Vietnam War Study Materials
With Visuals
Set 1 of 2
Americans, p. 728-765
Ch. 22: The Vietnam War Years
History Alive! P. 654-693
Ch. 51: The United States Gets Involved in Vietnam
Ch. 52: Facing Frustration in Vietnam
Ch. 53: Getting Out of Vietnam
“Top Essentials to Know About the Vietnam War”
By Martin Kelly
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/vietnam/tp/vietnam-war.htm
“Vietnam 101: A Short Introduction”
By Kennedy Hickman
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/p/VietnamBrief.htm
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military
conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and
Cambodia from November 1, 1955 to the fall
of Saigon on April 30, 1975. This war was
fought between North Vietnam, supported by
its communist allies, and the government of
South Vietnam, supported by the United
States and other anti-communist countries.
The Viet Cong (also known as the National
Liberation Front, or NLF), a lightly armed
South Vietnamese communist-controlled
common front, largely fought a guerrilla war
against anti-communist forces in the region.
The Vietnam People's Army (North
Vietnamese Army) engaged in a more
conventional war, at times committing large
units into battle. U.S. and South Vietnamese
forces relied on air superiority and
overwhelming firepower to conduct search
and destroy operations, involving ground
forces, artillery, and airstrikes.
Vietnam War
U.S. involvement ended
on August 15, 1973 as a
result of the Case–Church
Amendment passed by
the U.S. Congress. The
capture of Saigon by the
Vietnam People's Army in
April 1975 marked the
end of the war, and North
and South Vietnam were
reunified the following
year.
Ch. 51 - The United States Gets Involved in Vietnam
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After World War II, nationalist and communist rebels in the French colony of Vietnam
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First Indochina War In this first phase of fighting, which lasted from 1946 to 1954, Ho Chi
Minh led Viet Minh insurgents in the struggle to end French rule in Vietnam.
Geneva Accords The First Indochina War ended with a 1954 agreement known as the Geneva
Accords. The accords split Vietnam into north and south but called for elections to reunify the
country. The United States backed South Vietnam financially and militarily.
Viet Cong Insurgents in the south, known as the Viet Cong, worked to overthrow the
nominally democratic but corrupt government of South Vietnam. The Viet Cong received aid
from communist North Vietnam.
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution An alleged attack on U.S. ships off the coast of North Vietnam led
Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This resolution gave President Johnson broad
powers to expand the U.S. role in Vietnam. Massive air strikes against North Vietnam
followed.
Ho Chi Minh Trail By 1965, North Vietnamese Army troops were moving south along the Ho
Chi Minh Trail to help the Viet Cong. The United States feared that South Vietnam would fall
without more direct support.
Americanization In March 1965, the United States began sending ground troops to fight the
Vietnam War. The war quickly became an American conflict.
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fought for their independence. A 1954 agreement ending this colonial war split the country
into communist North Vietnam and democratic South Vietnam. When France pulled out the
following year, the United States stepped in to prop up South Vietnam. Over the years,
American involvement grew and eventually led to the introduction of U.S. ground forces.
Ch. 52 - Facing Frustration in Vietnam
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The United States decided to wage a limited war in Vietnam, with limited troop strength.
Fighting an elusive enemy on unfamiliar terrain frustrated U.S. soldiers. The South Vietnamese
people themselves were unsure whom to support: the Saigon government or the communistbacked Viet Cong. As the war dragged on, American antiwar protests grew. Opposition to the
war greatly affected the 1968 elections.
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War of attrition The U.S. military waged a war of attrition, hoping to wear down the enemy by
inflicting heavy losses. Increasing the enemy body count became a key military goal.
Opposing Vietnamese armies Regular troops of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) joined forces
with Viet Cong insurgents. The United States trained the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)
to defend South Vietnam.
New weapons of war The United States sprayed the herbicide Agent Orange to clear forest
vegetation and expose the enemy. It dropped napalm firebombs that burned forests and
buildings and caused widespread destruction. Both weapons had devastating effects on the
Vietnamese population.
Credibility gap The Johnson administration’s optimistic public assessments of the war did not
match reality. This created a credibility gap, and many Americans lost faith in the president.
Protest movement Antiwar protesters on college campuses and elsewhere held demonstrations
and carried out acts of civil disobedience. The protesters called for peace negotiations and an
end to the war.
