Mr. Judd
Name______________________________
CH. 19 The Vietnam War
What do you imagine when you think of
"The Sixties"? Music festivals, "free
love," and various recreational drugs,
perhaps? Maybe sit-in demonstrations,
marches, and picket signs with bold
messages? Definitely tie-dye. We tend
to remember this notorious decade in
terms of cultural changes at home:
innovative music, new perspectives on
life and love, glorious causes, and, of
course, colorful—very colorful—fashion.
This period in American history is
certainly characterized by all of these things, and more often than not it is with these images that
Americans today prefer to remember it. And why not? Nostalgia for "The Sixties" gave us
Lollapalooza, poetry slams, retro Volkswagen Beetles, the film Across the Universe, big hoop
earrings, fabulous Halloween costumes, and Austin Powers. But the event, more than any other, that
dominated this decade is the Vietnam War.
The Vietnam War—commonly referred to as "America's longest war"—grew out of the American
commitment to the containment of communism during the Cold War. For approximately fifteen years,
the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) fought against an American-supported Republic
of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The war for the U.S. ended in 1973 with the withdrawal of American
combat troops, and two years later, South Vietnamese forces surrendered to the North.
The Vietnam War had a tremendous impact on
American society and culture, in large part
because it was the first American war to be
televised. As a result, the American press
played a significant, unforeseen role in the war,
especially in the arena of public opinion. The
photographs, videos, and opinions of American
journalists, coupled with the simple fact that
young Americans were dying on foreign soil
against an enemy that did not threaten the
United States directly, turned some in America
against the war. This enormous power of the
media and public distrust of the government
have been a mainstay of American society ever
since. Decades later, the war still figures prominently in American film and literature, and the black
granite wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., remains one of the most potent
symbols of American loss.
The Vietnam War: An Overview
Mr. Judd
1. In 1940, the Japanese invaded Vietnam. The Japanese occupation of Vietnam was only the latest
example of foreigners ruling the Vietnamese people. What other countries had controlled the region
and when?
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2. Explain the Domino Theory first proclaimed by President Eisenhower in the 1950s.
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3. What were the Geneva Accords?
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4. Who was the leader of North Vietnam? What type of government did he endorse?
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5. Who were the Vietcong?
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6. What happened at the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964?
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7. What is the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
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8. What is napalm?
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9. What is agent orange?
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10. What role did the Ho Chi Minh Trail play in the war?
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11. Who was the U.S. commander in Vietnam? ____________________________________________________
12. How did the draft split the nation?
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13. What led to the ratification of the 26th Amendment?
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14. Who were doves?
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15. Who were hawks?
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16. What was the Tet Offensive?
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17. What was the military result of the Tet Offensive?
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18. What were the political consequences of the Tet Offensive?
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19. Who was elected U.S. president in 1968? ______________________________________________________
20. What was the name of his policy to end the war? What did it mean?
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21. What tragedy occurred in Ohio after the American invasion of Cambodia in April, 1970? Explain.
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22. When did the last American combat troops withdraw from Vietnam? ________________________________
23. When did the South Vietnamese surrender to the North Vietnamese? _______________________________
24. What is PTSD?
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25. One important legacy of the Vietnam War is the War Powers Act. What limits does this law place on
executive powers?
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Map Skills: The Vietnam War 1954-1975
Mr. Judd
Use the maps on pages 655-56, 660, 662, 678 to locate the following countries, cities, bodies of water, sites of
conflict, etc. Then label them on the outline map.
Countries
Laos
China
Thailand
Cambodia
North Vietnam
South Vietnam
Bodies of Water
South China Sea
Gulf of Tonkin
Mekong River
Gulf of Thailand
Capital Cities
Hanoi
Saigon
Major Battles
Ia Drang
Khe Sanh
Other
Ho Chi Minh Trail
My Lai Massacre
Dien Bien Phu
Selective Service System
Mr. Judd
Go to the Selective Service System home page (https://www.sss.gov/) to answer the following questions.
1. Who must register with the Selective Service System?
2. What is the mission of the Selective Service System?
3. What is the purpose of the Selective Service System Local Board?
4. When must a person register with the Selective Service System?
5. How can a person register?
6. How many men were inducted (drafted) during World War II? Vietnam?
7. In what year was the most men inducted?
8. What system did the Selective Service use to draft men during the Vietnam War?
9. What would have been your draft number in the Dec. 1, 1969 drawing?
10. In the first Vietnam draft (1969), anyone who got a number up to ______ was called to report for
possible induction.
11. When was the last military draft? (What year?)
12. After studying the draft classification page, who can be:
DeferredExemptedPostponed13. What is a conscientious objector?
14. Can “only sons,” “the last son to carry the family name,” and “sole surviving sons” be drafted? Explain.
15. If there was a military draft today, who would be the first men drafted?
16. How has the draft changed since the Vietnam War?
Lyrics to Fortunate Son by
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Lyrics to Ballad of the Green Beret
by SSgt Barry Sadler
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Four
Dead In Ohio Lyrics
Country Joe And The Fish - I Feel Like I'm
Fixin' To Die
Some folks are born to wave the flag
Ooh they're red white and blue.
And when the band plays "Hail to the
chief"
Ooh they point the cannon at you Lord
Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Beret
Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'.
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drummin'.
Four dead in Ohio.
Well come on all of you big strong men,
Uncle Sam needs your help again,
he got himself in a terrible jam, way down
yonder in Vietnam,
put down your books and pick up a gun,
we're gunna have a whole lotta fun.
