Today’s Objective We will explain reasons why the United States got involved in the Vietnam War. Sub-Objective We will describe the impact of events such as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the War Powers Act.

The Vietnam War SEs: 2B, 8D, 8E, 8F, 20A

State Standards 8d (r)Explain reasons and outcomes for U.S. involvement in foreign countries and their relationship to the Domino Theory, including the Vietnam War. 20a (s)Describe the impact of events such as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the War Powers Act on the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of government. 8f (r) 8f (r)Describe the responses to the Vietnam War such as the draft, the 26th Amendment, the role of the media, the credibility gap, the silent majority, and the anti- war movement.

Independent Practice Create a flow map that identifies and analyzes the events leading to the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam conflict.

Key figures in the Vietnam War Ho Chi Minh William Westmoreland American commander in Vietnam who told American people that we were close to winning the war, even though we weren’t Communist leader of North Vietnam who led the efforts to unify Vietnam, he was a hero to most Vietnamese Robert McNamara U.S. Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War who made the American public feel like we were winning the war

Key figures in the Vietnam War Richard Nixon President of the U.S. during the latter part of the Vietnam War; he expanded the war into Cambodia Lyndon B. Johnson President during much of Vietnam War; greatly escalated the U.S. soldier involvement in the conflict John F. Kennedy President of U.S. during the beginning of the Vietnam War who sent advisors to help the South Vietnamese

For most of the 20 th century, southeast Asia - - including Vietnam -- was a possession of France and was known as French Indochina. French Indochina

Battle of Dien Bien Phu After hundreds of years of colonial rule, Vietnam won its independence when it defeated the French in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

Vietnam independence The person who led the Vietnamese to victory was a revolutionary by the name of Ho Chi Minh who led a group of freedom fighters called the Vietminh.

Vietnam Divided Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam at the 17 th parallel at the Geneva Convention of South Vietnam was a democracy while North Vietnam established a communist government.

Vietnam in the ’50s For the next decade, North and South Vietnam fought each other for control of the government.

Creation of SEATO

Domino Theory The Domino Theory was the belief that if one country fell to communism, other nations around it would eventually fall as well. N. Vietnam becoming a communist state made the U.S. fear that all of Southeast Asia would fall to communism and we needed to intervene to stop it.

U.S. Supports S. Vietnam The U.S. gave its support to South Vietnam, a democracy, and its leader, Ngo Dinh Diem

South Vietnam problems Many South Vietnamese hated Ngo because he was corrupt, he was westernized, and he did not govern in the best interest of the citizens.

South Vietnam problems Ngo’s harsh treatment of Vietnamese Buddhists led to some Buddhist monks setting themselves on fire in protest of Ngo’s rule.

U.S. Supports S. Vietnam Critics said the United States was worried about Vietnam only for imperialist purposes and called Ngo a puppet of the U.S.

U.S. role in Vietnam Until 1964, the United States did not have any direct military involvement in Vietnam. We only acted as advisors to the South Vietnamese.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident USS Maddox In August 1964, North Vietnam was accused of firing on two U.S. warships in the Gulf of Tonkin, which is off the coast of Vietnam.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident Johnson responded by ordering U.S. airplanes to attack North Vietnam, marking the first time the U.S. used military force in the conflict.

Just as in Korea, many Americans believed the Chinese were behind the North Vietnamese effort to spread communism throughout southeast Asia.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution With the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Congress handed over war powers to the president Johnson asked Congress authorize the use force to defend American forces The President had the power to send U.S. troops into battle without a declaration of war

The U.S. Constitution says that the president must ask for Congress to declare war in order to send U.S. troops into battle. Small group purposeful talk Is this still necessary today? Discuss with a partner and be prepared to share your thoughts.

Guerrilla Warfare The Vietnam Conflict was a war of guerrilla warfare, which is a type of warfare when unconventional methods such as sabotage and ambushes are performed by armed civilians.

Vietcong The Vietcong (also known as the NLF) was the guerrilla army that used hit-and-run tactics against the U.S. and the South Vietnamese.

Vietcong The Vietcong were South Vietnamese Communists who fought on the side of the North Vietnamese for Vietnam’s unification.

Vietcong Advantages  They were familiar with the landscape (rivers, lakes, etc.)  They could find a safe haven in Cambodia, Laos or South Vietnam  They could often count on the support of the local population

The Ho Chi Minh Trail Red line indicates Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos and Cambodia The path that ran from North Vietnam to South Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia that was a supply line for the Vietcong.

Operation Rolling Thunder U.S. bombing campaign against the North Vietnam from that was intended to get North Vietnam to stop supporting South Vietnamese guerrillas.

Operation Rolling Thunder Operation Rolling Thunder was the most intense air/ground battle waged during the Cold War

Tet Offensive Heading into 1968, most Americans were led to believe that victory in Vietnam was just a short time away. But on the Vietnamese New Year, known as Tet, the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese launched a surprise attack on the South.