Section 2 WarExpandsInVietnam

The assassination of Diem brought chaos to South Vietnam They had some new leaders, but none were very good. They had some new leaders, but none were very good. And, the Viet Cong kept active in South Vietnam. And, the Viet Cong kept active in South Vietnam. President Johnson wanted to bomb North Vietnam, but didn’t have permission from Congress President Johnson wanted to bomb North Vietnam, but didn’t have permission from Congress

Then, a U.S. ship was fired upon in the Gulf of Tonkin. Johnson asked (and got) permission to use military force in North Vietnam. Johnson asked (and got) permission to use military force in North Vietnam. This was called the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (7) This was called the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (7) In a policy called escalation (8), President Johnson sent 536,000 American troops to Vietnam (there’s about 150,000 in Iraq in 2008). In a policy called escalation (8), President Johnson sent 536,000 American troops to Vietnam (there’s about 150,000 in Iraq in 2008).

Most Americans thought we would easily defeat North Vietnam… but there were some issues We didn’t want China to also become involved. We didn’t want China to also become involved. Most U.S. soldiers were young and inexperienced. Most U.S. soldiers were young and inexperienced. There wasn’t always an easy way to tell who was on which side (The North Viet Cong look just like South Vietnamese civilians) There wasn’t always an easy way to tell who was on which side (The North Viet Cong look just like South Vietnamese civilians)

And, the Viet Cong were great fighters The relied heavily on guerrilla warfare (13) The relied heavily on guerrilla warfare (13) They’d hide in underground tunnels, attack quickly, and disappear. They’d hide in underground tunnels, attack quickly, and disappear. They used land mines and booby traps all over the jungles. They used land mines and booby traps all over the jungles.

And, for the Americans – just being in Vietnam was tough “It’s a jungle out there” “It’s a jungle out there” Swamps, rains, floods, and incredible heat. Swamps, rains, floods, and incredible heat. And, the Viet Cong were not going to give up (their country had been invaded) And, the Viet Cong were not going to give up (their country had been invaded)

The U.S. army did do some things to try and get rid of Viet Cong jungle hiding spots The used Napalm (17) to that burns living things The used Napalm (17) to that burns living things They used “Agent Orange (18)” – which killed plants and destroyed jungles They used “Agent Orange (18)” – which killed plants and destroyed jungles You may not want You may not want to see the next 2 slides to see the next 2 slides

Dioxin isn’t diluted by water and is chemically stable so it doesn’t easily decompose. As a result, it still exists in concentrated forms today, infiltrating the ecosystems and food chains in many parts of Vietnam. This is how the deadly chemical continues to claim its new prey — people who live off the land and water systems contaminated by it. And the dioxin in their blood gets passed on to their offspring, including through breast milk. Dioxin isn’t diluted by water and is chemically stable so it doesn’t easily decompose. As a result, it still exists in concentrated forms today, infiltrating the ecosystems and food chains in many parts of Vietnam. This is how the deadly chemical continues to claim its new prey — people who live off the land and water systems contaminated by it. And the dioxin in their blood gets passed on to their offspring, including through breast milk. There are about 50 especially contaminated “hot spots”, many of which were US military bases. According to declassified US defense department documents, on March 1, 1970, 7500 gallons of Agent Orange were spilled at Bien Hoa, home of a US base. Similar spills and dumping of aborted Agent Orange spray-runs were common. The US also sprayed Agent Purple (another chemical with even higher dioxin levels), though in smaller quantities. There are about 50 especially contaminated “hot spots”, many of which were US military bases. According to declassified US defense department documents, on March 1, 1970, 7500 gallons of Agent Orange were spilled at Bien Hoa, home of a US base. Similar spills and dumping of aborted Agent Orange spray-runs were common. The US also sprayed Agent Purple (another chemical with even higher dioxin levels), though in smaller quantities.

American soldiers also were “a little” out of control at times. The would bomb, burn, and destroy entire villages (there may be Viet Cong hiding with the civilian villagers). The would bomb, burn, and destroy entire villages (there may be Viet Cong hiding with the civilian villagers). This made many Vietnamese hate more Americans This made many Vietnamese hate more Americans even more. even more.

By 1967 the war was getting pretty bad, and neither side was “winning” (even though American leaders said we were) But on Tet (the Vietnamese New Year), the Viet Cong launched a surprise attack on South Vietnam and American troops. But on Tet (the Vietnamese New Year), the Viet Cong launched a surprise attack on South Vietnam and American troops. This was called: This was called: the Tet Offensive (22) the Tet Offensive (22)

For many Americans, this was the photo that led to outright opposition to the Vietnam War. This Pulitzer Prize winning photo shows the intelligence chief of the U.S.-backed South Vietnam government assassinating a suspected Viet-Cong infiltrator.

In this attack, the Viet Cong lost in terms of numbers and cities they controlled, but… The attack made many Americans wonder if everything we were trying to do was really worth it. The attack made many Americans wonder if everything we were trying to do was really worth it. Many people considered the war to be “un-winnable” Many people considered the war to be “un-winnable” President Johnson eventually refused to send more soldiers. President Johnson eventually refused to send more soldiers. Johnson decided to not even run for a second term as president. Johnson decided to not even run for a second term as president.

As the war went on, it really destroyed the morale of the American soldiers. People asked why Americans were there fighting a war the Vietnamese people didn’t want to fight. People asked why Americans were there fighting a war the Vietnamese people didn’t want to fight. (not the last slide)

And, in one of the worst acts (of many bad ones) At My Lai, a U.S. platoon rounded up and shot between 175 and 500 unarmed Vietnamese citizens (mostly women, children, and old men). At My Lai, a U.S. platoon rounded up and shot between 175 and 500 unarmed Vietnamese citizens (mostly women, children, and old men). A U.S. helicopter pilot rescued even more by threatening to fire on the soldiers. A U.S. helicopter pilot rescued even more by threatening to fire on the soldiers. This is called the My Lai Massacre (31) This is called the My Lai Massacre (31)