1. Escalation of the War

2. Vietnam After Diem’s refusal for elections, Ho Chi Minh tries to unify Vietnam After Diem’s refusal for elections, Ho Chi Minh tries to unify Vietnam Arms VietcongArms Vietcong Support in North and SouthSupport in North and South Diem was making more people upset Diem was making more people upset America tries to get him to changeAmerica tries to get him to change Religious protestsReligious protests South Vietnamese Generals seize power South Vietnamese Generals seize power New leader was worseNew leader was worse

3. Vietnam Johnson takes over as president Johnson takes over as president Does not want to widen warDoes not want to widen war Does not want to lose warDoes not want to lose war Gulf of Tonkin Gulf of Tonkin Two American Destroyers attackedTwo American Destroyers attacked Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Gives Johnson complete control over warGives Johnson complete control over war

4. Vietnam North Vietnam starts more attacks North Vietnam starts more attacks Johnson retaliates with air strikesJohnson retaliates with air strikes US approval rating is very high US approval rating is very high Starts Operation Rolling Thunder Starts Operation Rolling Thunder 1965- 180,000 troops1965- 180,000 troops 1966- doubled1966- doubled Short quick war, few casualties Short quick war, few casualties

5. Vietnam Vietcong’s strategy makes it difficult to defeat Vietcong’s strategy makes it difficult to defeat Booby traps, guerilla warfareBooby traps, guerilla warfare Avoid confrontation Avoid confrontation America uses search and destroy America uses search and destroy Napalm, agent OrangeNapalm, agent Orange Vietnamese would not surrender Vietnamese would not surrender Kept replenishing soldiersKept replenishing soldiers Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

6. Vietnam LBJ still did not want a full scale attack on Vietnam LBJ still did not want a full scale attack on Vietnam Afraid of USSR and Chinese involvementAfraid of USSR and Chinese involvement War started being gauged based on body count War started being gauged based on body count 1965-67- 220,000 Vietnamese dead, 6,700 US dead1965-67- 220,000 Vietnamese dead, 6,700 US dead Vietnamese would still not surrender Vietnamese would still not surrender