1. What do you know about the Vietnam War?
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
,000 U.S. combat troops are sent to battle the Vietcong and NVA

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

9. What does it mean to have “home field advantage” in sports?
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 The Vietnam War
Vietcong’s push to capture cities in the South of Vietnam
A military defeat for the Vietcong BUT a moral victory for North Vietnam
A dramatic fall in the popularity of the war

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

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

22. Disorder of the Democratic Convention in Chicago
Causes
Effects
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
Negative image of democratic party
Republican victory (Nixon)

23. Richard Nixon election
Causes
Effects
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
Eventually decrease U.S. troop levels in Vietnam
Continue to bomb North Vietnam
Have controversial presidency which will lead to scandal and his resignation

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

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

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

29. Legacy
South Vietnam surrenders to North Vietnam
Vietnam Veterans receive a cold homecoming
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
Americans very torn and bitter about the war

30. Cambodia erupts in civil war Congress passes the War Powers Act
Legacy
Cambodia erupts in civil war
Congress passes the War Powers Act
The U.S. invasion of Cambodia lead to a brutal communist regime under Pol Pot
Over 1 million Cambodians will be executed
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

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