THE VIETNAM WAR YEARS

(1954-1975)

IN THIS CHAPTER YOU WILL LEARN

ABOUT THE CAUSES AND IMPACT OF THE

WAR IN VIETNAM

LEARNING GOALS

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

• WHAT WERE THE MILITARY AND POLITICAL EVENTS OF THE VIETNAM WAR AND HOW DID THIS CONFLICT IMPACT LIFE IN THE U.S.?

OBJECTIVES

• EXPLAIN WHY THE U.S. BECAME INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT.

• DESCRIBE HOW THE VIETNAM WAR ENDED.

• IDENTIFY THE WAR’S LASTING EFFECTS ON THE U.S.

MOVING TOWARD CONFLICT• HO CHI MINH

• LEADER OF COMMUNIST NORTH VIETNAM.

• DOMINO THEORY

• IF A NATION FALLS UNDER COMMUNIST CONTROL, NEARBY NATIONS WILL ALSO FALL BECOME COMMUNIST.

• VIETCONG

• SOUTH VIETNAMESE COMMUNISTS WHO FOUGHT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH VIETNAM.

• HO CHI MINH TRAIL

• PATHS USED BY N.V. TO TRANSPORT SUPPLIES TO THE VIETCONG.

• TONKIN GULF RESOLUTION

• AFTER AN ATTACK ON U.S. NAVAL SHIP, PRESIDENT JOHNSON ASKED TO USE ALL NECESSARY MEASURES TO PREVENT FURTHER AGGRESSION.

U.S. INVOLVEMENT & ESCALATION• 1964 CAMPAIGN: “I WILL NOT SEND AMERICAN

BOYS 9 OR 10,000 MILES AWAY TO DO WHAT ASIAN BOYS OUGHT TO BE DOING”

• AFTER WINNING ELECTION JOHNSON IMMEDIATELY SENDS TROOPS.

• CHEMICAL WARFARE

• NAPALM: GASOLINE-BASED BOMB SET THE JUNGLE ON FIRE.

• AGENT ORANGE: LEAF-KILLING TOXIC CHEMICAL.

• SEARCH & DESTROY

• UPROOT CIVILIANS, KILL LIVESTOCK, BURN VILLAGES, AND WAIT FOR AN AMBUSH.

• CREDIBILITY GAP

• JOHNSON TELLING U.S. WAR IS GOING GREAT, BUT NEWS COVERAGE JUST SHOWS LOTS OF DEAD AMERICANS.

A NATION DIVIDED• DRAFT

• 1 YEAR TOUR OF DUTY IN VIETNAM. 80% WERE LOWER INCOME WHITES & MINORITIES.

• DOVE• WITHDRAW FROM VIETNAM IMMEDIATELY.

• HAWK• MORE MILITARY FORCE NEEDS TO BE SENT TO VIETNAM.

• TET OFFENSIVE• MASSIVE SURPRISE ATTACK BY THE VIETCONG ON SOUTH

VIETNAMESE TOWNS AND CITIES. TURNING POINT OF THE WAR.

• ROBERT KENNEDY ASSASSINATION• RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 1968 TO PULL TROOPS OUT

OF VIETNAM.

END & LEGACY OF THE WAR

• VIETNAMIZATION

• GRADUAL WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. TROOPS & REPLACED BY SOUTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS.

• MY LAI

• AMERICAN PLATOON MASSACRES 200 INNOCENT WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND ELDERLY. 1 OFFICER CONVICTED & IMPRISONED.

• KENT STATE UNIVERSITY

• STUDENTS BURNT DOWN ROTC BUILDING & NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS FIRED INTO GROUP OF UNARMED STUDENTS.

• PENTAGON PAPERS

• SHOWED SIDE OF VIETNAM WAR THAT HAD BEEN HIDDEN FROM THE PUBLIC.

• WAR POWERS ACT

• PRESIDENT CAN SEND TROOPS FOR 60 DAYS WITHOUT CONGRESS.