1. What do you know about the Vietnam War?

2. 1960s #4: Vietnam War Begins Longest war – until Afghanistan
Most controversial
US loses for the first time:
Why does US fail?
What lessons can be learned?
How can this apply to today?

3. Vietnam War Why did the US fight?
"Even today, many Americans still ask whether the American effort in Vietnam was a sin, a blunder, a necessary war, or a noble cause, or an idealistic, if failed, effort to protect the South Vietnamese from totalitarian government," historian Steve Mintz writes.

4. Vietnam Colonized by the French
Ho Chi Minh – leads communists to fight agst French
1954: French surrender
Vietnam divided:
N – comm
S – free led by Ngo Dinh Diem

5. Vote in 1956: determine leader of country Elections never happen
SEATO : Southeastern Asia Treaty Organization: Stop communism from spreading in SE Asia
Vote in 1956: determine leader of country
Elections never happen
Ho Chi Minh – too popular & would win
Diem: unpopular
Persecutes Buddhists (majority)

6. Uh-oh communism is spreading again, what should the US do?
Domino Theory: if 1 country falls to communism, the neighboring countries will too
So, should the US get involved?

7. 1960 Conflict begins
Vietcong: Commie guerilla warriors (popular)

8. US Response:
1963: Diem assassinated & replaced w/another unpopular ruler --- looked like the S would fall to communism
US escalates (increases) its involvement:
Sends advisors & supplies
By 1964: send US troops

9. Why did US fight in Vietnam?
Person 1: Vietnamese Declaration of Independence, Diem’s Letter, and Dulles’ Speech
Person 2: John Kerry statement to Congress
Person 3: Nixon’s speech & Eisenhower Interview
Person 4: Pick 1 from above

10. Why did US fight in Vietnam?
Share your results with your team – by speaking out loud to them !
Decide what you think are the most convincing arguments
On back:
List top 5 reasons why US fought in Vietnam
List 5 reasons why US should NOT have fought in Vietnam
The most convincing argument on each side

11. Why did US fight in Vietnam?
On back:
List top 5 reasons why US fought in Vietnam
List 5 reasons why US should NOT have fought in Vietnam
The most convincing argument on each side

12. Compare and Contrast Why we fought in WW2 / Korea (pick 1) to Vietnam
Similarities
Vietnam
5-7 items in each column
Draw a picture or symbol for each column
Create your own original title for the poster
Put names on the back

13. CW #20: Vietnam War Ends!
North =
South =
Hit-n-run tactics =

14. Vietnam War (1964 – 1973)
US should win: biggest, most advanced army in world! BUT….

15. Vietcong

16. Guerilla Warfare – hard to fight against
Foreign geography –
S= unpopular & war is unpopular in US

17. Vietcong Tunnels

19. Did containment work in Vietnam?
Ending…
Vietnamization: slow withdrawal of US troops starts in 1969 & gone by 1973
Ceasefire – but US does not win
1975: North overtakes South & reunites the country into a communist Vietnam
Did containment work in Vietnam?

20. ANSWER: How does the Vietnam war get started?
Why does the US join in this fight?
Explain the domino theory.
Who wins this war?