1. Vietnam War Introduction
Ms. Olsen
English II

2. Quick Write Infer & Predict:
What kind of war would make a soldier feel this way?
What country do you think this soldier was from?
What do you think he was fighting for?
Dear Mom and Dad,
Today we went on a mission, and I am not very proud of myself, my friends, or my country.

3. The Vietnam War 1955 - 1975 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
Why did we get involved in another war overseas?
What were our primary motives?
What was the outcome?
Was it a just / fair war?

4. The Vietnam War (in short)
Over a decade long
Began with a revolutionary movement in Vietnam (a tiny, peasant country) to fight for independence
It was a war of modern military technology (U.S.) vs. organized human beings (Vietnam)
The human beings won
The Vietnam war created the biggest anti-war movement the U.S. had ever seen

5. Vietnam Basics Location:
In Southeast Asia, near Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and parts of China
Population
83 Million People
Mostly Buddhist
Strong minority of Catholics
Resources
Very fertile, hot and wet climate, many resources

6. Vietnam History (Key Points)
Before WWII, France controlled Vietnam

7. WWI & Vietnam
At the end of WWI, American President Woodrow Wilson promises to end colonialism.
A young Ho Chi Minh (Communist leader) attends Versaillies Conference hoping to gain Vietnamese Independence from France.
Ho Chi Minh led a revolutionary movement for independence from foreign control
Viet Minh – founded by Ho Chi Minh.
Communist/Nationalist group that opposed the French and later Japanese.
Nationalism – pride in your country, desire for independent homeland for your people.

8. WWII & Vietnam
At the beginning of the War, French still control Vietnam. Vietnamese resistance grows.
Ho Chi Minh
Leader of the Viet Minh
Wants an independent Vietnam
Opposes French, Japanese, and AMERICAN
Millions rejoice that their country is free of foreign control at last!

9. Declaring Independence
WW2 Ends and September 2, 1945, Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent !!
Ho Chi Minh reads from US Declaration of Independence
Some see Ho Chi Minh’s Declaration of Independence as evidence of being a nationalist rather than being a communist. They refer to this example has him expressing his interest in having a relationship with the United States.
BUT, the French want Indochina back, and they do not recognize Vietnamese independence. Reclaim colony.
What should the US do? Support Vietnamese or help France regain its colonial empire?

10. Divided American State Department
PRO - WAR
ANTI - WAR
European Experts in American Government support backing France.
STOP spread of Communism in Asia !!
Asia Experts in American Government support backing Ho Chi Minh
Feel he is a Nationalist
SO?
US Backs France. Truman Adminstration then Eisenhower Administration back France. Due to the following factors: -Korean War, Loss of China to communists, Idea of stopping communism, and the Cold War

11. Other interests / benefits for the US…??
A secret US govt. memo from 1952 talked about SE Asia’s valuable resources:
Rubber
Tin
Oil
were important to the US … if the Vietnam govt. won against France and took over they might be hostile towards the US and not trade with us.

12. Activity 1
Choose one of the people you see in this picture. Write what you think they were seeing / feeling.
A critically wounded marine is aided by other marines from "B" Company, September 16th, 1966, two miles South of the de-militarized zone.

13. South Vietnam
Instead of supporting Geneva Agreement and allowing unification elections and a Communist victory, US supports creation of a non-Communist, South Vietnam.
American war in Vietnam is fought to keep South Vietnam Non-Communist!
Discussion Question: Was it right of the United States to support the creation of South Vietnam? Why or why not?

14. JFK & Vietnam
Views Vietnam as important to Cold War like Truman and Eisenhower
Begins Escalation of Troops
Overall picture unsure due to his assassination
JFK believed the best way to stop communists in Vietnam was to build South Vietnam into a nation.

15. Ngo Dinh Diem First leader of South Vietnam
Nationalist but strongly anti-Communist
Catholic
Receives strong support from Eisenhower & Kennedy
Massive military and financial aid from US
Brutal to communists
Upsets Buddhist Majority
Adminstration is very corrupt
Assasinated in 1963

16. Key Points
When Eisenhower left office, less than 1,000 US soldiers were in Vietnam
At the time of Kennedy’s assassination (1963), over 16,000 solders were in Vietnam.
By 1969, Vietnam had 543,000 US soliders
Many of the solders under JFK were Special Forces and under Johnson, regular ground troops were introduced.

17. Key Terms TERMS: Hanoi – refers to North Vietnamese government
NVA – North Vietnamese Army
VC/Charlie- Viet Cong: Communist rebels in South Vietnam
ARVN – South Vietnamese Army
POW – Prisoner of War
MIA – Missing in Action

18. Who did America Fight in Vietnam?
Viet Cong
North Vietnamese Army
Both groups were heavily supplied from USSR via China

19. Early American Support for War in Vietnam
Americans initially supported the war
Hit Song “The Green Berets”
Public is told troops will be home soon, and the war is almost over.
Vietnam is the first war that is heavily covered by television networks.
American public sees daily images of casualties
Public begins to turn against the war.

20. Anti-War Propaganda Who does this propaganda seem to be directed at?
What does the purpose of this piece of propaganda seem to be?
What symbolism is present?

21. Anti-War Propaganda Who does this propaganda seem to be directed at?
What does the purpose of this piece of propaganda seem to be?
Who is represented in the caricatures?

22. 1975 & Results of War North Vietnam takes over South Vietnam Results:
US doesn’t prevent the take over.
Vietnam is unified under one communist state
Results:
60,000 Americans killed
US reluctant to use military power
American public is divided
Americans don’t trust government
Vietnam is Communist
Cambodia falls to Communists
Khmer Rouge/Cambodian Communist take power
Pol Pot is leader
Killing Fields – Genocide of 1/3 of the Cambodian population
Vietnam invades and occupies Cambodia to defeat Khmer Rouge

23. Activity #2 See & Respond
SEE images of the Vietnam War / MLK Jr. & the protest movement in the late 60s
You will RESPOND: Choose a role to step into.
Examples: a protester, MLK Jr, the president, a Vietnamese civilian
Write a poem or a short creative piece in the voice of this person…
we will have to guess who you are.

24. Mortars
The Scout on point has raised his hand And flashed the signal to his band ENEMY IN SIGHT GET DOWN! But in the distance, sickening sounds, The deadened "thunk" of mortar rounds Leaving hollow tubes. The men melt to the ground, Scrambling, crabbing leaving the trail High, thin-screamed, louder, whistling wail Of incoming! The men cower, cringing low The clench their necks, await the blow That erupts with such a smashing "crack", That rings the ears and slams the back That bleeds the nose, that aches the head, That takes the breath, and kills them dead.

25. Vietnam War
Picture 1

26. Picture 2

27. Vietnam War Protests
Picture 3

28. Picture 4

29. Picture 6

30. Vietnam War Protests
Picture 5

31. Activity #4 IMAGINE you are a teenager in the late 1960s…
Knowing what you know now about the results of the Vietnam War, what position would you have taken on the war? FOR or AGAINST ?
What would you have done to make your voice heard?

32. Credits
Presentation adapted from Ms. Marquardt, Uplift Community High School.