1. * Packet Reading 729 Distinguish between fact and
opinion in documents.
Describe the escalation of the
Vietnam War.

2. Quiz:

3. Archeologists make an interesting discovery.
A giant Greek vase was uncovered at a dig site recently and is believed to be over 2,000 years old. It is engraved with the year it was made, 17BC. The inscription also reads “This vessel is the property of Pylos, King of Corinth”. It contains the strongest chemical on earth, so powerful that it will dissolve anything that it comes in contact with. Archeologists at Maryville University in St. Louis declined any further questions about the find.

4. Analyzing Documents:
Directions: Read the following two documents and identify statements as either fact or opinion.
Primary Source – “LBJ’s State of the Union Address” (1966)
Secondary Source – “Vietnam Topples Johnson” from the American Pagaent (AP textbook).

5. U.S. Escalation of the Vietnam War (1965-69)
Election of 1964
LBJ soundly defeated Republican
Barry Goldwater due to Goldwater’s
war-like language causing many to fear
he’d lead us into war with U.S.S.R.
Even after Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964 LBJ opposed further involvement making him look moderate.
Goldwater was anti-communist.

6. 1964 Presidential Election)

7. Escalation in the Vietnam War (1965-68)
However, LBJ did escalate
US involvement in Vietnam
starting in March, 1965
Secretary of Defense Robert
McNamara and Secretary of
State Dean Rusk pushed LBJ
for more troops in Vietnam.
1965 Opinion poll showed 61%
supported war, 24% opposed.
Some thought this contradicted
LBJ’s campaign promises.
Undersecretary of State
George Ball disagreed,
warned about escalation.
Typical US platoon in Vietnam

8. Escalation in the Vietnam War (1965-68)
Undersecretary of State
George Ball disagreed,
warned about escalation.
General Westmoreland was
not impressed with ARVN
troops (Army of Republic of
Vietnam) and requested more
troops.
,000
,000
Typical US platoon in Vietnam

9. Why was Vietnam such a difficult war to fight?
Difficult conditions and an elusive (hard to find) enemy:
Vietcong used guerrilla tactics of “hit and run” to ambush.
Traps
Enemy knew the jungle terrain better than US troops.
Blended in and lived with the civilian population, no uniforms.
Sweltering heat.
Vietcong could hide in underground tunnels for weeks (illus.)
US underestimated enemy strength/resolve to fight.
Vietcong could afford to lose 10 to our 1 soldier and still win.
Enemy was well supplied by the Soviets and the Chinese.

12. Why was Vietnam such a difficult war to fight?
U.S. failed to “win the hearts and minds of the people”
since the American tactics hurt the civilian population.
Napalm
Agent Orange
Search and Destroy methods
Agent Orange
Part of the “Strategic Hamlet Program”

13. Why was Vietnam such a difficult war to fight?
Low morale among the troops
Frustrations of fighting a
guerrilla type war increased
Leader of South Vietnam
Nguyen Cao Ky was very
corrupt (like Ngo Diem).
U.S. began negotiating for
peace while still fighting
instead of calling for a
cease-fire.

14. Why was Vietnam such a difficult war to fight?
War grew too costly and hurt the economy:
Inflation increased 3-fold by 1969 to 6%
LBJ had to increase taxes and cut funding of
his Great Society by $6 billion!
Critics attacked the war as diverting monies
from LBJ’s “Great Society” domestic program.
Heightened television coverage of the “living-
room war” showed the “credibility gap” by 1967.
former LBJ supporter Senator Fulbright even
suggested there was a “lack of candor”
(honesty) about what we are being told and
what was actually happening…
Anti-War Protest grew throughout the country…