1. Chapter 22 Section 2 Notes At War in Vietnam

2. 1964 Election (Nov) Vietnam is a major factor 2 candidates
Republican candidate = Barry Goldwater
Spoke very aggressively about war
Possibly even with the Soviet Union
Nukes?
Democrat candidate = Lyndon Johnson
Spoke more moderately about war
Wanted to contain communism
No mention of war with Russia
LBJ won easily
over 60% of popular vote

4. LBJ increases U.S. involvement after election
#’s are in Sec 1 Notes
Public supports this at 1st
Believe in containment
Told it would be a short war
Military leaders wanted this
Robert McNamara
Secretary of Defense
Quits in 1967 when
situation didn’t improve
General William Westmoreland
U.S. Commander in Vietnam
Unimpressed with S. Vietnamese military
500,000 U.S. troops by end of 1967
McNamara briefing the press

5. Main U.S. Advantage in Vietnam
Superior Military Technology!
Air power
Naval power
Tanks
Weapons
Chemicals

6. 3 Main Disadvantages for U.S. in Vietnam
Guerilla War Tactics of the Vietcong
Mixing in and surprising U.S. troops
Vietcong’s better use and knowledge of the land
Got supplies along Ho Chi Minh Trail
China, Russia, NVA
Tunnel systems, land mines, booby traps, etc…
Determination of the Vietcong and NVA
Fighting for home turf
Way more deaths
Will not surrender

9. The Vietnam war ended around 40 years ago, but for many Vietnamese, the realities of the war still linger. In the years since the fall of Saigon, over 45,000 Vietnamese have been killed or injured by landmines or explosives left behind from that conflict.

10. 2 Major U.S. Strategies in Vietnam
Constantly bomb the North and areas where Vietcong are suspected to be at
Body Counts
Use press to publicize damages
Get South Vietnam’s rural population on their side
Take away recruiting from Vietcong

11. U.S. Struggles to Get Rid of Vietcong
Burns down entire villages
'It became necessary to destroy the town to save it', a United States major said today. He was talking about the decision by allied commanders to bomb and shell the town regardless of civilian casualties, to rout the Vietcong.[

12. Napalm An oil/jelly like mixture that is flammable
put into bomb casings (tumbles from sky)
can be sprayed in a stream
The residue sticks around afterwards and can burn skin if contacted
Used by U.S. against NVA and VC to expose hiding places
Burn the jungle

13. Agent Orange
Chemical powder dropped from planes that killed large leafy vegetation
Not crops
Alternative to Napalm
Blamed for cancer and birth defects
Still occurring

14. Rural Areas in South Vietnam in Ruins
Many VC die, but so do regular S. Vietnamese
Millions left homeless
Some went to cities
Some went to U.S. refugee centers
Some joined the Vietcong angry at U.S.

15. Many U.S. Soldiers Effected
All the killing and destruction takes its toll
No end in sight despite big body count difference
Morale lowers
Some actively oppose the war (after discharged)
Some turn to alcohol and drugs as an escape
Marijuana most common… grew in the wild
Learn of U.S. POW’s (prisoners of war) treatment
Torture, poor conditions

16. The Vietnam War’s Impact on the U.S. Economy
Inflation gets really high (triples)
Why? Less consumer goods available
(Lower Supply = Higher Prices)
Need tax $ to fund the war
Means less tax $ for programs at home
LBJ’s Great Society suffers

17. Public Starts to ? Vietnam by 1967
How?
Marches & Rallies
Veterans
College Students
Civil Rights leaders
Why?
Constant TV Coverage
1st war covered nonstop
In U.S. and Vietnam… live
Influenced opinion with coverage
Credibility Gap created
U.S. officials said
we were winning
Body Counts
Soldiers and Veterans
told different stories

18. Fulbright Investigations and Hearings (1966 – 1971)
U.S. Senator William Fulbright
Led investigations to make sure U.S. military
was telling the truth about Vietnam and whether
we should leave
The end were on TV
LBJ looked like a liar
Gradually influenced our
withdrawal from Vietnam
John Kerry (Future Senator, 2004 Pres. Candidate,
& U.S. Sec. of State under Pres. Obama) at the Fulbright Hearings