The Vietnam War

Part 3: Escalation

“If I let the Communists take over South Vietnam, then I would be seen as a coward and my nation would be seen as an appeaser, and we would find it impossible to accomplish anything anywhere on the entire globe.” - Lyndon B. Johnson

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

August 2, 1964: 3 North Vietnamese torpedo boats fire on the USS Maddox. August 4, 1964: USS Maddox crew mistakenly think they are attacked again by North Vietnamese. August 10, 1964: U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Gulf of Tonkin Incident

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Class Reading

Operation Rolling Thunder

March 2, 1965: USAF begins bombing North Vietnam. Targeted Hanoi November 11, 1968: USAF ends Rolling Thunder. 750,000 tons of bombs dropped. Operation Rolling Thunder

U.S. Troop Escalation

March 8, 1965: 3,500 Marines arrive in Da Nang. July 28, 1965: President Johnson announces troop increase. By 1968, over half a million U.S. troops are “in country.” U.S. Troop Escalation

Troop Escalation in Vietnam

Class Discussion What are some of the reasons the U.S. increases its involvement in Vietnam? What are some of the reasons the U.S. increases its involvement in Vietnam? Do you think U.S. troops should have been put into combat? Do you think U.S. troops should have been put into combat? If you were a teenager during the war (18-19) would you have wanted to fight in Vietnam? If you were a teenager during the war (18-19) would you have wanted to fight in Vietnam? If you were drafted would you have tried to dodge going to war? If you were drafted would you have tried to dodge going to war? If there was a draft today would you be willing to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq? If there was a draft today would you be willing to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq? What do you think of this idea that the United States has turned into “World Police?” What do you think of this idea that the United States has turned into “World Police?” What do you think of the phrase “poor man’s fight, rich man’s war” What do you think of the phrase “poor man’s fight, rich man’s war”

Extra Credit The person that finds the most information on John Savageau, his life, his involvement in Vietnam, anything about him will be allowed to replace their lowest quiz grade with a 100. The person that finds the most information on John Savageau, his life, his involvement in Vietnam, anything about him will be allowed to replace their lowest quiz grade with a 100.