Station 1: Geography

Station 2: Protesting Treatment of Buddhists by S. Vietnam Government

A mixture of a thickening/gelling agent and fuel like petroleum for use in an incendiary device. It was used primarily as an anti-personnel weapon that sticks to skin and causes severe burns when on fire. Napalm was developed in 1942, in a secret laboratory at Harvard University. "Napalm is the most terrible pain you can imagine," said Kim Phuc, a napalm bombing survivor known from a famous Vietnam War photograph. "Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius (212°F). Napalm generates temperatures of 800 to 1,200 degrees Celsius (1,500-2,200°F).“ Napalm is effective against dug-in enemy personnel. The burning incendiary composition flows into foxholes, bunkers and other improvised troop shelters. Even people in undamaged shelters can be killed by hyperthermia/heat stroke, dehydration, suffocation, smoke exposure, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Station 5: Napalm

Station 6: Agent Orange A herbicide and defoliant used to destroy forests and crops by the U.S. in Vietnam. Agent Orange used TCDD, an extremely toxic compound. In some areas, TCDD concentrations in soil and water were hundreds of times greater than the levels considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency. In August of 1961, the South Vietnamese initiated herbicide operations with American help. This launched a policy debate in the U.S.. However, U.S. officials considered using it, pointing out that the British had already used herbicides and defoliants during the Malayan Emergency in the 1950s. In November 1961, President Kennedy authorized the start of Operation Ranch Hand, the codename for the U.S. herbicide program in Vietnam. The Vietnam Red Cross reported as many as 3 million Vietnamese people have been affected by Agent Orange, including at least 150,000 children born with birth defects. According to Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange, resulting in 400,000 people being killed or maimed, and 500,000 children born with birth defects. Women had higher rates of miscarriage and stillbirths, as did livestock such as cattle, water buffalo, and pigs.

Station 8: Political Cartoons

Station 1: Geography Use the station map and map on page 401 in your textbook to copy the Ho Chi Minh Trail and label and color the countries of SE Asia. Why would it be useful for the Vietnamese to send supplies through other countries? Station 2: Photo-analysis Why might this man and others have gone to such extremes? How might this have affected people at home? Station 3: Primary sources pg. 403 in your textbook What are specific arguments being made for both sides? Do you think that getting involved in Vietnam was the right choice for the U.S.? Why? Station 4: LBJ Speech Why does President Johnson say that the U.S. is getting involved in Vietnam militarily? Was it appropriate for the U.S. to increase its involvement? Use evidence from text. Station 5: Profile on Napalm Why might this be effective against guerillas? Why might this be unethical? Station 6: Profile on Agent Orange Was use of this weapon Justifiable? Why or why not? Station 7: Website - http://www.5rar.asn.au/weapons/boobytraps.htm Why would guerillas use these types of weapons? What are their advantages? Why would these be particularly harmful to the U.S. war effort? Station 8: Political Cartoons What do all of these cartoons say about U.S. actions in Vietnam? Are they positive or negative views? Pick one of the three cartoons and describe its message specifically.