THE VIETNAM WAR
11TH GRADE AMERICAN HISTORY
Lauren McCarthy
INTRODUCTION
One of the most controversial wars in history, the Vietnam War lasted from 19551975. During the Cold War, the United State’s main priority was to end the spread of
communism, which was spreading into the South Eastern Asian countries. Broken
into three categories: pre-war, during war, and post-war, history of the Vietnam war
can be studied. Believed to be an easy war, the United States faced new challenges.
The war split the country in half, creating turmoil and a new sense of what it is like
to be an American. The Vietnam War left the country forever scarred and a
realization that the United States can lose a war.
NAVIGATION OF THIS PRESENTATION
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Select a lesson below and review the information. Once you are done select the star
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Pre-War
Quiz 1
War
Quiz 2
Post War
Quiz 3
LESSON ONE : OVERVIEW OF PRE WAR
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US Domestic Policy/LBJ election
History of brewing conflict in Vietnam/Geography
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
PRE WAR- US DOMESTIC POLICY/LBJ ELECTION
• 1964 Election Lyndon B. Johnson (D) v. Barry Goldwater (R)
• LBJ won by an overwhelming number of 46 states
• Domestic Policies of LBJ
• Great Society Campaign
• The Food Stamp Act of 1964
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
• Social Security Act of 1965
PRE WAR-HISTORY OF BREWING CONFLICT IN
VIETNAM/GEOGRAPHY
 Geography of South Eastern Asia
 Vietnam
 A united country, once divided into Northern and
Southern Vietnam by the 17th parallel (DMZ.) 1954-1976
 Capital City- (N) Hanoi, (S) Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon
PRE WAR-HISTORY OF BREWING CONFLICT IN
VIETNAM/GEOGRAPHY
 Ho Chi Minh Trail- a series of trails that helped the
North Vietnamese troops get to the south. Also the
route was used as a means of transporting supplies
 Named by Americans after Ho Chi Minh, North
Vietnam’s president
Countries the trail ran through: North/
South Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
PRE WAR-HISTORY OF BREWING CONFLICT IN
VIETNAM/GEOGRAPHY
Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890September 2, 1969)
 North Vietnam communist
leader, leader of the Viet
Cong
 Helped lead to the defeat of
the French Union in 1954
 Stepped down from power
in 1965, but seen as a symbol
or figure head
Ngo Dinh Diem- (January 3, 1901November 2, 1963)
• First president of South Vietnam
• Very controversial rule,
overthrown by a military coup
• Assassinated by South
Vietnamese Soldiers which
caused an uproar
PRE WAR-HISTORY OF BREWING CONFLICT IN
VIETNAM/GEOGRAPHY
 Guerilla Warfare:
a type of military action using small mobile irregular forces to carry out
surprise tactics against hostile regular forces
PRE WAR-HISTORY OF BREWING CONFLICT IN
VIETNAM/GEOGRAPHY
Viet Minh:
Fought for Vietnamese
independence from the
French.
vs.
Viet Cong:
Communist Vietnamese guerilla
fighting group, fought against the Viet
Minh and the United States.
• French occupation in Vietnam
• 1954 Vietcong army fights the French for control
• 1961 JFK sends 3,000 troops to Vietnam in support of the Southern Vietnamese
• Operation Chopper:
• First United States combat mission in Vietnam
• First use of Helicopters as a strategic weapon
• The Vietcong were defeated as they were caught off guard
PRE WAR-GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION
 Gulf of Tonkin Incident
 July 30th 1964- South Vietnamese ships attack two North Vietnamese islands, U.S. Maddox tries to distract
Northern ships to keep them away from the commandos
 August 2nd 1964- U.S. Maddox reports that the ship was fired upon by North Vietnamese, later there is no
evidence to prove these claims
 August 7th, 1964- Gulf of Tonkin Resolution is passed, this gives President Johnson the approval to do what
he needs to do to keep South East Asia defended
SUMMARY
 In this section you have learned about the election of 1964 and LBJ’S domestic
policies. Also, the brewing conflict that was happening in Vietnam during the
1950’s-1960’s before the war. This section describes important geography, and
important figures in Vietnam, as well as the political groups and methods of
fighting. Lastly, you have learned about the Tonkin Gulf Incident/Resolution and
how the President was allowed to start the war.
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QUIZ 1
Click on the orange squares to choose an answer: What was the Tonkin Gulf
Resolution and what powers did it give the president?
A
B
C
D
A response to Southern Vietnamese actions in international waters that gave the president
the right to withhold sending troops to Vietnam
It was a response to actions of the North Vietnamese and it gave the president the right to
send troops into Vietnam
A treaty created for a cease-fire between the United States and Vietnam and gave the
president power over Congress in declaring war
A failed resolution between North and South Vietnam that held the President accountable
for ending the fighting
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 D is incorrect because the United States would not be responsible for North and
South Vietnam’s fighting, it is not the United States’ territory.
