1. The Vietnam War

2. Learning Targets Explain how the U.S. got involved in the Vietnam War. Compare and contrast the U.S. and NVA/Vietcong strategies. Predict the effectiveness of each plan.

3. A Soldier’s Experience A Soldier ’ s Experience

18. 1954: Geneva Accords--1954 Ho Chi Minh Ngo Dinh DiemDivided at 17 th parallel  Vietnam divided when French left  North Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh & communist  South Vietnam - Ngo Dinh Diem & anti- communist

19. Growing Problems 1. Diem’s leadership  Refused election  Persecuted Buddhists  Overthrown and followed by unstable gov’ts

20. Growing Problems 80% of countryside supported Vietcong 2. Growth of the Vietcong (VC)  communist guerillas in S.Vietnam  strategic hamlet plan (move villagers) failed

21. Whiteboard Moment! If you lived in South Vietnam, would you have joined the Vietcong? Why or why not?

22. U.S. Aids South By 1963, 16,000 American troops are training in South Vietnam  Eisenhower sent aid b/c of domino theory  1961: JFK follows with “military advisors”

23. Tonkin Gulf Resolution  August 2, 1964: U.S. destroyer Maddox “attacked” in Gulf of Tonkin

24. Tonkin Gulf Resolution Senate Vote: 88 to 2 “ to take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force… ”  Congress gave Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) war powers

25. Whiteboard Moment In your opinion, should the U.S. have involved themselves in the conflict? Explain.

26. NVA/Viet Cong Tactics Guerilla warfare (booby traps, tunnel system) Ho Chi Minh Trail (transport supplies)

29. American Escalation  General William Westmoreland, U.S. Commander  1968: 538, 000 U.S. troops

30. Operation Rolling Thunder 643,000 tons of bombs 5 times Hiroshima 3 years Air Force Chief of Staff Lemey about bombing them “ back to the stone Age. ”  Bombing raids of North Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh Trail

31. Ground War  Search and Destroy Missions: seek VC and destroyed villages  Jungle warfare, so defoliants used (Agent Orange/Napalm)

32. Whiteboard Time !! Describe the U.S. fighting tactics in one word. Defend your choice.

33. Khe Sanh Wanted info on Ho Chi Minh Trail 40,000 NVA vs. 5,600 U.S. for over 2 mths. U.S. win, shows NVA resolve

34. Tet Offensive 100 towns and cities Attacked; 12 air bases attacked 42,000Vietcong casualties  Massive attack by North on Vietnamese New Year  Military victory for South/U.S.  Morale victory for North

35. Final Reflection Read “Vietnam War.” Using information from your reading and notes, write as much as you can remember abut the Vietnam War. DO NOT look at your notes or the reading.