem had been he was also a strong political leader • Without Diem South Vietnam collapses • US must get more involved

10. Johnson Johnson didn’t want a bigger war, but had to be strong against Communism.

11. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964) • Johnson announced that North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked U.S. ships in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the coast of North Vietnam. • This gave LBJ the reason he needed to act. • He asked Congress to allow him to have full authority to do whatever it took to resolve this conflict and prevent further North Vietnamese aggression. • Changed the U.S. role in Vietnam from military advisors to active fighters.

12. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964) • The Vietnam War escalated (expanded) as Johnson ordered more ground troops and continued repeated bombings North Vietnam and Vietcong-held areas of South Vietnam for three years. • 1965: 3,500 marines were sent to protect an American air base in S. Vietnam. • End of 1965: 184,000 U.S. combat troops in Vietnam. • 1968: 500,000 troops in Vietnam! We fought two enemies: the North Vietnamese AND the Vietcong.

13. Difficult Warfare • US arrogantly believed that it would be an easy war to win • Ambushes • Booby traps • Guerrilla tactics • Vietcong blended in with civilians • “a war where nothing is ever quite certain and nowhere is ever quite safe”

14. US Tactics • Search and destroy missions • Find the enemy, bomb them, destroy the supply lines, and force them out into the open • Napalm - a jellylike substance that burst into flames and stuck to people’s bodies. • Agent Orange- an herbicide was used to destroy the jungle where the Vietcong were hiding. • Dangerous side effects on civilians and soldiers including: Birth defects, Spinal Bifida, Cancers, and Skin disorders

18. Tet Offensive (1968) • The Vietcong and North Vietnamese launched several attacks on every big city in South Vietnam, and broke into the U.S. embassy in Saigon, the South Vietnamese capital. • While the U.S. was able to strike back and actually declare a military victory here, many Americans witnessed the graphic images on the TV news that shocked and sickened them. • The Tet Offensive marked the TURNING POINT OF THE WAR, showing that even with half a million troops, no part of S. Vietnam was safe and the war was far from over. • North Vietnam sent supplies to the Vietcong in the south through the Ho Chi Minh Trail • Some thought our government was not telling us everything happening in Vietnam and many lost trust in the government

21. America Divided About the Vietnam War • Draft protesters and Political Radicals: • Many people felt that the Vietnam War was not a worthwhile cause and the enemy posed no threat to the United States. • College students opposed to the war adopted various protest strategies. • Peaceful protests • Occupation of college buildings • Chanting defiant slogans • Setting draft cards on fire • Draft dodgers move to Canada

22. America Divided About the Vietnam War

23. America Divided About the Vietnam War • Counterculture • Anti-war protests fed a spirit of rebellion, particularly among young people. • Many young people rejected traditional American values that had been followed during their parents’ generation. • Young people adopted new fashions and music.

24. Apply your knowledge After watching the video – Answer the following question Why did Johnson not run for re-election in 1968?