Why did war break out?Why did the US get involved?

• All to use sources to identify why war broke out

• Most to explain why US involvement increased.

• Some to begin to recognise the weaknesses of the USA’s foreign policy.

1. According to Sources A-D why did the Civil War break out in Vietnam?

2. Why were the Vietminh popular?

3. Look at Sources E- H. Why did America get involved in the Vietnam war?

Source DSource C: WWW. SpartacusHistory.co.uk

When it became clear that Ngo Dinh Diem had no intention of holding elections for a united Vietnam, his political opponents began to consider alternative ways of obtaining their objectives. Some came to the conclusion that violence was the only way to persuade Diem to agree to the terms of the 1954 Geneva Conference. The year following the cancelled elections saw a large increase in the number of people leaving their homes to form armed groups in the forests of Vietnam. At first they were not in a position to take on the South Vietnamese Army and instead concentrated on what became known as 'soft targets'. In 1959, an estimated 1,200 of Diem's government officials were murdered.

Source B Vietminh directives (1948) (1) Not to do what is likely to damage the land and crops or spoil the houses and belongings of the people.(2) Not to insist on buying or borrowing what the people are not willing to sell or lend.(3) Never to break our word.(4) Not to do or speak what is likely to make people believe that we hold them in contempt.(5) To help them in their daily work (harvesting, fetching firewood carrying water, sewing, etc.) (6) In spare time, to tell amusing, simple, and short stories useful to the Resistance, but not to betray secrets.(7) Whenever possible to buy commodities for those who live far from the market.(8) To teach the population the national script and elementary hygiene.

Source ESource F

Source G

Source H

American Involvement

• Between 1954 – 1964 America’s involvement in Vietnam’s Civil War gradually increased. However, it was still limited to providing financial support and advisors who were not supposed to fight. Both Eisenhower and Kennedy believed that containing the Communist threat was paramount. However, neither wanted to commit to a full scale war.

• However, the South Vietnamese forces were making little headway, and were greatly unstable. In 1964 the Gulf of Tonkin incident took place, and President LBJ took the opportunity to increase American’s involvement in the war. IN 1965 American forces were sent in on bombing raids, and by the end of the year, over 200,000 ground troops had been sent in.

Why did America’s involvement escalate?

Useful You Tube exerts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd6zKqGcaOM War of Vietnam – Gulf of Tonkin incident. (8 min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXmxfCvO7lA&NR=1 What really happened at Tonkin Gulf? (6 min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWAmAOctuxI&feature=related Gulf of Tonkin incident (2 min)

Tasks:

1. What was so fundamental about the Ho Chi Minh Trail to the Vietcong and why was it in Laos and Cambodia?

2. Why did Johnson send in military troops? Give details. Make sure you use source B in your answer.