Return to quiz
 A is incorrect because the United States did not fight Southern Vietnam, but
helped them.
Return to
quiz
 C is incorrect because the United States did not enter into the war with Vietnam
before the Tonkin Gulf Incident/Resolution
Return to
quiz
 Correct! The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was a response to the North Vietnamese
attacks on the U.S. Maddox. This resolution also gave the President the power to
send U.S. troops to Vietnam.
Next question
QUIZ 1
The Ho Chi Minh trail goes through all of the following except:
A
B
C
D
India
Cambodia
South Vietnam
Laos
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 B is incorrect because the Ho Chi Minh Trail does go through Cambodia
Return to quiz
 C is incorrect because the Ho Chi Minh Trail does go through South Vietnam
Return to
quiz
 D is incorrect because the Ho Chi Minh Trail does go through Laos
Return to quiz
Correct! The Ho Chi Minh trail travels through Laos, North and South Vietnam, and
Cambodia. It does not travel through India
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LESSON OVERVIEW 2: WAR TIME
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The draft and the start of war
Foreign Policy (Operation Rolling Thunder, Attack on North Vietnam transport
routes and Cambodia, Operation Crimp, Mai Lai Massacre, Tet offensive), Peace
talks
Doves v. Hawks, U.S. reaction to the war
Election of 1968, Nixon’s secret plan of Vietnamization, Fall of Saigon, Election of
1972
WAR TIME-THE DRAFT AND THE START OF WAR
 Wars in America’s history were on a
volunteer basis, until the draft was
implemented
 The draft created a requirement to have
more American’s serve in the military
 Those who were drafted had to undergo
a physical examination to see if they
were eligible.
 Burned draft cards, fleeing and enrolling
in college
WAR TIME-FOREIGN POLICY
 Operation Rolling Thunder-March 2, 1965 - November 5, 1968
 An aerial bombing campaign against North Vietnam. Used to
provide support to South Vietnam's troops, destroy North Vietnamese
transport system, to stop the troops from entering South Vietnam.
 Tet Offensive- January 30, 1968
One of the largest campaigns by the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong against the Southern
Vietnamese and the United States. Consisted of surprise attacks against military and
civilians.
WAR TIME-FOREIGN POLICY
 Mai Lai Massacre, March 16, 1968
 the United States soldiers massacred up to 500
innocent southern Vietnamese people
 Victims included women, children, elderly and men
WAR TIME- SOLDIER LIFE
 Rough conditions for American soldiers, terrain vastly
different from United States.
 Dangerous animals and rough vegetation
 Didn’t know who their enemy was exactly due to
civilians working with Viet Cong
 Sneak attacks/ambushes from Viet Cong
WAR TIME- SOLDIER LIFE
LEFT:
(Napalm being
shot out into the
forests)
RIGHT:
(Before and
After, damage of
Agent Orange)
 Napalm: A combination of chemicals that when ignited is extremely flammable, used to
destroy vegetation in Vietnam.
 Agent Orange: Herbicide used to destroy the forests, used to drive civilians of Vietnam to
more U.S. controlled areas.
Both had very bad side affects to the Human body, land and soil, and natural resources, even
decades later.
WAR TIME-DOVES V. HAWKS, U.S. REACTION TO
THE WAR
America divided
Doves: Anti-war, wanted to withdraw
troops and end the war peacefully.
Hawks: Pro-war, wants to expand military in
Vietnam
WAR TIME-DOVES V. HAWKS, U.S. REACTION TO
THE WAR
 Kent State “May 4 Massacre” 1970
 Students were protesting the Cambodian Campaign when the national guard opened
fire on the group of students, four died and nine were wounded.
 This act of violence caused riots and protests around the country in response to how the
National Guards reacted.
WAR TIME-ELECTION OF 1968, NIXON’S SECRET
PLAN OF VIETNAMIZATION, FALL OF SAIGON,
ELECTION OF 1972
 1968 election
 LBJ (D) v. Nixon (R)
 Nixon won with promises to end the war in Vietnam
 Nixon’s “secret plan” to end the war
Vietnamization: moving the responsibility of the war back onto the Southern
Vietnamese people by training them and equipping them with the right
technology/resources, then removing the American troops out of Vietnam
WAR TIME-ELECTION OF 1968, NIXON’S SECRET
PLAN OF VIETNAMIZATION, FALL OF SAIGON,
ELECTION OF 1972
 Paris Peace Accords, in January 1973
 Used to stop fighting in Vietnam, ended direct U.S. involvement
 Was a failed policy, two years later North captured Saigon
 Fall of Saigon, April 30, 1975
 North Vietnamese captured the city of Saigon which then unified
Vietnam again.
