Vietnam War Background

1. Vietnam War Background Ms Underhill May 12, 2011

2. Do Now- pg 217 • Attach timeline into your notebook on pg 217

3. Objective and Agenda • I can describe main events leading up to the Vietnam War and U.S. involvement. • I can take a position on whether the U.S. should have gotten involved in the Vietnam war. Agenda • Notes- background and overview • Hawks vs. Doves debate • Processing- Should the U.S. have gotten involved? • Friday: • Homework is Due! • Short quiz tomorrow: • Communism vs. Capitalism • Containment

4. Vietnam Quick Facts • US involved from 1950- 1973 • US Combat troops from 1964- 1973 • 58,000 casualties • US helps South Vietnam fight against Communist North Vietnam (War of Communist Containment) • Most unpopular war in US history and only war the US has ever “lost” • ESSENTIAL QUESTION: Which factors contributed most to the American defeat in Vietnam?

5. 1945- Vietnam Declares Independence • Ho Chi Mihn declares independence for Vietnam “All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”

6. 1946- 1st Indochina War • France fights for former colony back • Communists help Ho Chi Mihn’s independence movement • U.S. Helps France for the fear communism will spread • US Military aid to French Indochina & $100 mill by 1951 • French defeated and withdraw

7. 1954 Geneva Peace Conference • US Fears “Domino Theory” – if one country falls to communism, all will. • Vietnam divided at 17th parallel • North= Viet Minh’s communism • South= US anti- communist govt. Communist North Vietnam Anti-communist (US) S. Vietnam

8. Domino Theory • “Once one falls, they all will”

9. 1955- South Vietnam Govt. • US puts anti-communist Ngo Dinh in control • US promises aid + training to keep Vietnam stable and democratic • Dinh was unpopular • Anti- Buddhist • Loosing war against Communist North

10. 1960- Viet Cong • Viet Cong fighters (From the north) attack the South • Guerilla Warfare • Kennedy sends more advisors/aid to help South Korea “win its own war” • 1963- US coup assassinates Diem, S. Vietnam very unstable • NO US COMBAT YET

11. August 2, 1964- Gulf of Tonkin • N. Vietnamese fire torpedo at US ship, but missed • Congress passes Gulf of Tonkin Resolution- Gives President Johnson power “take all necessary measures… to prevent further aggression” • Begins combat of US Soldiers

12. 1965- Sending Ground Troops • 1965: 185,000 troops • 1967: 500,000 troops

13. Draw T-Chart- pg 118 Activity Instructions: Read your excerpt Choose a side- get involved with Vietnam or Not? Write your reason on your paper Present your point to the class

14. NAME___________________ Exit Ticket • Vote at the National Security Meeting Should President Johnson send troops to Vietnam in order to stop the spread of Communism? YES NO Your Reason: ______________________________ _________________________________________ __________________________________________

15. NAME___________________ Exit Ticket • Vote at the National Security Meeting Should President Johnson send troops to Vietnam in order to stop the spread of Communism? YES NO Your Reason: ______________________________ _________________________________________ __________________________________________

16. 1954 Geneva Peace Conference 1960- Viet Cong 1945: Ho Chi Mihn declares Vietnam independent (former France colony) 1965- First US troops in Vietnam 185,000 troops 500,000 troops by 1967 1946- 1st Indochina War: 1955- South Vietnam Govt. August 2, 1964- Gulf of Tonkin 1945: WWII ends Japan looses Vietnam