1. Lesson Objectives: Section 2 - U.S. Involvement and Escalation
Standard Addressed: Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II.
Lesson Objectives: Section 2 - U.S. Involvement and Escalation
1. Explain the reasons for the escalation of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
2. Describe the military tactics and weapons used by U.S. forces and the Vietcong.
3. Explain the impact of the war on American society.

2. A BULLDOG ALWAYS
CARES
Commitment
Attitude
Respect
Encouragement
Safety

3. U.S. Involvement and Escalation
Section 2
U.S. Involvement and Escalation
The United States sends troops to fight in Vietnam, but the war quickly turns into a stalemate.
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4. U.S. Involvement and Escalation2
SECTION
U.S. Involvement and Escalation
Johnson Increases U.S. Involvement
Strong Support for Containment
LBJ hesitates breaking promise to keep troops out; works with:
- Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, Secretary of State Dean Rusk
Congress, majority of public support sending troops
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5. Lyndon B. Johnson made decision to escalate the war.
Guided Reading:
1. What role did the following play in the decision to escalate U.S. Involvement in Vietnam?
Lyndon B. Johnson
made decision to escalate the war.

6. Robert McNamara Advised president Johnson on escalation of the war.
Guided Reading:
1. What role did the following play in the decision to escalate U.S. Involvement in Vietnam?
Robert McNamara
Advised president Johnson on escalation of the war.

7. Dean Rusk Advised president Johnson on escalation of the war.
Guided Reading:
1. What role did the following play in the decision to escalate U.S. Involvement in Vietnam?
Dean Rusk
Advised president Johnson on escalation of the war.

8. U.S. Congress Approved president Johnson’s policies
Guided Reading:
1. What role did the following play in the decision to escalate U.S. Involvement in Vietnam?
U.S. Congress
Approved president Johnson’s policies

9. American public opinion Approved president Johnson’s policies
Guided Reading:
1. What role did the following play in the decision to escalate U.S. Involvement in Vietnam?
American public opinion
Approved president Johnson’s policies

10. U.S. Involvement and Escalation2
SECTION
U.S. Involvement and Escalation
Johnson Increases U.S. Involvement
The Troop Buildup Accelerates
General William Westmoreland—U.S. commander in South Vietnam
Thinks southern Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) ineffective
Requests increasing numbers; by ,000 U.S. troops
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11. William Westmoreland Requested more troops
Guided Reading:
1. What role did the following play in the decision to escalate U.S. Involvement in Vietnam?
William Westmoreland
Requested more troops

12. Guided Reading: Superior weaponry
U.S. military strategies result in a bloody stalemate.
2. What military advantages did the Americans have over the Vietcong?
Superior weaponry

13. Fighting in the Jungle A Frustrating War of Attrition 2
SECTION
Fighting in the Jungle
A Frustrating War of Attrition
Westmoreland tries to destroy Vietcong morale through attrition
Vietcong receive supplies from China, U.S.S.R.; remain defiant
U.S. sees war as military struggle; Vietcong as battle for survival
Continued . . .
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14. Who Is the Enemy? Vietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at night.
Very patient people willing to accept many casualties.
The US grossly underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness.
The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win Mao Zedong

16. Guided Reading: Knowledge of terrain;
U.S. military strategies result in a bloody stalemate.
3. What military advantages did the Vietcong have over the Americans?
Knowledge of terrain;
Ability to blend in with civilians;
Willingness to pay any price for victory

17. The Battle for “Hearts and Minds”2
SECTION
continued Fighting in the Jungle
The Battle for “Hearts and Minds”
U.S. wants to stop Vietcong from winning support of rural population
Weapons for exposing tunnels often wound civilians, destroy villages
- napalm: gasoline-based bomb that sets fire to jungle
- Agent Orange: leaf-killing, toxic chemical
• Search-and-destroy missions move civilian suspects, destroy property
Villagers go to cities, refugee camps; 1967, over 3 million refugees
Continued . . .
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18. The Air War: A Napalm Attack
Weapons for exposing tunnels often wound civilians, destroy villages
- napalm: gasoline-based bomb that sets fire to jungle

19. Weapons for exposing tunnels often wound civilians, destroy villages
- napalm: gasoline-based bomb that sets fire to jungle
- Agent Orange: leaf-killing, toxic chemical