It ain't me, it ain't me I ain't no senator's
son son
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no
fortunate one no
Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand
Lord don't they help themselves oh
But when the tax man comes to the
door
Lord, the house looks like a rummage
sale, yes
Trained to live off nature's land
Trained in combat, hand-to-hand
Men who fight by night and day
Courage peak from the Green Berets
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no
millionaire's son, no
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no
fortunate one, no
Some folks inherit star spangled eyes
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord
And when you ask them, "How much
should we give?"
Ooh, they only answer more! more!
more!
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military
son, son
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no
fortunate one, one
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no
fortunate one, no no no
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no
fortunate son, no no no
Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret
Back at home a young wife waits
Her Green Beret has met his fate
He has died for those oppressed
Leaving her his last request
Put silver wings on my son's chest
Make him one of America's best
He'll be a man they'll test one day
Have him win the Green Beret.
Gotta get down to it.
Soldiers are gunning us down.
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her and
Found her dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know?
Na,
Na,
Na,
Na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na,
na.
na.
na.
na.
Gotta get down to it.
Soldiers are cutting us down.
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her and
Found her dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know?
Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'.
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drummin'.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
CHORUS
and its 1,2,3 what are we fightin for?
don't ask me i don't give a dam, the next
stop is Vietnam, and its 5,6,7 open up the
pearly gates. Well there aint no time to
wonder why...WHOPEE we're all gunna
die.
Now come on wall street don't be slow,
why man this's war a-go-go, there's plenty
good money to be made, supplyin' the
army with the tools of the trade, just
hope and pray that when they drop the
bomb, they drop it on the Vietcong.
CHORUS
Now come on generals lets move fast,
your big chance is here at last.
Nite you go out and get those reds cuz the
only good commie is one thats dead,
you know that peace can only be won,
when you blow em all to kingdom come.
CHORUS
Now come on mothers throughout the
land, pack your boys off to vietnam,
come on fathers don't hesitate, send your
sons off before its too late,
be the first one on your block, to have
your boy come home in a box
CHORUS
Vietnam War Music
Mr. Judd
Ballad of the Green Berets:
1. How does this song make you feel?
2. How does the song portray soldiers?
3. Does this song support or condemn American Involvement of the Vietnam War?
How do you know (give two specific examples from the song)?
Ohio:
1. Who are the soldiers Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young are referring to? What
do you think the artists mean by “tin soldiers”? (Hint: Tin is a cheap metal.)
2. What event is this song written for? How do you know? (Use specific examples
from the lyrics.)
Fortunate Son:
1. What does this popular song tell the reader about those who advocated the war vs.
those who fought the war?
2. Why would this be a problem for young men facing the draft?
I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die:
1. What issues are raised in the song?
2. To whom does the song appeal?
3. What reactions or emotions does the song elicit?
The Television War
Mr. Judd
The war in Vietnam has been described as the war America watched from their living rooms. Images of combat
and American GIs were projected through our TV screens and across our newspapers daily. During the war in
Vietnam, the American military gave the press unprecedented freedom of access to combat zones. This
allowed newspaper reporters and photographers and television crews to document a war involving American
sons and daughters on the other side of the world. This willingness to allow documentation of the war was also
extended to the military's own photographers. Between 1962 and 1975, military photographers for the United
States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force took millions of photographs of the American conflict in
Vietnam. Almost a quarter of a million of these images are now located at the National Archives. These
photographs serve publishers, historians, and students who want to learn more about Vietnam. They include
images of almost every aspect of the war.
Task: Study each photo and answer the following questions.
1. What can you infer from the photograph?
2. What questions does this photograph raise in
your mind?
3. What is the real story behind this photo?
4. Create a caption for the photograph.
1. What can you infer from the photograph?
2. What questions does this photograph raise in your
mind?
3. What is the real story behind this photo?
4. Create a caption for the photograph.
1. What can you infer from the photograph?
2. What questions does this photograph raise in your
mind?
3. What is the real story behind this photo?
4. Create a caption for the photograph.
1. What can you infer from the photograph?
2. What questions does this photograph raise in your
mind?
3. What is the real story behind this photo?
4. Create a caption for the photograph.
1. What can you infer from the photograph?
2. What questions does this photograph raise in your
mind?
3. What is the real story behind this photo?
4. Create a caption for the photograph.
“On the Rainy River”
Mr. Judd
In “On the Rainy River,” the character of Tim O’Brien leaves home with the intention of fleeing to Canada in
order to avoid the draft. He says, “For more than twenty years I’ve had to live with it, feeling the shame, trying to push
it away, and so by this act of remembrance, by putting the facts down on paper, I’m hoping to relieve the pressure on
my dreams” (37).
Later on, he describes his conflict:
It was a kind of schizophrenia. A moral split. I couldn't make up my mind. I feared the war, yes, but I
also feared exile. I was afraid of walking away from my own life, my friends and my family, my whole
history, everything that mattered to me. I feared losing the respect of my parents. I feared the law. I
feared ridicule and censure. …it was easy to imagine people sitting around a table down at the old
Gobbler Cafe on Main Street, coffee cups poised, the conversation slowly zeroing in on the young
O'Brien kid, how the damned sissy had taken off for Canada. At night, when I couldn't sleep, I'd
sometimes carry on fierce arguments with those people. I'd be screaming at them, telling them how
much I detested their blind, thoughtless, automatic acquiescence to it all, their simple-minded
patriotism, their prideful ignorance, their love-it-or-leave-it platitudes, how they were sending me off to
fight a war they didn't understand and didn't want to understand. I held them responsible (42–43).
He concludes with: “I was a coward. I went to war” (58).
Please respond to the following questions, writing at least six sentences for each.
1.
If you were Tim O’Brien, would you have made the same choice? Why or why not?
2. How do you feel about O’Brien’s final statement? Do you agree he was a coward? Why or why not?