GOING TO WAR IN VIETNAM Chapter 25, Section 2 By Mr. Bruce Diehl

I. American Involvement Deepens A.The Vietcong 1.Ngo Dinh Diem refused to hold the national elections, 2.Ho Chi Minh and his followers created a new guerrilla army known as the Vietcong. 3.The United States continued to send aid to South Vietnam. 4.The Vietcong’s power continued to grow because many Vietnamese opposed Diem’s government.

Examining What was the main goal of the Vietcong? (p.778)

B.Kennedy and Vietnam 1.Kennedy continued the nation’s policy of support for South Vietnam. 2.He agreed with past presidents that Southeast Asia was important in the battle against communism.

C.The fall of Ngo Dihn Diem 1.Ngo’s government unpopularity increased 2.His government was corrupt 3.He created strategic hamlets – fortified villages to resist the Vietcong 4.He discriminated against Buddhism, one of the country’s most widely practiced religions. 5.Diem was overthrown and later executed. 6.This further weakened South Vietnam’s government, forcing the United States to become more involved.

D. After Kennedy’s assassination, President Lyndon Johnson inherited the problem of Vietnam.

II. Johnson and Vietnam A.At first Johnson was cautious regarding Vietnam…but: 1.He was determined to prevent South Vietnam from becoming Communist. 2.Politically, Democrats needed to keep South Vietnam from becoming Communist or Republicans would use it against them.

B.The Gulf of Tonkin Incident 1.On August 2, 1964, North Vietnamese torpedo boats fired on two American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. 2.A similar attack occurred two days later. 3.The Senate and the House passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution on August 7, The GTR authorized the president to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack on U.S forces. 5.Congress had given its war powers to the president.

B.After the GTR was passed, the Vietcong began attacking bases where American advisers were stationed in South Vietnam. 1.After an attack in February 1965, Johnson sent aircrafts to strike in North Vietnam. 2.Polls showed that Johnson’s approval rating had increased as a result of GTR. 3.Some dissenters in the White House warned that if the United States became too involved, it would be difficult to get out. 4.In March 1965, Johnson increased American involvement 5.American soldiers began fighting alongside the South Vietnamese troops against the Vietcong.

Describing How did politics play a role in President Johnson’s Vietnam policy?(p.779)

III. A bloody Stalemate Emerges A.By 1965 some 180,000 American combat troops were fighting in Vietnam, with the number doubling by B.Most Americans believed they could win in Vietnam.

C.To take Vietcong’s hiding places away, American planes dropped: 1.Napalm, a jellied gasoline that explodes on contact 2.and Agent Orange, a chemical that strips leaves from trees and shrubs. 3.Farmlands and forest were turned into wastelands.

D.Americans underestimated the Vietcong’s strength, stamina and morale. E.Johnson refused to order a full invasion or North Vietnam, fearing China would get involved in the war. F.President Johnson also refused to allow a full-scale attack on the Vietcong’s supply line, known as the Ho Chi Minh trail.

Describing What tactics did the United States adopt to fight the Vietcong?

G.As American casualties increased, many American citizens began questioning the United States involvement in the war.