20. Search-and-destroy missions move civilian suspects, destroy property

21. Guided Reading: Bombings; War of attrition;
4. What military strategies did the Americans use against the Vietcong?
U.S. military strategies result in a bloody stalemate.
Bombings;
War of attrition;
Preventing Vietcong support by South Vietnam’s rural population;
The use of napalm and Agent Orange;
Search-and-destroy missions

22. Fighting in the Jungle An Elusive Enemy 2
SECTION
Fighting in the Jungle
An Elusive Enemy
Vietcong use hit-and-run, ambush tactics, move among civilians
Tunnels help withstand airstrikes, launch attacks, connect villages
Terrain laced with booby traps, land mines laid by U.S., Vietcong
Continued . . .
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23. An Elusive Enemy
Vietcong use hit-and-run, ambush tactics, move among civilians
Tunnels help withstand airstrikes, launch attacks, connect villages
Terrain laced with booby traps, land mines laid by U.S., Vietcong

28. Guided Reading: Hit-and-run ambushes; Booby traps and land mines;
U.S. military strategies result in a bloody stalemate.
5. What military strategies did the Vietcong use against the Americans?
Hit-and-run ambushes;
Booby traps and land mines;
Surprise attacks;
Guerilla warfare

29. 2
SECTION
continued Fighting in the Jungle
Sinking Morale
Guerrilla warfare, jungle conditions, lack of progress lower morale
Many soldiers turn to alcohol, drugs; some kill superior officers
Government corruption, instability lead S. Vietnam to demonstrate
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31. American Morale Begins to Dip
Disproportionate representation of poor people and minorities.
Severe racial problems.
Major drug problems.
Officers in combat 6 mo.; in rear 6 mo. Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo.

32. 2
SECTION
continued Fighting in the Jungle
Fulfilling a Duty
Most U.S. soldiers believe in justice of halting communism
Fight courageously, take patriotic pride in fulfilling their duty
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33. The Early War at Home The Great Society Suffers 2
SECTION
The Early War at Home
The Great Society Suffers
War grows more costly with more troops; inflation rate rising
LBJ gets tax increase to pay for war, check inflation
- has to accept $6 billion funding cut for Great Society
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34. Guided Reading: The U.S. economy:
Public support for the war begins to waver as a “credibility gap” grows.
6. What role did each of the following play in this change of public opinion?
The U.S. economy:
The cost of the war led to an increase in inflation and taxes,
as well as to a reduction in funding for Great Society programs

35. The Early War at Home The Living-Room War 2
SECTION
The Early War at Home
The Living-Room War
Combat footage on nightly TV news shows stark picture of war
Critics say credibility gap between administration reports and events
Senator J. William Fulbright’s hearings add to doubts about war
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36. The Ground War 1965-1968 No territorial goals
Body counts on TV every night (first “living room” war)
Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Trail

37. Guided Reading: Television Brought the war into U.S. living rooms;
Public support for the war begins to waver as a “credibility gap” grows.
6. What role did each of the following play in this change of public opinion?
Television
Brought the war into U.S. living rooms;
Contradicted the Johnson administration’s optimism about the war

39. The Fulbright hearings
Guided Reading:
Public support for the war begins to waver as a “credibility gap” grows.
6. What role did each of the following play in this change of public opinion?
The Fulbright hearings
Contributed to the average American’s growing ambivalence about the war.

40. Impact of the Vietnam War
Johnson announces (March, 1968):
…I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.

41. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
A – What differing opinions did Johnson’s advisors have about Vietnam?
Some argued for US escalation in Vietnam, claiming it was vital to stop the spread of communism .
George Ball argued against escalation, believing it would be easier to get into the Vietnam War than to get out.

42. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
B – Why did the U.S. forces have difficulty fighting the Vietcong?
The Vietcong’s guerilla tactics and their superior knowledge of the terrain.

43. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
C – In what way did the United States underestimate the Vietcong?
The US believed the Vietcong would give up the fight due to the massive number of casualties.

44. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
D – What factors led to the low morale of U.S. troops?
Frustration of guerrilla warfare, the jungle conditions, and the continuing instability of the South Vietnamese govt.

45. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
E – What led to the growing concern in America about the Vietnam War?
The continued reports of American casualties, television coverage, and the Johnson administration’s credibility gap