#56 Chapter 22 Section 2 U.S. Involvement and Escalation OBJECTIVE: Understand why the U.S. escalated their involvement in Vietnam.

Name and describe 3 events which eventually led to the U. S Name and describe 3 events which eventually led to the U.S. declaring war on Vietnam. Ch.22.1 Review

I. LBJ Increases U.S. Involvement LBJ’s support for escalation in Vietnam comes from Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. 1965, not too many dissenters of Vietnam War.

U.S. troop buildup increases. William Westmoreland: American commander in South Vietnam. Not impressed with South Vietnamese Army. Request more U.S. troops.

II. Fighting in the Jungle Viet Cong use hit and run, ambush tactics. Tunnels help withstand air strikes, launch attacks, connect villages. Terrain laced with booby traps, land mines laid by U.S. and Viet Cong.

III. War of Attrition General Westmoreland tries to destroy Viet Cong morale through attrition. U.S. underestimated the Viet Cong. Viet Cong remains defiant, receives supplies from China and USSR.

IV. The Battle for Hearts and Minds Weapons for exposing tunnels often wounded civilians, destroyed villages, cause cancer. Napalm- gasoline based bomb that set fire to jungles. Agent Orange- leaf-killing, toxic chemical.

V. Sinking Morale Guerrilla warfare, jungle conditions, unstable South Vietnamese government, and lack of progress lowers morale. Some soldiers turned to alcohol and drugs.

VI. The Great Society Suffers War grew more costly with more troops. LBJ gets tax increase to pay for war. $6 billion funding cut for Great Society.

VII. The Living Room War Combat footage on nightly TV news show stark pictures of war. Critics say credibility gap between administration reports and events. By 1967, Americans were evenly split over supporting and opposing the war. Muhammad Ali--- “Yeah, I know where Vietnam is; it's on TV”

Ch.22.2 Review 1. Vietcong’s hit and run tactics. CAUSE EVENT EFFECT 1. Vietcong’s hit and run tactics. 2. US dropped napalm and sprays agent orange. 3. Vietnam War became more costly. 4. “Living-Room War”