The Vietnam War 1965 68 The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War (1965 -68)

The Vietnam War Take out a piece of paper, and very briefly, answer these questions: What do you know about the Vietnam War? What should you know about the Vietnam War? Save these-they will be used later in class!

Who Were the Warring Parties? North Vietnam United States • Ho Chi Minh • North Vietnamese Army • The National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) • Vo Nguyen Giap • Lyndon Johnson • US Military • Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) • William Westmoreland

Why did the US go to war in Vietnam? • • • Cold War Containment of Communism (Truman doctrine) “Domino Theory” Strategic Alliances in Europe Military advisors (MAAG) Gulf of Tonkin Incident

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident • • • OPLAN 34 A USS Maddox, USS C. Turner Joy N. Vietnamese patrol boats Alleged second attack Congress and American people misled Justification for Tonkin Gulf Resolution

The War “Americanization” 1965 -1968 • • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution US Ground Troops Operation Rolling Thunder Escalation

North Vietnam Hanoi Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Khe Sanh Ho Chi Minh trail Hue Da Nang South Vietnam Saigon

The Tet Offensive • Tet holiday • Coordinated attacks • Embassy in Saigon • Battle of Hue • Khe Sanh • Destruction of NLF as a fighting force • Tactical loss • Strategic victory Back

Aftermath • • • Loss of Confidence “Vietnamization” NVA becomes primary fighting force Retirement of Lyndon Johnson Robert Kennedy Election of Richard Nixon�

Debate it! • When should the US go to war? Read the handout, think about it-and then be ready to explain and defend your position!! Circle all that you agree with, and place numbers by your choices ranking them in importance. Think about why you think this way, and raise your hand when finished!

Finish the “KWL” activity! What did you learn?