RAH Day 20 Enduring Understanding(s) Following the Civil Rights Act, the Civil Rights movement shifted from civil disobedience to violent resistance due to the unfulfilled promises of federal legislation. Essential Questions Watch “A Time for Justice” and complete the video View pictures from race riots and read Kerner Commission Identify key differences between civil rights battles in the South and the North

Moving toward conflict Turn to Page #1 of Vietnam Packet Work in your groups to fill out timeline (5 minutes) Pg. 175-180, 202-208 Questions?

Causes for War in ‘Nam For about 1000 yrs before the 8th century C.E., Vietnam was ruled by China: Vietnamese always rebelled From the 8th C until the 19th C Vietnamese culture had a major theme: repel invaders by guerilla war France’s first attempt at colonization was in 1802 then from 1858 they conducted wars of conquest until France completely controlled Nam by 1883 – But there were always rebels trying to oust France

How the Cold War helped cause ‘Nam France’s enemy in its attempt to retake Vietnam was “Uncle” Ho Chi Minh and his League for Vietnamese Independence (Viet Minh) he had communist leanings and got military assistance from USSR (3.) Ho and the Viet Minh violent resist the return of French colonization Therefore, (4. ) helping France grew more important to Truman and the US (5. ) The US sent money and military supplies to the French war effort in Vietnam Because (6.)The Cold War spread and communism seemed to spread in Europe through the 1940s – then China, in Asia, fell to communism in 1949 – the US could not see both France in Europe and Vietnam in Asia fall to communism – it would violate containment

Background to the War The French lost the war to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu President Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France, seeing it as a lost cause. (8.) France more or less surrendered and negotiated a peace settlement called the Geneva Accords of 1954 Ho Chi Minh had been fighting for Vietnamese independence since World War I. The U.S. gave France aid to win its support in American anticommunist efforts in Western Europe.

Background to the War (9.) International Conference at Geneva Vietnam was divided at 17th parallel Ho Chi Minh’s nationalist forces controlled the North Ngo Dinh Diem, a French and US-educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the South The two sides agreed that national elections would occur in 1956 Realizing he would Diem backs out of elections.

Background to the War (7.) Ike saw the southeast Asian nations as a row of dominos that would fall to communism if Vietnam fell first. (10.)With Eisenhower’s approval, Diem backed out of the elections, because: Ho Chi Minh seemed like everyone’s Uncle in ‘Nam – he is very popular Ho seems to Americans to be a communist Ho would win a nation-wide election Diem holds a mock-election where he wins through voter fraud Vietnam remains split: North under Ho and South under Diem with American financial support Realizing he would lose, Diem backed out of elections.

U.S. Military Involvement Begins Repressive dictatorial rule by Diem Diem is Catholic in a 90% Buddhist country Diem is wealthy, western educated, aristocratic in 90% poor, rural, peasant Diem’s family holds all power Wealth is hoarded by the elite Buddhist majority persecuted Torture, lack of political freedom prevail Resistance to Diem increasingly occurs in the South The U.S. aided Diem’s government and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) to stabilize Diem’s government Ike sent financial and military aid 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960. Realizing he would Diem backs out of elections.

Early Protests of Diem’s Government Self-Immolation by a Buddhist Monk

U.S. Military Involvement Begins Kennedy elected 1960 The Viet Cong (VC) (National Liberation Front) is organized in the South to fight against Diem’s regime Ho supports the Viet Cong by sending them supplies and leadership from the North Diem’s regime continues corruption and the fight against the VC with increased US help JFK Increased military “advisors” to 16,000 as part of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (SOG) 1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese military coup d’etat – Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2) Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. 22) Kennedy’s advisors were clearly fighting a covert war by 1963. MacNamara has suggested that he believes Kennedy would have pulled the U.S. out, but evidence in inconclusive. JFK realizes Diem is a liability; offers quiet support to a Vietnamese military coup d’etat. The coup results in the brutal murders of Diem and his brother The Vietnamese generals overthrow one another. A relatively stable, but tyrannical government emerges. It is little better than Diem’s.

Tonkin Gulf Incident and Resolution #10 August 2, 1964 – USS Maddox was in the Gulf of Tonkin collecting SigInt concurrent with an ARVN Commando Raid. NVN torpedo boats attacked and hit the Maddox with one 14.5 mm cannon round. August 4 USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy return to the area, but that night the weather was very stormy, and what they thought were torpedo attacks were just noise fro the stormy seas and an “overeager” sonarman. August 5, 1964 President Johnson goes on TV and Robert McNamara before Congress, and tells the US of the “unprovoked attacks” and that the US needs to protect its interests and people from Communist aggression. August 7, 1964 – Tonkin Gulf Resolution - Congress authorized the President to use any measures necessary to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against US forces and to prevent further aggression” #11 – Operation Rolling Thunder – 1st sustained bombing campaign on the North’s bridges, ports, military targets, power plants and ammunition depots.

Explain the Conflict in Vietnam Vietnam Perspective: Southern Vietnamese rebels organize into the National Liberation Front (or Vietcong) with the help of Ho Chi Minh (Leader of North Vietnam). They are fighting a guerilla war in order to reunite Vietnam against the repressive government in South Vietnam (led by Ngo Dinh Diem). Had been fighting since 1957. United States Perspective: first used “military advisers” and special forces, along with money to help out Diem. Wanted to Stop Communism and protect Economic interests. After coup removed + killed Diem, the U.S. ESCALATED war in Vietnam in 1965 following the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964)

US Involvement and Escalation Lyndon Johnson – President who used the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to increasingly escalate US Military action in ‘nam (however, he was nervous about the success of the war. Didn’t like it) - Robert McNamara – Secretary of Defense who supported escalation - Dean Rusk – Secretary of State argued for escalation as part of the overall cold war containment policy - William Westmoreland was the commanding General in Vietnam who argued for more and more troops - Congress authorized the President to use any measures necessary to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against US forces and to prevent further aggression” - American public opinion was heavily in favor of the war for the first 3 years – politicians were generally wary about arguing against war for fear they would be labeled as soft on communism and not be reelected

Military Strategy in Vietnam View the video and fill out G.O. section “U.S. military strategies result in a bloody stalemate”

US Involvement and Escalation US military advantages: - owned the skies with fighter and bomber aircraft - training - weapons medical care supplies -more money VC military advantages: - owned the night - used terror knew the terrain could easily hide in plain sight Willing to DIE

US Involvement and Escalation US military strategies - napalm - heavy carpet bombing - search and destroy - zippo raids war of attrition - agent orange winning hearts and minds VC strategies: - ambushes - booby traps snipers - punji pits hit and run - suicide bombings Willing to DIE

US Involvement and Escalation The US Economy – inflation went up, taxes went up Money for the Great Society decreased Television – the Vietnam war has been referred to as the living room war because the nightly news showed us images from the war – and in many cases grisly images of death and destruction The Fulbright Hearings (1966) – Senator Fulbright’s committee investigated the war effort, in the course of which the truthfulness of government officials was questioned. Began an increasing feeling of unease with the war.

Political Cartoon Draw a Cartoon that displays a specific viewpoint on escalation in the Vietnam War Will be graded as a 10-point class assignment based on whether: A. It has a clear viewpoint B. It is neat C. It is creative D. It demonstrates knowledge of the situation.