1. The American Nation In the Modern Era
4/6/2017
Chapter 24 WAR IN VIETNAM
Section 1: Background to Conflict
Section 2: The War Escalates
Section 3: A Turning Point
Section 4: The War Ends
CHAPTER 24--WAR IN VIETNAM

2. Objectives: Section 1: Background to Conflict
Why did China and France want to control Vietnam?
Why did the United States refuse to support Vietnamese independence in the 1940s and 1950s?
Why did President Kennedy increase U.S. involvement in Vietnam?

3. Reasons for wanting control of Vietnam
Section 1: Background to Conflict
Reasons for wanting control of Vietnam
China wanted Vietnam’s agricultural resources.
France was imperialistic and wanted colonial possessions.

4. Lack of American support for Vietnamese independence
Section 1: Background to Conflict
Lack of American support for Vietnamese independence
valued France as an ally against communism
disliked Ho Chi Minh’s affiliation with Communist Party
feared the domino effect in Southeast Asia

5. Reasons for increasing American involvement
Section 1: Background to Conflict
Reasons for increasing American involvement
Kennedy believed in the domino theory.
Kennedy wanted to improve U.S. image in the world.

6. Objectives: Section 2: The War Escalates
What constitutional issue did the Tonkin Gulf Resolution raise?
What strategies did U.S. forces use in the Vietnam War?
What role did the media play in the Vietnam War?
Why did some Americans oppose the war, and how did the government respond?

7. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution and the Constitution
Section 2: The War Escalates
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution and the Constitution
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution gave the President the power to respond to aggression without Congressional approval, which meant Congress gave up its constitutional power to declare war.

8. U.S. strategies Section 2: The War Escalates escalation
bombing of targets in the North, then areas of Laos and much of South Vietnam
use of defoliants and napalm
search-and-destroy missions
pacification

9. Role of the media Section 2: The War Escalates
fewer press restrictions than ever before
showed graphic images of the horror of war
gave information concerning corruption in Diem regime and ineptitude of South Vietnamese troops
caused Americans to doubt whether the war was right
caused Americans to doubt if the war could be won

10. American opposition to the war
Section 2: The War Escalates
American opposition to the war
opposed all wars
thought Vietnam War took money from social programs
believed Vietnam was not crucial to U.S. security
feared that nuclear weapons would be used
Government response
The government insisted that the U.S. was defending an ally against aggression.

11. Objectives: Section 3: A Turning Point
Why did the Tet Offensive weaken many Americans’ confidence in their government?
What were the key events of the 1968 presidential campaign?
How did President Nixon attempt to end the war?
How did Americans react to President Nixon’s plan to end the war?

12. The Tet Offensive Section 3: A Turning Point
revealed that no part of South Vietnam was secure
exposed how few South Vietnamese supported their own government
revealed how determined the North Vietnamese were

13. Key events in 1968 campaign Section 3: A Turning Point
March: McCarthy nearly ties Johnson in the New Hampshire primary.
March 31: Johnson withdraws.
June: Robert Kennedy wins California primary and is assassinated.
August: Police attack antiwar protesters at Democratic convention in Chicago.
November: Nixon wins.

14. Nixon’s attempts to end the war
Section 3: A Turning Point
Nixon’s attempts to end the war
begins Vietnamization and gradual withdrawal of American troops
orders widespread bombing in Cambodia

15. American reaction Section 3: A Turning Point
Bombing and invasion of Cambodia caused outrage.
Campus unrest escalated, including the Kent State shootings.
Congress repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

16. Objectives: Section 4: The War Ends
Why did the United States agree to a cease-fire in January 1973?
What long-term effects did the war have on Vietnam and the Vietnamese people?
What long-term effects did the war have on Americans?

17. The cease-fire of 1973 Section 4: The War Ends
In October of 1972, North Vietnam and the U.S. agreed on a peace plan.
South Vietnam’s president, afraid of losing power, rejected the agreement.
North Vietnam demanded the agreement be reinstated, but Nixon ordered round-the-clock bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong instead.
Intensive bombing did not sway the North Vietnamese.
A new agreement, not very different from the first, was reached in January, 1973.

18. Long-term effects on Vietnam and its people
Section 4: The War Ends
Long-term effects on Vietnam and its people
Estimates of dead, orphaned, and disabled ran into millions.
Economy devastated.
North Vietnam united with South Vietnam in 1975.

19. Long-term effects on Americans
Section 4: The War Ends
Long-term effects on Americans
More than 60,000 killed and missing, more than 300,000 wounded.
Veterans badly treated for years.
Americans lost faith in their government.
Congress passed the War Powers Act.
National debt grew and inflation was fueled.