1. Focus your answer on the period 1964-1975.
Analyze the ways in which the Vietnam War heightened social, political, and economic tensions in the United States.
Focus your answer on the period

2. French Indochina War
France attempted to reestablish rule in Vietnam after World War II.
1950: U.S. supported France’s battle against the communist-led Vietminh
Ho Chi Minh had declared N.V. an independent nation in 1945 (against Japan)
Truman sent $15 million to France

3. 1954: Geneva Accords
Vietminh took control of French outpost at Dien Bien Phu.
French surrendered in May 1954
Treaty in July 1954 temporarily divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel

4. North Vietnam: Vietminh
Capital: Hanoi
Leader: Ho Chi Minh
Broke up land, redistribute to peasants
South Vietnam
Capital: Saigon
Leader: Ngo Dinh Diem
Strong anti-communist

5. 1954: Domino Theory Eisenhower explained the domino theory
Countries on the brink of communism are like a row of dominoes waiting to fall one after the other

6. 1957: National Liberation Front
Communist opposition group in the South, the Vietcong, that attacked the Diem government.
Ho Chi Minh supported the group, started supplying weapons along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

8. 1963: JFK
“In the final analysis, it is their war. They are the ones who have to win it or lose it. We can help them, we can give them equipment, we can send our men out there as advisers, but they have to win it, the people of Vietnam, against the Communists But I don't agree with those who say we should withdraw. That would be a great mistake.”

9. 1963: Overthrow of Diem 163,000 U.S. military in S.V.
November 1, S.V. government overthrown and Diem was assassinated after he refused to resign.

10. Social
Political
Economic

11. 1964: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: Declaration of War
Two U.S. ships were attacked by N.V.
Johnson got Congress to approve airstrikes against N.V. bases
Johnson used sustained bombing campaigns.
Election of 1964: cautious political moves
Social
Political
Economic

12. 1965 General William Westmoreland: War of Attrition
Didn’t feel confident the S.V. army (ARVN) was capable on their own of fighting off Vietcong.
Requested more troops
1967: 500,000 troops
ATTRITION: Wear down the enemy- resources and morale
Search and destroy
Guerrilla tactics: Hit and run
Anyone could be the enemy
City and country
Lived among the S.V. population

14. Intentional Deceit
Johnson tried to control the news media (body count, military tactics and spending)
Moral Justification?
Freedom and Democracy?
$21 billion per year
World War II/Korea: 2.6 million bomb tonnage
Vietnam: 8 million tons
Chemical Warfare from
17.6 million gallons of Agent Orange

15. 1968: Tet Offensive Tet: celebration of the New Year (January 30)
V.Cong had organized a massive amount of weapons along the Ho Chi Minh Trail under the cover of supplies for celebration.
Simultaneous, coordinated attack throughout S.V.
100 towns
Killed 5 Americans at U.S. embassy in
Continued for one month
Guerilla warfare defies conventional military logic

16. Nixon promised to restore law and order and to end the war in Vietnam.

17. Make Love, Not War “Culture of Life” Hippies Baby boomers
Largest generation in U.S. history
Best educated
Critique of American society

18. 1960: The New Left
Youth movement and campus activism demanded sweeping changes
Vietnam war was a civil war, U.S. should not be there
S.V. regime was worse than N.V. communist government
U.S. was not global police
Students for a Democratic Society
Called for greater participation in democracy and individual freedom
Free Speech Movement, 1964
UC Berkeley
Criticized U.S. powerful business and government institutions

19. 1970 Rally of 1,000 students at Kent State U in Ohio
4 students killed by the National Guard
Nixon
"This should remind us all once again that when dissent turns to violence it invites tragedy.”

20. 1964: LBJ’s War On Poverty Economic Opportunity Act (Poverty Bill)
"We shall not rest until that war is won, …the richest nation on Earth can afford to win it. We cannot afford to lose it.“
Economic Opportunity Act (Poverty Bill)
19% Americans were poor
Lack of education and training
Lack of medical care
Lack of housing

21. 1972: The Great Inflation Stock market loses 40% in 18 month period
Interest rates up to 20%
Hard to buy cars and homes
In 1970 the average income per year was $9, and by 1979 was $17, In 1970 a gallon of gas was 36 cents and by 1979 was 86 cents In 1970 the average cost of new car was $3, and by 1979 was $5,770.00

22. 1973: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Ban
Arab oil embargo in response to U.S. support of Israel in the October War, the Arab members of OPEC launched an oil embargo, essentially banning exports to America
Domestic oil production had peaked at a little less than 10 million barrels in 1970 before declining sharply
U.S. became increasingly dependent on suppliers in the oil-rich states of the Middle East.
Oil prices in the U.S. quadrupled.
Price controls led to long lines for gas

23. 1973: Peace with Honor
January 1973, an agreement was reached, and President Nixon ordered an end to all U.S. offensive actions against North Vietnam.

24. 1973: War Powers Act
A president must inform Congress within 48 hours of sending forces into a hostile area without declaration of war.
Troops may remain there no longer than 90 days unless Congress approves the president’s actions or declares war.

25. Focus your answer on the period 1964-1975.
Analyze the ways in which the Vietnam War heightened social, political, and economic tensions in the United States.
Focus your answer on the period