Lesson Title:Why was America defeated

in Vietnam?

Know why America became involved in the Vietnam war

Understand the factors that led to America’s defeat in

Vietnam

Skills: ICT skills, researching selecting and interpreting

information

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Starter

Watch the video clip carefully

Forrest Gump in the Vietnam War:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IPPaZU18rUg

5 mins

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The Vietnam War

• American soldiers were unable to defeat the Vietcong forces

This might seem surprising because…

• US force was made up of 500 000 American soldiers with 700 000 Vietnamese allies = 1 200 000 men!

• American forces had total command of the air and sea

• US were also backed by the most advanced weapons in the world

• The Vietcong only numbered about 250 000, they were outnumbered

Your task is to explain the factors leading to the defeat of the Americans in Vietnam

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Activity

Working in pairs, over the next two lessons you are going to do some research into why America was defeated in Vietnam

You are going to present the findings in a PowerPoint type worksheet that I have already made for you

To access this PowerPoint:• Shared student area• History• Miss Brookes • Vietnam War Activity PowerPoint

Save your own copy of the PowerPoint in your user directory to work from

Follow the hyperlinks in the PowerPoint to research the information you need to complete the different tasks

Let’s have a look together now!

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North Vietnam…

Use this website to find out who fought on each side of the war and why. Put key words in the boxes below:

South Vietnam…

Why was America defeated in Vietnam?

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Why was America defeated in Vietnam?Factor 1: Weapons and resources?

1) Click here. Give a few examples of US weapons and supplies below

2) Click here. Give a few examples of Vietcong weapons and supplies below

3) Who was better equipped? Could this help explain US defeat?

Type your answer to this question here

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Why was America defeated in Vietnam?

Use this website to explain how the two sides fought:Vietcong Tactics:• • • •

American Tactics:• • • •

Do you think tactics could help explain American defeat?

Type your answer to this question here

Factor 2: Tactics?

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Why was America defeated in Vietnam?

The Role of the Media:

Protests:

What were 'draft evaders'?:

Add pictures of protests:

When the war started only a small percentage of the population opposed the war. As it continued, many turned against it. Write a few sentences about the following:

Factor 3: Lack of support at home?

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You have now explored three possible factors:

Weapons and resources – Tactics – Lack of support at home –

• Number them to show which you think was the most important (1 = most, 3 = least)

• Consider why you have chosen as you have

Why was America defeated in Vietnam?

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• You have now explored some different factors that explain why American was defeated in Vietnam.

• You are now ready to answer the question above.• Your answer should be written like this…

Introduction – Why was America in Vietnam?

Paragraph 1 – Most important reason for defeat (weapons and resources, tactics, lack of support at home)

Paragraph 2 – Second reason for defeat(weapons and resources, tactics, lack of support at home)

Paragraph 3 – Least important reason for defeat(weapons and resources, tactics, lack of support at home)

Conclusion – which is the most important reason and why?

Why was America defeated in Vietnam?

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Type your answer here

Why was America defeated in Vietnam?

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This website offers lots of pictures of the Vietnam. Choose a picture which you think sums up each of the following:

• The experiences of American soldiers

• The experiences of Vietcong soldier

• The experiences of Vietnamese civilians

• The new weapons used

• The protests in America against the war

Paste each picture onto the next few slides. Write a caption in the box provided to explain what it is and what you think it tells us about the war.

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The Experiences of American Soldiers

Caption:

Type your caption in here

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The Experiences of Vietcong Soldiers

Caption:

Type your caption in here

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The Experiences of Vietnamese Civilians

Caption:

Type your caption in here

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The New Weapons Used

Caption:

Type your caption in here

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The Protests in America Against the War

Caption:

Type your caption in here

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Homework

Now that you’ve had two lessons to complete the presentation, your task is to finish it off for your homework

Bring the complete slides along to our next lesson

To print six slides on one page…• File• Print• On the ‘Print what’ drop down

menu select ‘Handout’

Make sure you put your name on your work!

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