Lesson Objectives: Section 2 - U.S. Involvement and Escalation Standard Addressed: 11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II. Lesson Objectives: Section 2 - U.S. Involvement and Escalation 1. Explain the reasons for the escalation of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. 2. Describe the military tactics and weapons used by U.S. forces and the Vietcong. 3. Explain the impact of the war on American society.

A BULLDOG ALWAYS CARES Commitment Attitude Respect Encouragement Safety

U.S. Involvement and Escalation Section 2 U.S. Involvement and Escalation The United States sends troops to fight in Vietnam, but the war quickly turns into a stalemate. NEXT

U.S. Involvement and Escalation 2 SECTION U.S. Involvement and Escalation Johnson Increases U.S. Involvement Strong Support for Containment LBJ hesitates breaking promise to keep troops out; works with: - Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, Secretary of State Dean Rusk Congress, majority of public support sending troops NEXT

Lyndon B. Johnson made decision to escalate the war. Guided Reading: 1. What role did the following play in the decision to escalate U.S. Involvement in Vietnam? Lyndon B. Johnson made decision to escalate the war.

Robert McNamara Advised president Johnson on escalation of the war. Guided Reading: 1. What role did the following play in the decision to escalate U.S. Involvement in Vietnam? Robert McNamara Advised president Johnson on escalation of the war.

Dean Rusk Advised president Johnson on escalation of the war. Guided Reading: 1. What role did the following play in the decision to escalate U.S. Involvement in Vietnam? Dean Rusk Advised president Johnson on escalation of the war.

U.S. Congress Approved president Johnson’s policies Guided Reading: 1. What role did the following play in the decision to escalate U.S. Involvement in Vietnam? U.S. Congress Approved president Johnson’s policies

American public opinion Approved president Johnson’s policies Guided Reading: 1. What role did the following play in the decision to escalate U.S. Involvement in Vietnam? American public opinion Approved president Johnson’s policies

U.S. Involvement and Escalation 2 SECTION U.S. Involvement and Escalation Johnson Increases U.S. Involvement The Troop Buildup Accelerates General William Westmoreland—U.S. commander in South Vietnam Thinks southern Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) ineffective Requests increasing numbers; by 1967 500,000 U.S. troops NEXT

William Westmoreland Requested more troops Guided Reading: 1. What role did the following play in the decision to escalate U.S. Involvement in Vietnam? William Westmoreland Requested more troops

Guided Reading: Superior weaponry U.S. military strategies result in a bloody stalemate. 2. What military advantages did the Americans have over the Vietcong? Superior weaponry

Fighting in the Jungle A Frustrating War of Attrition 2 SECTION Fighting in the Jungle A Frustrating War of Attrition Westmoreland tries to destroy Vietcong morale through attrition Vietcong receive supplies from China, U.S.S.R.; remain defiant U.S. sees war as military struggle; Vietcong as battle for survival Continued . . . NEXT

Who Is the Enemy? Vietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at night. Very patient people willing to accept many casualties. The US grossly underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness. The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- Mao Zedong

Guided Reading: Knowledge of terrain; U.S. military strategies result in a bloody stalemate. 3. What military advantages did the Vietcong have over the Americans? Knowledge of terrain; Ability to blend in with civilians; Willingness to pay any price for victory

The Battle for “Hearts and Minds” 2 SECTION continued Fighting in the Jungle The Battle for “Hearts and Minds” U.S. wants to stop Vietcong from winning support of rural population Weapons for exposing tunnels often wound civilians, destroy villages - napalm: gasoline-based bomb that sets fire to jungle - Agent Orange: leaf-killing, toxic chemical • Search-and-destroy missions move civilian suspects, destroy property Villagers go to cities, refugee camps; 1967, over 3 million refugees Continued . . . NEXT

The Air War: A Napalm Attack Weapons for exposing tunnels often wound civilians, destroy villages - napalm: gasoline-based bomb that sets fire to jungle

Weapons for exposing tunnels often wound civilians, destroy villages - napalm: gasoline-based bomb that sets fire to jungle - Agent Orange: leaf-killing, toxic chemical