Tet Offensive Some 45,000 Viet Cong and NVA soldiers died after launching a major offensive in
1968. But the Tet Offensive also boosted U.S. opposition to the war and undermined the Johnson
presidency, helping to pave the way for Richard Nixon’s election in 1968.
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Ch. 53 - Getting Out of Vietnam
In 1969, President Nixon began withdrawing U.S. troops from Vietnam, but the war continued
throughout his time in office. He carried on peace talks with the North Vietnamese but also
ordered massive bombing of North Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. He faced ongoing protests
from the antiwar movement and criticism from Congress. In 1973, the last U.S. combat forces
came home. North Vietnam swept to victory over the South in 1975.
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Vietnamization Nixon’s Vietnamization of the war allowed for the withdrawal of U.S. troops
and prepared South Vietnam to take over responsibility for the war.
My Lai massacre In 1968, U.S. soldiers slaughtered hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the
village of My Lai. Reports of the massacre shocked Americans and increased antiwar protests.
Kent State shootings The invasion of Cambodia in April 1970 sparked an increase in antiwar
protests. The most violent one occurred the following month at Kent State University in Ohio,
where National Guard troops fired into an angry crowd, killing four students.
War Powers Resolution Congress reacted to Nixon’s activities in Cambodia by passing the
War Powers Resolution. This resolution limits a president’s ability to send armed forces into
combat.
Pentagon Papers In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg leaked to the press a top-secret study of the U.S.
role in Indochina. This study, the Pentagon Papers, revealed secrecy and deceit on the part of
U.S. presidents.
Boat people The North Vietnamese defeated South Vietnam and took control in 1975. This
prompted an exodus of refugees from Indochina, many of whom fled by boat.
Chapter 22
Americans, p. 728-765
The Vietnam War Years
1. Why did the U.S. enter the war in Vietnam?
The U.S. entered the war in Vietnam to try to
support the government of the South because it
did not want communists in the North to control
the whole country.
-containment; Eisenhower supported Diem
(opposed Ho); USS Maddox/Gulf of Tonkin incident
(Resolution)
Additional details/answers?
Chapter 22
Americans, p. 728-765
The Vietnam War Years
2. Why could the U.S. not win a quick victory over
the Viet Cong, and what was the effect?
The U.S. could not quickly defeat the Vietcong
because they engaged in guerrilla tactics of quick
attacks and disappearing into the jungle. The result
was a loss of morale among U.S. soldiers.
-political limitations were placed on superior US
weapons & numbers (military was not “effective”);
enemy was difficult to identify; napalm
(incendiary/explosive); agent orange (defoliant); civil
war (self-determination)…QUAGMIRE!
-Additional details/answers?
Chapter 22
Americans, p. 728-765
The Vietnam War Years
3. How did public opinion split over the war?
As the war continued and victory seemed less
achievable, American society split into hawks, who
favored the war, and doves, who opposed it. They
were bitterly opposed to each other, and some
hawks thought that antiwar protesters were
disloyal.
-“draft dodgers” fled to Canada or burned draft
cards; returning vets greeted harshly (spit on);
Additional details/answers?
Chapter 22
Americans, p. 728-765
The Vietnam War Years
4. Why is 1968 considered a year of upheaval?
The year 1968 was marked by loss of confidence
and violence: a major North Vietnamese
offensive* weakened American support for
fighting the war. Also, President Johnson decided
not to seek re-election, two major leaders (MLK
and Robert Kennedy) were killed, and violence
marred the Democratic convention.
-*Tet Offensive; presidential advisors questioned
the war; Nixon elected president
Additional details/answers?
Chapter 22
Americans, p. 728-765
The Vietnam War Years
5. What were the effects of the war?
As a result of the war in Vietnam, many American
soldiers were dead (58,000+) or wounded (158303,000+), and many more scarred by their reception
when they returned home. The war created deep
divisions in American society and opened mistrust of
people toward the government.
-Tet Offensive (lied about “success?”); changed US
foreign policy (Congressional limits on troop
commitments); “Pentagon Papers”
Additional details/answers?
Top Essentials to Know About the Vietnam War
By Martin Kelly
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/vietnam/tp/vietnam-war.htm
Vietnam 101: A Short Introduction
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/p/VietnamBrief.htm
By Kennedy Hickman
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HIGHLIGHT the missing text
Identify page(s) from textbooks for further study
EXPLAIN in your own words…annotate!
