Today’s ObjectiveToday’s Objective

We will explain reasons why the We will explain reasons why the United States got involved in the United States got involved in the

Vietnam War.Vietnam War.

Sub-ObjectiveSub-ObjectiveWe will describe the impact of events such We will describe the impact of events such

as the as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the War Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the War

Powers Act.Powers Act.

The Vietnam The Vietnam WarWar

SEs: 2B, 8D, 8E, 8F, 20A

State StandardsState Standards8d (r)8d (r) Explain reasonsExplain reasons and outcomes and outcomes for U.S. for U.S.

involvement in foreign countries and their involvement in foreign countries and their relationship to the Domino Theory, relationship to the Domino Theory, including the Vietnam War.including the Vietnam War.

20a (s)20a (s) Describe the impact of events Describe the impact of events such as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and such as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the War Powers Actthe War Powers Act on the relationship on the relationship between the legislative and executive between the legislative and executive branches of government.branches of government.

8f (r)8f (r) Describe the responses to the Vietnam War such as the draft, the 26th Amendment, the role of the media, the credibility gap, the silent majority, and the anti-war movement.

Independent Independent PracticePractice

Create a flow map that identifies and Create a flow map that identifies and analyzes the events leading to the analyzes the events leading to the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam U.S. involvement in the Vietnam

conflict.conflict.

Key figures in the Vietnam WarKey figures in the Vietnam War

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh William William Westmoreland Westmoreland

American commander American commander in Vietnam who told in Vietnam who told American people that American people that

we were close to we were close to winning the war, even winning the war, even

though we weren’tthough we weren’t

Communist leader Communist leader of North Vietnam of North Vietnam who led the efforts who led the efforts to unify Vietnam, to unify Vietnam, he was a hero to he was a hero to most Vietnamesemost Vietnamese

Robert Robert McNamaraMcNamara U.S. Secretary of U.S. Secretary of

Defense during the Defense during the Vietnam War who Vietnam War who

made the American made the American public feel like we public feel like we

were winning the war were winning the war

Key figures in the Key figures in the Vietnam WarVietnam War

Richard Richard NixonNixonPresident of President of

the U.S. during the U.S. during the latter part the latter part of the Vietnam of the Vietnam

War; he War; he expanded the expanded the

war into war into CambodiaCambodia

Lyndon B. Lyndon B. Johnson Johnson President during President during

much of Vietnam much of Vietnam War; greatly War; greatly escalated the escalated the U.S. soldier U.S. soldier

involvement in involvement in the conflict the conflict

John F. John F. KennedyKennedyPresident of U.S. President of U.S. during the during the

beginning of the beginning of the Vietnam War who Vietnam War who sent advisors to sent advisors to help the South help the South

VietnameseVietnamese

For most of the 20For most of the 20thth century, century, southeast Asia -- including Vietnam southeast Asia -- including Vietnam -- was a possession of France and -- was a possession of France and was known as French Indochina.was known as French Indochina.

French IndochinaFrench Indochina

Battle of Dien Bien Battle of Dien Bien PhuPhu

After hundreds of years of colonial After hundreds of years of colonial rule, Vietnam won its independence rule, Vietnam won its independence when it defeated the French in the when it defeated the French in the

Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

Vietnam Vietnam independenceindependence

The person who led the Vietnamese to The person who led the Vietnamese to victory was a revolutionary by the name victory was a revolutionary by the name

of Ho Chi Minh who led a group of of Ho Chi Minh who led a group of freedom fighters called the Vietminh.freedom fighters called the Vietminh.

Vietnam DividedVietnam Divided

Vietnam was divided into North and Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam at the 17South Vietnam at the 17thth parallel at parallel at

the Geneva Convention of 1954. South the Geneva Convention of 1954. South Vietnam was a democracy while North Vietnam was a democracy while North

Vietnam established a communist Vietnam established a communist government.government.

Vietnam in the Vietnam in the ’50s’50s

For the next For the next decade, North decade, North

and South and South Vietnam fought Vietnam fought each other for each other for control of the control of the government.government.

Creation of SEATOCreation of SEATO

Domino TheoryDomino Theory

The Domino Theory was the belief The Domino Theory was the belief that if one country fell to that if one country fell to

communism, other nations around it communism, other nations around it would eventually fall as well.would eventually fall as well.

N. Vietnam becoming a communist N. Vietnam becoming a communist state made the U.S. fear that all of state made the U.S. fear that all of

Southeast Asia would fall to Southeast Asia would fall to communism and we needed to communism and we needed to

intervene to stop it.intervene to stop it.

U.S. Supports S. U.S. Supports S. VietnamVietnam

The U.S. gave its support to South The U.S. gave its support to South Vietnam, a democracy, and its Vietnam, a democracy, and its

leader, Ngo Dinh Diemleader, Ngo Dinh Diem

South Vietnam South Vietnam problemsproblems

Many South Vietnamese Many South Vietnamese hated Ngo because he was hated Ngo because he was

corrupt, he was westernized, corrupt, he was westernized, and he did not govern in the and he did not govern in the best interest of the citizens.best interest of the citizens.

