1. Chapter 22: The Vietnam War Years Section 2: U.S. Involvement and Escalation

2. California Academic Standards: 11.9.3 & 11.9.4 California Academic Standards: 11.9.3 & 11.9.4 11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II. 11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II..3Trace the origins and geopolitical consequences (foreign and domestic) of the Cold War and containment policy, including the following:.3Trace the origins and geopolitical consequences (foreign and domestic) of the Cold War and containment policy, including the following: The Vietnam War The Vietnam War.4List the effects of foreign policy on domestic policies and vice versa.4List the effects of foreign policy on domestic policies and vice versa

3. Objectives: Objectives: Following lecture and reading of this section, students will be able to: Following lecture and reading of this section, students will be able to: 1. Explain the reasons for the escalation of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. 2. Describe the military tactics and weapons of the Vietcong and the U.S. forces. 3. Explain the impact of the war on American Society.

4. Overview: Overview: Despite President Johnson’s escalation of U.S. involvement in the war in Vietnam, the fighting did not move beyond a stalemate. Despite President Johnson’s escalation of U.S. involvement in the war in Vietnam, the fighting did not move beyond a stalemate. Support for the war among U.S. citizens began to erode because of the war’s toll on the U.S. economy and TV coverage of combat Support for the war among U.S. citizens began to erode because of the war’s toll on the U.S. economy and TV coverage of combat

5. The Decision to Escalate The Decision to Escalate In 1964, Johnson elected based on anti war feelings of Americans. In 1964, Johnson elected based on anti war feelings of Americans. Johnson claimed he did not want to send U.S. troops to fight in someone else’s war. Johnson claimed he did not want to send U.S. troops to fight in someone else’s war.

6. President Johnson dispatched the first American ground troops to Vietnam in March 1965 though. President Johnson dispatched the first American ground troops to Vietnam in March 1965 though. Some found it contradictory but others realized the countries policy of containing communism. Some found it contradictory but others realized the countries policy of containing communism. Nation supportive of Johnson’s policy of containment of communism in Vietnam. Nation supportive of Johnson’s policy of containment of communism in Vietnam. 1965 Poll showed 61% approval and only 24% opposition to sending U.S. troops to Vietnam. 1965 Poll showed 61% approval and only 24% opposition to sending U.S. troops to Vietnam.

7. Between 1965 and 1967, the number of U.S. troops in Vietnam more than doubled, from 180,000 to 500,000 due to the requests and urging of General William Westmoreland who claimed the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) could not sustain itself against the communist north without massive U.S. support. Between 1965 and 1967, the number of U.S. troops in Vietnam more than doubled, from 180,000 to 500,000 due to the requests and urging of General William Westmoreland who claimed the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) could not sustain itself against the communist north without massive U.S. support. A War in the Jungle A War in the Jungle

8. Would you rather fight against an enemy whose strengths and tactics are known, or unknown, why? Would you rather fight against an enemy whose strengths and tactics are known, or unknown, why? The U.S. entered the war believing that they would easily defeat the Vietcong because of our advanced weaponry The U.S. entered the war believing that they would easily defeat the Vietcong because of our advanced weaponry The jungle terrain and the Vietcong’s guerilla tactics made winning the war difficult for U.S. forces. The jungle terrain and the Vietcong’s guerilla tactics made winning the war difficult for U.S. forces.

9. Because the Vietcong lacked high powered weapons they relied on hit and run and ambush tactics, using their knowledge of the jungle to their advantage. Because the Vietcong lacked high powered weapons they relied on hit and run and ambush tactics, using their knowledge of the jungle to their advantage. The Vietcong blended in with the population, they did not where uniforms which made them impossible to identify. The Vietcong blended in with the population, they did not where uniforms which made them impossible to identify. U.S. troops were attacked everywhere. U.S. troops were attacked everywhere.

10. It became severely difficult for the U.S. troops to determine enemies. It became severely difficult for the U.S. troops to determine enemies. Vietcong spies could have been women and children as well; soldiers had to careful not be poisoned or have a grenade thrown at them by young children when they were not suspecting it. Vietcong spies could have been women and children as well; soldiers had to careful not be poisoned or have a grenade thrown at them by young children when they were not suspecting it. Traps and landmines were set up all over the county as well. Traps and landmines were set up all over the county as well.

11. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) used our own weapons against us too. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) used our own weapons against us too. The Vietcong used an elaborate system of tunnels to move around, launch surprise attacks, then disappear quickly, the tunnels also provided housing, storage, and transportation for the Vietcong. The Vietcong used an elaborate system of tunnels to move around, launch surprise attacks, then disappear quickly, the tunnels also provided housing, storage, and transportation for the Vietcong.

12. The U.S. underestimated the resolve of the Vietnamese, no matter how many were killed they were not going to give up, also they received supplies from China and the Soviet Union to help them remain defiant. The U.S. underestimated the resolve of the Vietnamese, no matter how many were killed they were not going to give up, also they received supplies from China and the Soviet Union to help them remain defiant. The U.S. saw the battle as a military struggle, but the Vienamese saw the war as a struggle for their existence. The U.S. saw the battle as a military struggle, but the Vienamese saw the war as a struggle for their existence.

13. U.S. chemical warfare harmed the rural (farming) population and landscape with the use of napalm and Agent Orange. U.S. chemical warfare harmed the rural (farming) population and landscape with the use of napalm and Agent Orange. Also U.S. troops in an attempt to win the favor of the rural population uprooted them and moved them to refugee camps. Also U.S. troops in an attempt to win the favor of the rural population uprooted them and moved them to refugee camps.

14. The frustrations of Guerilla combat, brutal jungle conditions, and the war’s stalemate caused a decline in the morale of U.S. troops, turning many to alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. The frustrations of Guerilla combat, brutal jungle conditions, and the war’s stalemate caused a decline in the morale of U.S. troops, turning many to alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. Some soldiers murdered their superiors, in a technique called fragging Some soldiers murdered their superiors, in a technique called fragging

15. The U.S. government was negotiating for peace as the soldiers fought on the battlefields The U.S. government was negotiating for peace as the soldiers fought on the battlefields In addition, South Vietnam had a civil war going on within the Vietnam War, leading many soldiers to believe the war was hopeless. In addition, South Vietnam had a civil war going on within the Vietnam War, leading many soldiers to believe the war was hopeless. U.S. troops fought hard and believed in containing communism. U.S. troops fought hard and believed in containing communism.

16. The Early War at Home The Early War at Home The Johnson administration thought the war would end quickly, when it dragged on public support began to waver, and Johnson’s domestic programs (The Great Society) began to unravel. The Johnson administration thought the war would end quickly, when it dragged on public support began to waver, and Johnson’s domestic programs (The Great Society) began to unravel.

17. War costs began to drain the U.S. economy and undercut domestic reform programs. War costs began to drain the U.S. economy and undercut domestic reform programs. The cost of supporting the war and The Great Society was too much, so in August of 1967, Johnson asked for a tax increase to help fund the war and keep inflation in check (because it was steadily rising and tripled in 1969). The cost of supporting the war and The Great Society was too much, so in August of 1967, Johnson asked for a tax increase to help fund the war and keep inflation in check (because it was steadily rising and tripled in 1969).

18. Congress agreed to the plan at the expense of cutting $6 billion from Great Society programs. Congress agreed to the plan at the expense of cutting $6 billion from Great Society programs. TV broadcasts of live combat (“living room war”) cause public support for the war to fall as contradictory images and body counts were being shown and reported. TV broadcasts of live combat (“living room war”) cause public support for the war to fall as contradictory images and body counts were being shown and reported.

19. The nearly 16,000 American deaths between 1965 and 1967 provided a deadly blow to American support at home. The nearly 16,000 American deaths between 1965 and 1967 provided a deadly blow to American support at home. A credibility gap grew between what Johnson’s administration said and what people saw on TV. A credibility gap grew between what Johnson’s administration said and what people saw on TV. America’s youth waged a war of it’s own on those who supported the war. America’s youth waged a war of it’s own on those who supported the war.