The Vietnam Conflict (U.S. involvement)

Background  Vietnam was originally one country  After WWII, war vs. French colonialists to free Vietnam  France lost and Geneva Peace Conference temporarily divided Vietnam  In 1958, communist backed guerrillas begin battle vs. South Vietnam govt. and civil war between North Vietnam and South Vietnam begins  The North was “communist”; South was “democratic”

U. S. Involvement Begins Happened during the Cold War – U.S. was DETERMINED to stop the spread of communism, so advisors were sent to help the South WAR WAS NEVER ACTUALLY DECLARED – yet more and more troops committed (536,000 in 1968) Fueled by fear of the “Domino Theory” VERY controversial in U.S.

The Enemy Regular soldiers from North Vietnam (the NVA) Guerrillas from the South (officially the National Liberation Front) but nicknamed: Vietcong Congs VC Victor Charlie Charlie

Difficult War for U.S. Troops Difficult terrain – jungles, rain, rice paddies, mountains, extensive tunnel system South Vietnamese on BOTH sides – hard for U.S. GIs to know who was the enemy and who wasn’t Costly for the U.S. – Over 58,000 U.S. soldiers killed Costly for Vietnam - between million killed

DIFFICULT WAR vietnam-in-hd/videos/cu-chi- tunnels-deconstructed#cu-chi- tunnels-deconstructed vietnam-in-hd/videos/cu-chi- tunnels-deconstructed#cu-chi- tunnels-deconstructed

PROTEST AT HOME Draft Resistance – People went to jail or fled the country to avoid service Marches Sit-Ins Demonstrations Protest Music Draft Card burnings

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The Soldiers Who Fought