ASK “good questions”…examine & evaluate…use ethos, logos, pathos
to REASON…THINK!
The Vietnam War was a cause of much controversy in the United
States. One of the first things to realize about the war is that it
was a progressive thing. What began as a small group of 'advisors'
under
ended up with over a total of
2.5 million American
involved. Here are the top essentials
to understanding the Vietnam War.
Top Essentials to Know About the Vietnam War
By Martin Kelly
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/vietnam/tp/vietnam-war.htm
Vietnam 101: A Short Introduction
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/p/VietnamBrief.htm
By Kennedy Hickman
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•
•
•
HIGHLIGHT the missing text http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVxcZqN11uE
Identify page(s) from textbooks for further study
EXPLAIN in your own words…annotate!
ASK “good questions”…examine & evaluate…use ethos, logos, pathos
to REASON…THINK!
The Vietnam War was a cause of much controversy in the United
States. One of the first things to realize about the war is that it
was a progressive thing. What began as a small group of 'advisors'
under
ended up with over a total of
2.5 million American
involved. Here are the top essentials
to understanding the Vietnam War.
Top Essentials to Know About the Vietnam War
By Martin Kelly
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/vietnam/tp/vietnam-war.htm
Vietnam 101: A Short Introduction
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/p/VietnamBrief.htm
By Kennedy Hickman
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•
•
•
HIGHLIGHT the missing text
Identify page(s) from textbooks for further study.
EXPLAIN in your own words…annotate!
ASK “good questions”…examine & evaluate “logical reasoning”
The Vietnam War occurred in present-day Vietnam, Southeast
. It represented a
successful attempt on the part of the
(North
Vietnam, DRV) and the National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam (
) to
unite and impose a
system over the entire nation. Opposing the DRV was
the Republic of Vietnam (
, RVN), backed by the United States. The war
in Vietnam occurred during the
War, and is generally viewed as an indirect
between the United States and Soviet Union, with each nation and its allies
supporting one side.
When was the Vietnam War?
Americans, p. 732; Alive! p.657
The most commonly used dates for the conflict are 1959-1975. This
period begins with North Vietnam's first
attacks against the
South and ends with the fall of
. American ground forces were
directly involved in the war between
.
Homework: Read through Ch. 22, review Vietnam notes,
and/or peruse Ch. 51-53 Alive!
Ch. 22 Vietnam QUIZ: Friday, 5/24
FYI: Decades of Change “chunked exam” is Friday, May 31st
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Ch. 22, “The Vietnam War Years” Americans, p. 728-765
History Alive! Ch. 51-53 (p. 654-693)
CONTINUED inspection/discussion of Vietnam War era photographs
Review via Socratic Circle: Contribute & enhance NOTES…THINK?
“Top Essentials to Know About the Vietnam War” By Martin Kelly
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/vietnam/tp/vietnam-war.htm
“Vietnam 101: A Short Introduction”
By Kennedy Hickman
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/p/VietnamBrief.htm
The United States began
sending military advisers to
Vietnam to help the French
in the early 1950s. The
number of advisers
increased rapidly in the early
1960s. These advisers were
not combat troops, but they
played a key role in the
military buildup in Southeast
Asia.
1. Beginning of American Involvement in Vietnam
Americans, p. 730-731; Alive! p. 657
America began sending aid to the
fighting in Vietnam and the
rest of Indochina in the late 1940s. France was fighting Communist
rebels led by
. It wasn't until
defeated the
French in
that America became officially involved in trying to
defeat the
in Vietnam. This began with financial aid and
military advisors sent to help the South Vietnamese as they fought
Northern Communists fighting in the South. The U.S. worked with
and other leaders to set up a separate government in
the South.
Ho Chi Minh was president of North
Vietnam from 1945 to 1969. He fought
for an independent, unified Vietnam.
At first he sought support from the
United States, but his communist
ideology aroused U.S. hostility. Though
considered a “freedom fighter” by
many, he ordered the killing of
thousands of North Vietnamese
landowners as “class enemies.”
The key battle of the First Indochina War took place between March and May
1954, when Viet Minh troops attacked the French stronghold at Dien Bien Phu.
The French lost the battle and began to withdraw their forces from Vietnam.
