The Vietnam War: Origins and US Involvement FOCUS QUESTION: Why did the US become involved in Vietnam? 1964-1973

Recap Which countries are COMMUNIST by the year 1960? Who becomes President after JFK is assassinated in 1963? What was the name of LBJ’s domestic policy? How did most of the American public view LBJ ?

Origins of the War French Occupation (1877-1940) Japanese Occupation (1940-1945) Late 1945 – France sent troops back to Vietnam to take back the country France is resisted by a COMMUNIST Vietnamese man: Ho Chi Minh

Why does the U.S. help France try to regain Vietnam? The Domino Theory! (idea that if Vietnam fell to communism, its neighbors would follow) Keep Communism CONTAINED!

Geneva Accords: Vietnam Divided at 17th Parallel North Vietnam Government: Communist Leader: Ho Chi Minh Army: Vietminh

Geneva Accords: Vietnam Divided at 17th Parallel Government: Democracy South Vietnam Government: Democracy Leader: Ngo Dinh Diem Army: Vietcong

Who do you think the U.S. will support? WHY? Ngo Dinh Diem Ho Chi Minh

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Aug. 1964) US ships fired on in the Tonkin Gulf LBJ gets permission from Congress to send troops to Vietnam Gives LBJ huge war powers! “Aggression by terror against peaceful villages of Southern Vietnam has now been joined by open aggression on the high seas against the United States of America” - LBJ

Military Strategies Lead to a Stalemate Vietcong US Know terrain well, able to blend in with citizens Will pay any price for victory Better weapons Guerilla warfare; ambushes, booby traps, land mines Bombing, search and destroy, Agent Orange Advantages Military Strategies

Effects of Agent Orange aka Napalm

Operation Rolling Thunder U.S. dropped bombs continuously on North Vietnam

The Tet Offensive Surprise attack by North Vietnam on over 100 towns and Saigon (capital of South Vietnam) The US looked really bad for not being prepared!! Turning point of US public opinion – they start to think the war is a bad idea

My Lai Massacre US troops attacked this village and killed 200 women and children Makes the US public angry at the war & the soldiers

Picture published all over the world. How does the U.S. look now? My Lai Massacre Picture published all over the world. How does the U.S. look now?

Effects of the Vietnam War 58,000 US and 2 Million Vietnamese die Vietnam is unified under Communism US troops return home to mixed public reaction Americans don’t trust in their leaders War Powers Act requires a president to get approval from Congress to keep troops somewhere more than 90 days

Ticket Out Why did the U.S. Get involved in Vietnam? Could the Vietnam War have been avoided? If so, how? If not, why not?