Mr. Williams 10th Grade U.S. History U.S. in Vietnam Mr. Williams 10th Grade U.S. History

Causes of the Vietnam War Vietnam’s desire for freedom from colonial rule of the French U.S. fears of the spread of communism (Domino Theory) and support of South Vietnam South Vietnam’s failure to comply with the Geneva Accords Efforts of North Vietnam to reunite nation under Communist control

Golf of Tonkin Resolution August 4, 1964, USS Maddox “attacked” by North Vietnamese August 7, Resolution passed by Congress which enabled the president to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the United States” NOT A DECLARATION OF WAR!!!!!!

Operation Rolling Thunder Bombing Campaign in North Vietnam in March 1965 Over 800,000 TONS of bombs dropped cost over $1,000,000,000 Aimed at army bases, airfields, bridges, roads, railways, and power plants especially along the Ho Chi Minh Trail

Search and Destroy General William Westmoreland commander of U.S. troops in South Vietnam ordered thousands of these missions Find Vietcong hideouts Clear them Increase the “BODY COUNT”!!!!!!!

“Our expectations were, we were going to stay there a month to 90 days, help the South Vietnamese recover, and then we would get out…We got this idea that the United States was invincible…that, being U.S. marines, our mere presence in Vietnam was going to terrify the enemy into quitting.”

Pacification Win the “hearts and minds” of the South Vietnamese Construction projects to improve country’s infrastructure and economy Moved people out of their villages when Vietcong were nearby