1. Vietnam War: “Americanizing the War”
Focus Question:
What were the causes and effects of America’s growing involvement in the Vietnam War?

2. American Strategies-1965
Increase military presence in Vietnam and increase
the fighting
“Americanize the War”
General William Westmoreland

3. “Americanizing” the War
Between
6 million tons of bombs on the enemy (3x more than WWII)

4. American Strategy Napalm Agent Orange
In addition to conventional weapons the U.S. will utilize chemical warfare:
Napalm
Agent Orange

5. American Strategy In addition to airstrikes: American troops landed in
Vietnam March 8, 1965
Guarded bases-
ex. Da Nang
Search and destroy to
kill enemy guerillas-VC

7. Vietcong Doctrine: A Determined Enemy
Supplied with weapons, food,
and fighters along the
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Ho Chi Minh compared
his troops to a tiger
Traveled light carrying a
Rifle and some rice
Dug tunnels during the day
Attacked at night
**Wear down the enemy**

10. American Results
Did:
disrupt industry and slow supplies, but not enough to divide Vietminh & Vietcong
Did Not:
Cause the North Vietnamese to surrender or lose morale

11. The war escalates
By 1968: escalation of troops 500,000 soldiers 30,000 deaths America’s Mission: to help South Vietnam build a stable government and win the hearts and minds of its citizens However, many Americans question who is our enemy?

12. Defeating the Enemy Fought smaller battles Small unit abilities
Vietcong and NVA avoided significant engagements
Fought smaller battles
Small unit abilities
Had knowledge of the land

13. Battlefield Conditions
Neutral Cover Enemy clad in black pajamas Fighting at night Not knowing your enemy

14. Women in War
About 10,000 women served
Mostly as nurses

15. Morale Declines
By 1965 most
soldiers had
been drafted

16. Effect on the Economy Raised taxes Cut back on Great Society programs
Enormous cost of fighting the war
Government:
Raised taxes
Cut back on Great Society programs

17. Anti-War Movement Begins
After Tonkin Gulf—Congress split on escalation of war by 1967
Hawks:
mostly conservative
Believed in containment policy
Accepted rising troop rates, rising costs and rising battlefield deaths
Crucial front in the Cold War

18. Anti-War Movement Begins
Doves:
Liberal politicians, pacifists, student radicals, civil rights leaders
Questioned the war on moral and strategic grounds
Was a localized civil war
William Fulbright began hearings in to investigate conflict- National Civil War or Cold War conflict?