 Was the official end of the Vietnam war as all American officials left
 Saigon was then renamed Ho Chi Minh city
SUMMARY
 In this lesson you have learned about the start of the Vietnam war, how the people
were selected for service as well as what the soldiers face during war life. Also, the
section talked about important battles and events in Vietnam like the Tet
Offensive, Mai Lai Massacre, and Operation Rolling Thunder. Napalm and Agent
Orange were also mentioned in the section. The conflict of the Hawks v. Doves
and The Kent State Massacre were explained in this section and how America was
divided. Lastly, this section explained the election of 1968, Nixon’s secret plan to
end the war, and the Fall of Saigon, which was the official end of the Vietnam War.
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QUIZ 2
 The Kent State Massacre took place on May 4th 1970, in which
A
A. Police opened fire on a group of violent protestor who were protesting the American
Soldier’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
B
B. A group of students who were protesting the war in silence when the police forced them to
move, ending in the massacre of many students.
C
C. Students protested the Vietnam War on campus which resulted in the deaths of four
students after the police fired.
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 A is incorrect because the students were not protesting violently and it was not a
massacre of many students
Return to quiz
 B is incorrect because the students were not protesting silently
Return to
quiz
 Correct! On May 4th, 1970 four students were killed, nine wounded when police
opened fire on protesting students at Kent State University.
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LESSON OVERVIEW 3: POST WAR
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Election of 1972
Watergate Scandal
Nixon trial, resignation and new President Ford
POST WAR-ELECTION OF 1972
 1972 election
 Nixon (R) v. McGovern (D)
 Nixon won all states but Massachusetts
 Approval rating for Nixon was upper 50’s-60%
Why was this election so important?
POST WAR-WATERGATE SCANDAL
Watergate Scandal- “The scandal that brought down Richard Nixon”
• June 17, 1972 burglars were caught breaking into the Democratic campaign headquarters at the
Watergate Hotel
• Who were these burglars? From the Committee to Reelect the president. They
were caught by the security guard after noticing tape being used to hold open the
door. These men were known as the “plumbers”, an extreme group to re elect the
president
• What were they doing? Trying to fix a faulty wiring tap bug after they previously
implanted it
• Why were they doing this? To get an inside look before the election of 1972
POST WAR-WATERGATE SCANDAL
 The Watergate cover up
 Believed to be ordered by Richard Nixon
 The Oval Office tapes
 Every conversation in the office was recorded by Nixon
 Nixon wouldn’t give them up until he had to
 They were edited with long parts of the tape “missing”
 Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
 Two young reporters for The Washington Post who were assigned to investigate and report on
Watergate
 The investigations lead to crucial evidence used against Nixon and the burglars in the trial
POST WAR- WATERGATE SCANDAL
 Pentagon Papers
 Officially titled, “United States – Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967: A Study Prepared by the Department
of Defense”
 Showed how the Department of Defense lied to the American people and Congress about what really
happened in Vietnam
POST WAR-NIXON TRIAL, RESIGNATION AND
NEW PRESIDENT FORD
 Trial
 Nixon and his 5 accomplices go to trial over various charges
 Nixon goes under trial after being charged with the first three articles of impeachment
 Made to give up the tapes containing evidence on August 5, 1973
In order to avoid impeachment, on August 8, 1973 President Nixon officially
resigned over a TV telecast
 Spiro Agnew, Nixon’s VP resigned
 This left Gerald Ford (House Minority Leader in Congress) president under the 25th amendment
 Ford became the first and to date only person to have served as both Vice President and President of the United
States without being elected by the Electoral College
SUMMARY
 In this section you have learned about the Watergate Scandal, which was the
“scandal that brought down Richard Nixon”. In depth you learned about the series
of events that led Richard Nixon to resign his presidency (the tapes, pentagon
papers, The Washington Post, avoiding impeachment) as well as Gerald Ford
taking over as President.
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QUIZ 3
During the break-in on the democratic national convention by the committee to reelect the
president, what was found by the security guard that gave away the burglars?
A
B
C
D
Footprints above the security guard’s head
A light left on by one of the burglars
Finding the defective bug left on the telephone
A piece of tape on the door of the room
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 A is incorrect because the guard did not hear foot steps
Return to Question
 B is incorrect because the guard did not notice lights left on
Return to
question
 C is incorrect because the guard did not notice a defective wiretapping device
Return to
question
 Correct! The plumbers were caught after the security guard discovered the initial
piece of tape and removed it, then returned to find another piece of tape on the
door.
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CONGRATS!
 You have finished the program. I hope you’ve learned a lot on the Vietnam War.
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