1. Mr. Williams 10th Grade U.S. History
U.S. in Vietnam
Mr. Williams
10th Grade U.S. History

2. Causes of the Vietnam War
Vietnam’s desire for freedom from colonial rule of the French
U.S. fears of the spread of communism (Domino Theory) and support of South Vietnam
South Vietnam’s failure to comply with the Geneva Accords
Efforts of North Vietnam to reunite nation under Communist control

5. Golf of Tonkin Resolution
August 4, 1964, USS Maddox “attacked” by North Vietnamese
August 7, Resolution passed by Congress which enabled the president to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the United States”
NOT A DECLARATION OF WAR!!!!!!

7. Operation Rolling Thunder
Bombing Campaign in North Vietnam in March 1965
Over 800,000 TONS of bombs dropped cost over $1,000,000,000
Aimed at army bases, airfields, bridges, roads, railways, and power plants especially along the Ho Chi Minh Trail

15. Search and Destroy
General William Westmoreland commander of U.S. troops in South Vietnam ordered thousands of these missions
Find Vietcong hideouts
Clear them
Increase the “BODY COUNT”!!!!!!!

18. “Our expectations were, we were going to stay there a month to 90 days, help the South Vietnamese recover, and then we would get out…We got this idea that the United States was invincible…that, being U.S. marines, our mere presence in Vietnam was going to terrify the enemy into quitting.”

35. Pacification Win the “hearts and minds” of the South Vietnamese
Construction projects to improve country’s infrastructure and economy
Moved people out of their villages when Vietcong were nearby