US Involvement in Vietnam

During the 1950s, 60s & 70s

- Read silently

- Annotate article

as you read

- Be prepared to

ask questions

regarding bolded

terms or other

topics that you

are unclear on

Containment & the

“Domino Theory”

French fight Communist

“insurgents” in their colony

w/ US help 1945-1954 but

abandon Vietnam after

loss at Dienbienphu

Ho Chi Minh Ngo Dinh Diem

North Vietnam South Vietnam

US vows to support Diem in the newly created

South Vietnam after Geneva Conference – ‘54

Vietnamese “Insurgents” Advantages

• View war as struggle for

independence against foreign

invaders - Desire

•Knew terrain & people

•Were more willing to be patient

and sustain high casualties

•Need to fight only to a stalemate

Vietnam War CombatantsU.S. Advisors, US Combat Troops

South Vietnamese Army

vs.

Vietcong Guerillas (NLF)

North Vietnamese Army (NVA)

Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964) = Authorization of

“Escalation” in Vietnam or “Blank Check” for LBJ

LBJ,

“Credibility Gap”

& “Guns vs. Butter”

Tet Offensive – Jan. 1968

Operation Rolling Thunder, Ho Chi Minh Trail

& Challenge of Winning the “Hearts & Minds” of South Vietnamese

“It became necessary to destroy the town to save it.”

Anti War Movement The Draft & Internal Division

Media &

Vietnam

My Lai Massacre -- 1968

Nixon & VietnamVietnamization

Peace With Honor

Paris Peace Talks

Détente