South Vietnam South Vietnam problemsproblems

Ngo’s harsh treatment of Vietnamese Ngo’s harsh treatment of Vietnamese Buddhists led to some Buddhist monks Buddhists led to some Buddhist monks setting themselves on fire in protest of setting themselves on fire in protest of

Ngo’s rule.Ngo’s rule.

U.S. Supports S. U.S. Supports S. VietnamVietnam

Critics said the United States was Critics said the United States was worried about Vietnam only for worried about Vietnam only for

imperialist purposes and called Ngo imperialist purposes and called Ngo a puppet of the U.S.a puppet of the U.S.

U.S. role in U.S. role in VietnamVietnam

Until 1964, the United States did not Until 1964, the United States did not have any direct military involvement have any direct military involvement

in Vietnam. We only acted as advisors in Vietnam. We only acted as advisors to the South Vietnamese.to the South Vietnamese.

Gulf of Tonkin Gulf of Tonkin Incident Incident

USS MaddoxIn August 1964, North Vietnam was In August 1964, North Vietnam was accused of firing on two U.S. warships accused of firing on two U.S. warships in the Gulf of Tonkin, which is off the in the Gulf of Tonkin, which is off the

coast of Vietnam.coast of Vietnam.

Gulf of Tonkin Gulf of Tonkin Incident Incident

Johnson responded by ordering U.S. Johnson responded by ordering U.S. airplanes to attack North Vietnam, airplanes to attack North Vietnam, marking the first time the U.S. used marking the first time the U.S. used

military force in the conflict.military force in the conflict.

Just as in Korea, many Americans Just as in Korea, many Americans believed the Chinese were behind the believed the Chinese were behind the

North Vietnamese effort to spread North Vietnamese effort to spread communism throughout southeast communism throughout southeast

Asia.Asia.

Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution

With the Gulf of With the Gulf of Tonkin Tonkin Resolution Resolution Congress Congress handed over handed over war powers to war powers to the president the president

Johnson asked Johnson asked Congress Congress authorize the authorize the use force to use force to defend defend American American forcesforces

The President had the The President had the powerpowerto send U.S. troops into to send U.S. troops into battle without a battle without a declaration of wardeclaration of war

The U.S. Constitution says The U.S. Constitution says that the president must ask that the president must ask for Congress to declare war for Congress to declare war in order to send U.S. troops in order to send U.S. troops

into battle. into battle.

Small group purposeful Small group purposeful talktalk

Is this still necessary today? Is this still necessary today? Discuss with a partner and Discuss with a partner and be prepared to share your be prepared to share your

thoughts.thoughts.

Guerrilla WarfareGuerrilla Warfare

The Vietnam Conflict was a war of The Vietnam Conflict was a war of guerrilla warfare , guerrilla warfare , which is a type of which is a type of

warfare when unconventional methods warfare when unconventional methods such as sabotage and ambushes are such as sabotage and ambushes are

performed by armed civilians.performed by armed civilians.

Vietcong Vietcong

The Vietcong (also known as the NLF) The Vietcong (also known as the NLF) was the guerrilla army that used hit-was the guerrilla army that used hit-and-run tactics against the U.S. and and-run tactics against the U.S. and

the South Vietnamese.the South Vietnamese.

VietcongVietcong

The Vietcong were South Vietnamese The Vietcong were South Vietnamese Communists who fought on the side of Communists who fought on the side of

the North Vietnamese for Vietnam’s the North Vietnamese for Vietnam’s unification.unification.

Vietcong AdvantagesVietcong Advantages

They were familiar with the They were familiar with the landscape (rivers, lakes, etc.)landscape (rivers, lakes, etc.)

They could find a safe haven in They could find a safe haven in Cambodia, Laos or South VietnamCambodia, Laos or South Vietnam

They could often count on the They could often count on the support of the local populationsupport of the local population

The Ho Chi Minh The Ho Chi Minh TrailTrail

Red line indicates Ho Chi Minh Red line indicates Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos and CambodiaTrail through Laos and Cambodia

The path that ran from The path that ran from North Vietnam to South North Vietnam to South Vietnam through Laos Vietnam through Laos

and Cambodia that was a and Cambodia that was a supply line for the supply line for the

Vietcong.Vietcong.

Operation Rolling Operation Rolling ThunderThunder

U.S. bombing campaign against U.S. bombing campaign against the North Vietnam from 1965-the North Vietnam from 1965-1968 that was intended to get 1968 that was intended to get

North Vietnam to stop supporting North Vietnam to stop supporting South Vietnamese guerrillas.South Vietnamese guerrillas.

Operation Rolling Operation Rolling ThunderThunder

Operation Rolling Thunder was the Operation Rolling Thunder was the most intense air/ground battle waged most intense air/ground battle waged

during the Cold Warduring the Cold War

Tet OffensiveTet OffensiveHeading into Heading into 1968, most 1968, most Americans Americans were led to were led to believe that believe that

victory in victory in Vietnam was Vietnam was just a short just a short time away.time away.But on the Vietnamese New Year, But on the Vietnamese New Year,

known as Tet, the Vietcong and the known as Tet, the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese launched a surprise North Vietnamese launched a surprise

attack on the South.attack on the South.