1. OBJECTIVE 2: VIETNAM WAR- US ESCALATION Examine the reasons for U.S. escalation in Vietnam and how 1968 marked a turning point in the War.

2.  Why conflict began:  Vietnam wanted independence from France  Why the US got involved:  Vietnam wanted to be Communism  Stop the spread of Communism in Asia REVIEW- CAUSES OF WAR?

3. The Domino Theory was that if North Vietnam won the war then Laos Cambodia and the rest of Asia will turn communist. America and south Vietnam did not wan to be communist and let it spread throughout Asia.

4. “If we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be YOU who tires of it” -Ho Chi Minh

5. Was supported in Vietnam the same way that we supported Chiang Kai Shek in the Chinese Civil War Ngo Dinh Diem - Dinh Diem was named premier of South Vietnam after the CIA helped to put him charge in 1954. He was a strong anti communist. He was not a strong leader and lost much support in his country (Buddhist monk) as they saw him as a rich elitist who had helped the French take their money.

6. Vietcong - the lightly armed South Vietnamese communist insurgency, largely fought a guerilla war against anti communist forces in the region Vietnamese government officials. They could be seen similar to today’s Taliban that are presently in Pakistan. Farmers by day; guerillas at night. Vietcong Tunnel Video #1 Vietcong booby traps video

7.  A trail supported by Ho Chi Minh that began supplying arms to the Vietcong via a network of paths along the border s of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. HO CHI MINH TRAIL

8.  Did the US have good reason to go to war?  Timeline:  1956-French need US help, but leave training of S. Vietnamese soldiers to the US  1959- first 2 US soldiers killed by Guerilla attack  1963- Kennedy assassinated, Diem overthrown and murdered  1964- Gulf of Tonkin Incident QUESTION

9. GULF OF TONKIN INCIDENT

10.  President Lyndon Johnson's televised message to the nation: "The initial attack on the destroyer Maddox, on August 2, was repeated today by a number of hostile vessels attacking two U.S. destroyers with torpedoes…. Air action is now in execution against gunboats and certain supporting facilities in North Vietnam which have been used in these hostile operations.“  The next day, the president addressed Congress, seeking the power to "to take all necessary measures in support of freedom and in defense of peace in Southeast Asia." GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION

11.  On August 7, 1964, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing President Johnson to take any measures he believed were necessary to retaliate & to promote the maintenance of international peace & security in southeast Asia. GULF OF TONKIN EFFECTS

12.  Did the US have good reason to go to war? QUESTION

13.  video video DISPUTE

14. War Escalates Much of nation supported Johnson’s determination to contain communism 1965 poll – 61% supported U.S. policy in Vietnam Johnson wins 1964 election on anti war support “not about to send American boys 9 or 10,000 miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves.” *As soon as elected Johnson sent tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers to Vietnam*

15. Go To Guys Robert McNamara: Secretary of Defense Pushed Johnson during the Tonkin Gulf Resolution Instrumental in Vietnam Dean Rusk: Secretary of State Key foreign policy advisor to Johnson Supported increased # of troops General William Westmoreland: American Commander in Vietnam Continued to request more troops – “Army of the Republic of Vietnam cannot stand without U.S. support” By 1967 – 500,000 troops in Vietnam

16. Aug 2, 1964 : N. Vietnam patrol boat fires torpedo at USS Maddox (it misses), U.S. fires back Aug 4, 1964 : Maddox crew reported seeing enemy torpedoes so U.S. responds (later crewmen will deny seeing anything) Alleged attacks prompt Johnson to launch striking attacks on N. Vietnam Johnson asks Congress for power to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against U.S. forces & prevent further aggression  Tonkin Gulf Resolution

17. U.S. entered war believing that its superior weaponry would lead to quick victory over Vietcong. United States Superior firepower & weaponry Vietcong Guerilla warfare Knowledge of jungle terrain Use tunnel system/fight at night

18. Both sides had their own military strategies against the other Destroy VC morale = Body Count Napalm: gasoline-based bomb set fire to jungle Agent Orange: leaf-killing toxic chemical Search & Destroy Missions: uprooting civilians thought to be VC, killing livestock, burning villages Guerilla warfare (hit & run or ambush attacks) Avoid major head to head battles Knowledge of jungle terrain Underground system of tunnels United StatesVietcong

19. System of underground tunnels Connecting villages throughout countryside Terrain laced with booby traps and land mines

20. Type of warfare frustrated U.S. military officials and soldiers

21. United States * Must win support of rural South Vietnamese Military strategies made that a tough task Use of napalm and agent orange angered civilians and destroyed villages Agent orange linked to cancers in Vietnamese and U.S. soldiers

22. United States Search and destroy missions played out throughout Vietnam Left over 3 million Vietnamese in refugee camps by 1967 Never know who the enemy is so destroy it all

23. Slide 23 The US Struggles in spite of ongoing escalation in spite of ongoing escalation throughout the 1960s, the US experienced a lack of success against the Vietnamese guerrilla forces in S. Vietnam (the Vietcong) as the US Army was unprepared for their tactics and mentality their tactics and mentality  The US was also never entirely successful in shutting down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a supply line that ran between supply line that ran between North and South Vietnam via North and South Vietnam via difficult jungle terrain, difficult jungle terrain, often underground and through neighboring nations like Cambodia like Cambodia

24. Morale Begins to Sink Many still believed in fulfilling their American duty Sinking Morale More and more were forced to fight : turned to alcohol, marijuana & drugs Some even go as far as to kill superior officers Constant sweltering heat, leeches, thought of unknowing

25. Fall of Public Support U.S. Economy: began to suffer Inflation rates went up 2%-5.5% by 1969 Johnson increased taxes  reduce spending on Great Society programs Television: America’s first “living room war” Combat footage appeared nightly on TV news Contradicting what generals were telling the public Countless American body bags (16,000 between ’61 and ‘67) Credibility gap: public distrust of statements made by the government

26. FOR:- it’ll help South Vietnam justice may be brought There wont be any communism The Domino Theory was that if south Vietnam became communist then all the other Asian countries will become against. The Americans had more weapons, machine guns, rockets, launchers, tanks and helicopters. The war established peace and stability. AGAINST:- Vietnam could fight for themselves The U.S used napalm which killed 400 000 innocent civilians No one in America supported the war as it used unnecessary force which massacred the whole village William Kaylie was responsible for the killing of loads of civilians. He was imprisoned for life. most of South Vietnam didn't support the U.S Many Americans staged anti-war protest

29.  America will soon see the country divided on what to do in Vietnam PROTESTS