The Geneva Accords of 1954 split
Vietnam temporarily at the 17th
parallel. The French moved into
South Vietnam, and the Viet Minh
moved into North Vietnam. The
Viet Minh left a political network in
the south, however, in the hope of
winning victory in the national unity
election set for 1956. They also left
weapons hidden in the south.
The “domino theory” was the key rationale for increasing US military
involvement in Vietnam. According to this theory, the fall of Vietnam to
communism would lead to communist advances throughout Southeast Asia
and the rest of the world. Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, along
with Johnson, were all strongly influenced by the “domino theory.”
2. Domino Theory
Americans, p. 731; Alive! p. 659
With the fall of
Vietnam to the Communists in 1954, President
Dwight Eisenhower explained America's stance in a press conference.
As Eisenhower stated when asked about the strategic importance of
Indochina: "...you have broader considerations that might follow what
you would call the '
domino' principle. You have a row of
dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen
to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly...." In
other words, the fear was that if Vietnam fell completely to
communism, this would
. This Domino Theory was the central
reason for America's continued involvement in Vietnam over the
years.
Causes
Americans, p. 730-735; Alive! p.657-661
The Vietnam War first began in 1959, five years after the division of
the country by the Geneva Accords. Vietnam had been split into two,
with a communist government in the north under
and a
democratic government in the south under
. Ho
launched a guerilla campaign in South Vietnam, led by Viet Cong units,
with the goal of uniting the country under communist rule. The United
States, seeking to stop the spread of communism, trained the Army of
the
(ARVN) and provided military advisors to
help combat the guerillas.
The Ho Chi Minh Trail was actually a
network of some 12,000 miles of
trails. Soldiers and suppliers traveled
the route on foot and by bicycle,
oxcart, and truck. The south, through
the rugged mountains of Laos and
Cambodia into South Vietnam could
take as long as three months.
3. Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Americans, p.734
; Alive! p.662-663
Over time, American involvement continued to
. During the
presidency of
, an event occurred that resulted in
an escalation in the war. In August 1964, it was reported that the
North Vietnamese attacked the
in international waters.
Controversy still exists over the actual details of this event but the
result is undeniable. Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
that allowed Johnson to increase America's military involvement. It
allowed him to "take all
to repel any armed
attack...and to prevent further aggression." Johnson and
used
this as a mandate to fight in Vietnam for years to come.
Why was there no limits
to the resolution?
Since the Vietnamese attacked
the USS Maddox, Congress
passed the Gulf of Tonkin
Resolution that allowed all LBJ
to take any “ necessary
measures.”
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident provoked an escalation of U.S. involvement in
Vietnam. On August 2, 1964, North Vietnamese boats fired on a U.S. ship,
causing little damage. Two days later, false reports of a second attack
prompted the United States to launch air strikes against North Vietnam.
Ch. 51 - The United States Gets Involved in Vietnam
•
After World War II, nationalist and communist rebels in the French colony of Vietnam
fought for their independence. A 1954 agreement ending this colonial war split the
country into communist North Vietnam and democratic South Vietnam. When France
pulled out the following year, the United States stepped in to prop up South Vietnam.
Over the years, American involvement grew and eventually led to the introduction of
U.S. ground forces.
•
First Indochina War In this first phase of fighting, which lasted from 1946 to 1954, Ho
Chi Minh led Viet Minh insurgents in the struggle to end French rule in Vietnam.
Geneva Accords The First Indochina War ended with a 1954 agreement known as the
Geneva Accords. The accords split Vietnam into north and south but called for elections
to reunify the country. The United States backed South Vietnam financially and militarily.
Viet Cong Insurgents in the south, known as the Viet Cong, worked to overthrow the
nominally democratic but corrupt government of South Vietnam. The Viet Cong received
aid from communist North Vietnam.
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution An alleged attack on U.S. ships off the coast of North Vietnam
led Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This resolution gave President
Johnson broad powers to expand the U.S. role in Vietnam. Massive air strikes against
North Vietnam followed.
Ho Chi Minh Trail By 1965, North Vietnamese Army troops were moving south along
the Ho Chi Minh Trail to help the Viet Cong. The United States feared that South
Vietnam would fall without more direct support.
Americanization In March 1965, the United States began sending ground troops to fight
the Vietnam War. The war quickly became an American conflict.
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