Search-and-destroy missions move civilian suspects, destroy property

Guided Reading: Bombings; War of attrition; 4. What military strategies did the Americans use against the Vietcong? U.S. military strategies result in a bloody stalemate. Bombings; War of attrition; Preventing Vietcong support by South Vietnam’s rural population; The use of napalm and Agent Orange; Search-and-destroy missions

Fighting in the Jungle An Elusive Enemy 2 SECTION Fighting in the Jungle An Elusive Enemy Vietcong use hit-and-run, ambush tactics, move among civilians Tunnels help withstand airstrikes, launch attacks, connect villages Terrain laced with booby traps, land mines laid by U.S., Vietcong Continued . . . NEXT

An Elusive Enemy Vietcong use hit-and-run, ambush tactics, move among civilians Tunnels help withstand airstrikes, launch attacks, connect villages Terrain laced with booby traps, land mines laid by U.S., Vietcong

Guided Reading: Hit-and-run ambushes; Booby traps and land mines; U.S. military strategies result in a bloody stalemate. 5. What military strategies did the Vietcong use against the Americans? Hit-and-run ambushes; Booby traps and land mines; Surprise attacks; Guerilla warfare

2 SECTION continued Fighting in the Jungle Sinking Morale Guerrilla warfare, jungle conditions, lack of progress lower morale Many soldiers turn to alcohol, drugs; some kill superior officers Government corruption, instability lead S. Vietnam to demonstrate NEXT

American Morale Begins to Dip Disproportionate representation of poor people and minorities. Severe racial problems. Major drug problems. Officers in combat 6 mo.; in rear 6 mo. Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo.

2 SECTION continued Fighting in the Jungle Fulfilling a Duty Most U.S. soldiers believe in justice of halting communism Fight courageously, take patriotic pride in fulfilling their duty NEXT

The Early War at Home The Great Society Suffers 2 SECTION The Early War at Home The Great Society Suffers War grows more costly with more troops; inflation rate rising LBJ gets tax increase to pay for war, check inflation - has to accept $6 billion funding cut for Great Society NEXT

Guided Reading: The U.S. economy: Public support for the war begins to waver as a “credibility gap” grows. 6. What role did each of the following play in this change of public opinion? The U.S. economy: The cost of the war led to an increase in inflation and taxes, as well as to a reduction in funding for Great Society programs

The Early War at Home The Living-Room War 2 SECTION The Early War at Home The Living-Room War Combat footage on nightly TV news shows stark picture of war Critics say credibility gap between administration reports and events Senator J. William Fulbright’s hearings add to doubts about war NEXT

The Ground War 1965-1968 No territorial goals Body counts on TV every night (first “living room” war) Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Trail

Guided Reading: Television Brought the war into U.S. living rooms; Public support for the war begins to waver as a “credibility gap” grows. 6. What role did each of the following play in this change of public opinion? Television Brought the war into U.S. living rooms; Contradicted the Johnson administration’s optimism about the war

The Fulbright hearings Guided Reading: Public support for the war begins to waver as a “credibility gap” grows. 6. What role did each of the following play in this change of public opinion? The Fulbright hearings Contributed to the average American’s growing ambivalence about the war.

Impact of the Vietnam War Johnson announces (March, 1968): …I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS A – What differing opinions did Johnson’s advisors have about Vietnam? Some argued for US escalation in Vietnam, claiming it was vital to stop the spread of communism . George Ball argued against escalation, believing it would be easier to get into the Vietnam War than to get out.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS B – Why did the U.S. forces have difficulty fighting the Vietcong? The Vietcong’s guerilla tactics and their superior knowledge of the terrain.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS C – In what way did the United States underestimate the Vietcong? The US believed the Vietcong would give up the fight due to the massive number of casualties.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS D – What factors led to the low morale of U.S. troops? Frustration of guerrilla warfare, the jungle conditions, and the continuing instability of the South Vietnamese govt.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS E – What led to the growing concern in America about the Vietnam War? The continued reports of American casualties, television coverage, and the Johnson administration’s credibility gap